Leswalt ( gd, Lios Uillt) is a village and
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
in
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway ( sco, Dumfries an Gallowa; gd, Dùn Phrìs is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It covers the counties of Scotland, historic counties of ...
, south-west Scotland. It lies between
Portpatrick
Portpatrick is a village and civil parish in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway. The parish is about in length and in breadth, covering .
History ...
and
Stranraer
Stranraer ( , in Scotland also ; gd, An t-Sròn Reamhar ), also known as The Toon, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located in the historical parish of Inch in the historic county of Wigtownshire. It lies on the shores of L ...
in the
Rhins of Galloway
gd, Na Rannaibh
, photo = File:Luce Bay.jpg
, photo_width =
, photo_alt =
, photo_caption = Looking south over the Rhins of Galloway towards Luce Bay
, map = UK Scotland
, map_width =
...
, part of the traditional county of
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire or the County of Wigtown (, ) is one of the historic counties of Scotland, covering an area in the south-west of the country. Until 1975, Wigtownshire was an administrative county used for local government. Since 1975 the area has f ...
. The parish covers around .
History
"Leswalt" is a name of unknown origins. Possible derivations for its name include
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
''llys gwellt'', meaning "grass court", or perhaps
Gaelic
Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...
''lios uillt'', meaning "fort of the glen", referring to
Lochnaw Castle
Lochnaw Castle is a 16th-century tower house five miles from the town of Stranraer, in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Coveri ...
.
In the Middle Ages, the area was probably divided into
feudal baronies, each controlled by a Baron of the Court, under the overall control of the Sheriff of Wigtownshire. In ancient times it belonged to the monks of
Tongland Abbey.
In 1390
Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Douglas and Wigtown, Lord of Galloway, Douglas and Bothwell (c. 1330 – c. 24 December 1400), called Archibald the Grim or Black Archibald, was a late medieval Scottish nobleman. Archibald was the bastard son of ...
, granted lands at Leswalt to his illegitimate son or relative, William Douglas of Leswalt. William Douglas was self-styled "Lord of Leswalt", and Sheriff of Wigton, but was dismissed by Margaret, Duchess of Touraine, daughter of King
Robert III of Scotland
Robert III (c. 13374 April 1406), born John Stewart, was King of Scots from 1390 to his death in 1406. He was also High Steward of Scotland from 1371 to 1390 and held the titles of Earl of Atholl (1367–1390) and Earl of Carrick (1368– ...
and wife of
Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas, as part of a power struggle in south-west Scotland. Under duress he transferred lands at Lochnaw to Andrew Agnew, constable of
Lochnaw Castle
Lochnaw Castle is a 16th-century tower house five miles from the town of Stranraer, in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Coveri ...
, receiving
Cruggleton Castle
Cruggleton Castle is a multi-period archaeological site on the coast of the Machars, in the historical county of Wigtownshire in south-west Scotland. It is located at Cruggleton Point, around east of Whithorn and south-east of Sorbie. Excavati ...
in exchange.
Andrew Agnew had been made hereditary constable of Lochnaw Castle by William Douglas of Leswalt in 1426. He received several charters from
James I of Scotland
James I (late July 139421 February 1437) was King of Scots from 1406 until his assassination in 1437. The youngest of three sons, he was born in Dunfermline Abbey to King Robert III and Annabella Drummond. His older brother David, Duke of Ro ...
, including one of 31 January 1431, confirming to him and his heirs the office of heritable constable of Lochnaw, with the whole lands and "Barony of Lochnaw". In 1451 Andrew Agnew was confirmed as Hereditary Sheriff of
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire or the County of Wigtown (, ) is one of the historic counties of Scotland, covering an area in the south-west of the country. Until 1975, Wigtownshire was an administrative county used for local government. Since 1975 the area has f ...
. In 1458 he was paid as sheriff.
In 1463 when George Douglas of Leswalt (son of William Douglas of Leswalt and Katherine Maxwell) died, the lands of Leswalt and Cruggleton reverted to the Crown, as a consequence of the forfeiture of all of the properties of the
Earl of Douglas
This page is concerned with the holders of the forfeit title Earl of Douglas and the preceding feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, so ...
in AD1456. They were appropriated by
Mary of Guelders
Mary of Guelders (; c. 1434/1435 – 1 December 1463) was Queen of Scotland by marriage to King James II of Scotland. She ruled as regent of Scotland from 1460 to 1463.
Background
She was the daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders, and Cath ...
, the Queen Mother, widow
James II of Scotland
James II (16 October 1430 – 3 August 1460) was King of Scots from 1437 until his death in 1460. The eldest surviving son of James I of Scotland, he succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of six, following the assassination of his father. ...
, and were subsequently claimed by
Gilbert Kennedy (later
Lord Kennedy
Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or are ...
), a half-brother to George Douglas, for his son,
John Kennedy. These passed to his son, Alexander Kennedy, who made them over to his brother,
David Kennedy, 3rd Lord Kennedy, from whom the
Earls of Cassilis
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
are descended.
Salt was produced at Salt Pan Bay in Leswalt from 1637.
Places of interest
Parish Church
![Ruins of Leswalt Old Church - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Ruins_of_Leswalt_Old_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1725611.jpg)
The Old Kirk of Leswalt, now ruined, is of medieval origin, having been given to the monks of
Tongland Abbey in the 14th century. The adjoining Agnew Aisle dates from the 17th century. In 1828 the present church was built and the old one abandoned.
Lochnaw Castle
Lochnaw Castle
Lochnaw Castle is a 16th-century tower house five miles from the town of Stranraer, in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Coveri ...
was home to the Agnew family. The ruins of the Old Castle stand on an island in Lochnaw Loch, and date to the 13th century. The present castle incorporates a 16th-century
tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation. Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountainous or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strateg ...
, but is largely the result of remodelling in the 18th century.
Historical sites
Rev. George Wilson's ''Archaeological and Historical Collections relating to Ayrshire and Galloway'' list forts in Leswalt. (a) Lashindarroch on Knock-na-maize circular fort. (b) Two on Port Slogan. (c) Larbrax fort with two traverses at the Kemp's Walk. (d) Salpans Bay fort. (e) High Auchneel, not on O.S. map. (f) Aldouran Glenhead fort called the Kemps' Graves. (g) Tor of Craigoch circular fort with outer defences.
*Iron-Age fort (Larbrax Fort) stood overlooking Broadsea Bay (Larbrax Beach), Larbrax fort Cave
*Kemp's Walk (probably Larbrax Fort, Larbrax Beach), Meikle Larbrax on a large promontory. There is an entrance (Larbrax fort Cave) near the eastern side.
*An ancient dun overlooking Killantringan Bay (Kilringan Bay on 1782 map).
*
Killantringan Lighthouse
Killantringan Lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The light came into operation in 1900, and served as a waypoint in the North Channel of the Irish Sea. The name Killantringan is de ...
was built around 1899. The name Killantringan is derived from "Ringan or Ninian's Cell".
*Iron-Age fort stood overlooking Salt Pans Bay.
*High Auchneel
*Sir Andrew Agnew's monument sits on top of the Tor of Craigoch, a prehistoric hill fort above Leswalt village and provides a fine view.
*The island in Lochnaw or Loch Naw, a loch which has been drained and refilled in its long lifespan, once held an 11th-century castle fort, taken and dismantled in AD1390 by "Archibald the Grim" (
Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas, Earl of Douglas and Wigtown, Lord of Galloway, Douglas and Bothwell (c. 1330 – c. 24 December 1400), called Archibald the Grim or Black Archibald, was a late medieval Scottish nobleman. Archibald was the bastard son of ...
).
*A mote stood by the side of lake of Lochnaw. In 1791 Sir Stair Agnew used its materials to form a new approach.
*
Galdenoch Castle
Galdenoch Castle is a tower house near the Scottish village of Leswalt in the Council Area Dumfries and Galloway . The ruin is listed as a Scheduled Monument.
Description
Galdenoch Castle is isolated on the Rhins of Galloway
The Rhins of Ga ...
dated 1547 was home of Gilbert Agnew of Lochnaw until 1570
Gallery
File:Lochnaw Castle.jpg, Lochnaw Castle
Lochnaw Castle is a 16th-century tower house five miles from the town of Stranraer, in the historical county of Wigtownshire, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Coveri ...
File:Agnew Monument and hill fort - geograph.org.uk - 862618.jpg, Agnew Monument on Tor of Craigoch hill fort
File:Loch Naw - geograph.org.uk - 164292.jpg, Loch Naw or Island of Lochnaw
File:Galdenoch Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1708980.jpg, Galdenoch Castle dated 1547 of Gilbert Agnew until 1570
File:Salt Pans Bay - geograph.org.uk - 240917.jpg, Salt Pans Bay, site of an ancient fort. photo by Jeff Wells
File:Site of hill fort, Broadsea Bay - geograph.org.uk - 263082.jpg, Broadsea Bay, site of Larbrax Iron Age hill fort
File:Labrax Beach - geograph.org.uk - 1371048.jpg, Larbrax beach, Broadsea Bay, with view of Killantringan Lighthouse
File:Killantringan or Kilringan Bay, Leswalt.jpg, Killantringan or Kilringan Bay, below an ancient Dun
See also
*
List of listed buildings in Leswalt, Dumfries and Galloway
This is a list of listed buildings in the civil parish of Leswalt, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the isl ...
References
External links
{{authority control
Wigtownshire
Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway
Villages in Dumfries and Galloway
Places in the Rhins