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Castles and Historic Buildings of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland

 Castles of Scotland - Lochmaben Castle






Map by mapchart.net - Some rights reserved.


Location
Lochmaben, near Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Description
Lochmaben Castle is located four miles west of Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway. The castle originally had two walled courtyards separated by a canal which acted as a moat and a boat harbour. The main castle building was a large square stone structure with walls that bridged the canal. The ruins include a massive stone defensive wall 12m high. Parts of the wall remains cross the deep water filled moat. North of the main wall are remains of other stone structures, some overgrown by ivy. The castle is now under control of Historic Scotland.

History
The Bruce family built the original castle at Lochmaben in the 13th century. The castle was captured by King Edward of England who started building a new castle around 1300. This second castle was built on a promontory projecting north from the shore of Castle Loch, a mile south of Lochmaben town. Only the motte of the first castle remains, and is located on the present golf course. The ruins of the second castle are still there today. Lochmaben Castle was captured by the Scots under Robert the Bruce in 1306, recaptured by the English, and taken back again by the Scots after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. It changed hands between the English and Scots a few more times. James II took control of the castle when he destroyed the Black Douglas family in 1455. The castle was extensively rebuilt during the reign of James IV. Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Lochmaben Castle in 1565. The castle was finally dismantled after its capture by King James VI in 1588. Lochmaben Castle was abandoned and fell into disrepair.


Other Castles in the Area
  Auchen Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
  Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
  Comlongon Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
  Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries and Galloway
  Edingham Castle, Dumfries And Galloway
  Kirkconnell Tower, Dumfries and Galloway
  Lochhouse Tower, Dumfries and Galloway
  Lochwood Castle, Dumfries and Galloway







Lochwood Castle
Lochmaben Castle ruins date from the mid 14th century, although there was an earlier timber structure on the site. Built by the ancestors of Robert the Bruce, the castle stands close to Castle Loch & the village of Lochmaben

Photograph by Lynne Kirton. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Lochwood Castle
Lochmaben Castle

Photograph by Lynne Kirton. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Lochwood Castle
Lochmaben Castle. Some restoration work has recently been completed on the castle. This view shows the moat.

Photograph by Lynne Kirton. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

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