50 Tue CASTLE OF DUMFRIES. 
the town of Dumfries towards the castle. Following St. Michael 
Street southwards past Craigs Road we shortly arrive at the place 
bearing the suggestive name of “ Castledykes,’’ which apparently 
represents the ancient Castle of Dumfries of the Kelso Charters ; 
and confirmatory evidence is forthcoming. 
Sir Eustace de Maxwell of Carlaverock held the office of 
Sheriff of Dumfries for Edward III. of England in 1335, and an 
item of his account of the revenues reads :—‘ Of the mote of the 
castle and certain royal lands called Kingsholm at Dumfries, which 
were won’t to be worth 60 shillings, there is no reply ’’ (being 
waste). The Castle and Kingholm are here conjoined, as Castle- 
dykes and Kingholm lie adjacent to-day. As usual a chapel was 
connected with the castle. The Chapel of the Castle of Dumfries 
was in part a subject in dispute between Ralph, dean of Dum- 
fries, and the Convent of Kelso in the beginning of the thirteenth 
century, and mention is made of it in several documents. Dr 
George Neilson, in a communication made to the Dumfries and 
Galloway Antiquarian Society in February, 1905, exhibited a 
document concerning the “ crukitakyr’’ on the road from the 
Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin at Castledykes, dated 26th 
March, 1532. Its interest lay, Dr Neilson said, in the mention 
of the Castle Chapel of St. Mary in Castledykes. 
But the most conclusive document connecting Castledykes 
with the ancient castle of Dumfries is a manuscript report made 
by a military officer of the English Government about the period 
1563 to 1566, regarding the defensive condition of Dumfries. 
The distinctive name, “ The Old Castle of Dumfries,’’ is repeated, 
showing its identity with the castle of the early charters. “The 
Aulde Castell of Dumfreis,’’ the report proceeds, “ fyve myles and 
a half within the mowth of the Nytht, standing upon the side of 
the same, very good for a fort. The platt and ground thereof in 
manner lyke to Roxburght Castell ; it may late the town and the 
brige of Dumfreis and receive boates of ten tounes as said ys furtht 
of Englonde. Distant from Holm lordship over the revare of 
Sulvaye xvi. myles. . . . This towne of Dumfreis standeth 
vi. myles within the mowth of the Nytht the head towne of the 
Schyre. The lord Maxwell hatht a fair house battled within the 
towne, but not tentable nor strong agains any battery or 
gownes.’’* 
fo | 
* Armstrong’s ‘‘ Leddesdale,”’ 
