362 Vestiges of the Castle of Dumfries. 



II. — Vestiges of the Castle of Dumfries. By Mr James 

 Barbour, F.S.A. (Scot.). 



As far back as the reign of William the Lion a Castle of 

 Dumfries existed, as appears from charters of that time describing 

 tenements as lying between the Castle and the church. Later, 

 about the year 1259, the Castle is mentioned as the place where 

 the trial by jury of Richard, son of Robert, son of Elsa, for the 

 murder of Adam the Miller was held. And frequent references 

 to it occur in ancient documents relating to the period of the 

 Edwardian wars. 



Geographically, the Castle appears sufficiently authenticated. 

 A report by an English official prepared between the years 1563 

 and 1566, printed in Armstrong's " Liddesdale," and given also 

 in Mr William Dickie's " Dumfries and Round About," conveys 

 a clear idea of its situation. 



"The old Castle of Dumfries," the report says, "five miles 

 and a half within the mouth of Nith, standing upon the side of 

 the same, very good for a fort. The plat and ground thereof in 

 manner like to Roxburgh Castle. It may late (command) the 

 town and the bridge of Dumfries, and receive boats of ten tons 

 as said is furth of England. 



The town of Dumfries standeth vi. miles within the 

 mouth of Nith, the head town of the shire. The Lord Maxwell 

 hath a fair house, battled, within this town, but not tentable 

 nor strong against any battery of guns." 



The terms of this report show that the Castle of Dumfries 

 stood on the side of the river half a mile below the town, a 

 description which coincides with the place called Castledykes ; 

 and the castle which occupied the site of Greyfriars' Church in 

 the centre of the town is differentiated as a house of the 

 Maxwells. 



Vestiges of the ancient Castle of Dumfries are thus to be 

 looked for at Castledykes — a name suggestive of the existence of 

 a castle fortified with dykes. Earthen fortifications were usually 

 called dykes. At Carstairs a Roman camp with fortifications of 

 this character was called Castledykes, and in Barbour's " Bruce " 

 dykes is the term used : — 



The Inglis men sa clossyt had 



Thair ost, with dykis that thai maid. 



That thai war strenthit gretumly. 



