200 BUITTLE. 



four examples of pure Norman castle, of which we have ocular 

 evidence, erected in Galloway. These were Lochfergus, Buittle, 

 Doon, and Cruggleton. Buittle was pre-eminently a Norman 

 castle, and, so far as our investigations have gone, it was built by 

 Roland, Lord of Galloway, during the 12th century. Only the 

 site, and part of a ruined gateway, remain, but these are sufficient 

 to show that it was not only Norman in construction, but also a 

 very extensive and strong building. The walls seem to have been 

 about four feet thick, and the mound on which the castle stood 

 measures somewhere about 138 by 99 feet, and is oval in appear- 

 ance. This mound was encircled by a ditch, which was filled 

 with water from the Urr, and from the Solway tides, which then 

 came up as far as the castle. The special features of a Norman 

 castle were, that it was almost invariably surrounded by a ditch 

 called "the fosse," and within the "fosse," towards the main 

 building, was placed its wall, about eight or ten feet thick, and 

 from 20 to 30 feet high, with a parapet and embrazures called 

 " crenels " on the top. From these " crenels " the defenders dis- 

 charged arrows, darts, and other missiles. This wall can be 

 traced at Buittle. The great gate was flanked by a tower on each 

 side, W'ith rooms over the entrance, which were closed by massive 

 doors of oak plated with iron. From these rooms the warder 

 raised or lowered the drawbridge, and worked the portcullis. 

 The existing ruins, which we see, formed a part of such towers, 

 and the principal entrance. In the centre of all stood the great 

 " keep " or tower, generally four or five stories in height. This 

 formed the dwelling proper of the baron. As Buittle was sur- 

 rounded by water on all sides, except the nortli, the barbican 

 surrounded the large mound which we also see. This large 

 mound formed the courtyard, and w-as the only vulnerable part of 

 the defences. 



" Botle," as the castle was then called, was first inhabited by 

 Alan, but wdien he succeeded his father and went to reside at 

 Lochfergus, it was occupied by Dervorguil. The name " Botle " 

 means "a dwelling," or as some authorities have it, "a royal 

 dwelling." Alan died at I^ochfergus in 1234, and left three 

 daughters — Helena, Dervorguil, and Christian, along with an 

 illegitimate son, Thomas. Helena married Roger de Quenci, 

 Earl of Winchester, Dervorguil married John de Balliol, and 

 Christian married William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle. 



