Craiginillar Castle — Its Historical Associations. 25 



have occurred, as usual in such matters, from time 

 to time. Thus we find it referred to in ancient 

 documents as Cragmillar, Craigmillare, Cragmeloure, 

 Cragmelor, and Cragmulor. As to when or by whom 

 the castle was built history is, however, silent/ The 

 earliest record of Craigmillar is in 11 37- when David I. 

 gave to the Holy Trinity Church of Dunfermline, in 

 perpetual gift, some houses in Craigmillar, with several 

 acres of arable land. The next authentic notice of 

 Craigmillar is in 121 2, and is found in a charter of 

 mortification granted in the reign of Alexander II. by 

 William, son of Henricus de Craigmillar. In this 

 charter William gives " in pure and perpetual alms, 

 to the church and monastery of Dunfermline, a certain 

 toft of land in Craigmillar, in the southern part 

 thereof, which leads from the town of Nedrieff 

 [Niddry] to the church of Libberton, which Henricus 

 de Edmonstone holds of him." ^ Craigmillar after- 



^ In ' Castellated Architecture of Scotland ' Messrs M'Gibbon 

 and Ross give their opinion that Craigmillar must have been built 

 in the fourteenth century. 



■^ See ' Historical and Statistical Account of the Town and Parish 

 of Dunfermline,' by the Rev. Dr Chalmers, vol. ii. pp. 228, 229. 



B 2 



