222 Chapels of Knapdale. 



7th March, 1913. 



Chairman — Mr G, Macleod Stewart. 



Chapels of Knapdale and the Land of Lorne. 



By Mr W. A, Mackinnell. 



[Mr Mackinnell described a cruise through the Western 

 Islands in 191 2, in the course of which several ecclesiastical 

 remains were visited. The lecture was illustrated with a 

 series of excellent lime-light views.] 



25th March, 1913. 



Chairman — Dr W. Semple. 



The Royal Castle of Kirkcudbright. 



By Mr J. Robison, Kirkcudbright. 



By whom, or in whose reign, the royal castle of Kirk- 

 cudbright was built may never be known. It may be ascribed 

 to the reign of David I. (1124-1153), but it may, I think, with 

 a greater degree of accuracy, be ascribed to the reign of his 

 grandson, Malcolm IV. (1153-1165). In both reigns Fergus, 

 the first of the line of the Lords of Galloway, headed rebellions 

 against the Crown, and that occurring in the reign of Malcolm 

 was so serious that it was only at the third attempt that the 

 King succeeded in stamping it out. The Scottish nation had 

 but recently been consolidated, and it is very unlikely indeed 

 that he. after the experience of three strenuous campaigns, 

 would leave the Galwegians in a position to be a menace to 

 the Crown, but would seek to bridle their power by the erec- 

 tion of a castle, which not only was in the immediate vicinity 

 of Lochfergus Castle, the island home of Fergus, but com- 

 manded the river, then the principal, indeed almost the only, 

 entrance into the interior of the country. There is no need 

 here to enter into all the circumstances which led up to the 



