230 Kirkcudbright Castle. 



curtain walls on both sides of the buildings connecting- with 

 the two remaining towers, and these towers themselves, and 

 when this has been accomplished it will be interesting to find 

 out whether the original entrance has been by the river front. 



The two large towers, with the portcullis gateway, 

 present a frontage of about eighty-two feet, increased to over 

 ninety-seven feet if the third and smaller tower is taken into 

 consideration. From the gateway the buildings have ex- 

 tended back about one hundred and fifty-eight feet, and from 

 the drawbridge to the extreme river front the extent is two 

 hundred and seventeen feet. From these figures it will be 

 readily gathered that the castle was one of the largest. 

 Indeed, it is much larger than a fortress like Caerlaverock, 

 which is the best example of a Norman castle in Scotland, 

 and the two large towers are equal to those of Bothwell Castle, 

 which, till the excavations at Kirkcudbright, were recognised 

 as the largest in Scotland. When further excavations are 

 carried out it will not be surprising if it is found that the 

 dimensions of the tower facing the river are even larger. 



During the excavations many interesting finds were 

 made. These included a large amount of pottery, an ancient 

 comb, a pick axe, and a large number of bones, some of which 

 are undoubtedly human. Two marbles, of much the same 

 make as those of the present day, but heavier, were found at 

 the depth of about four feet, and one could hardly help casting 

 the mind back over the centuries and picturing a little lad 

 playing at the immemorial game against the castle wall. 



The discovery of the pottery was of the utmost import- 

 ance in determining the period at which the castle was in 

 occupation, and it was sent to Edinburgh. An interim report 

 has now been received, but until a full report is to hand it 

 will be unsafe to give details. What has already been 

 examined is ascribed to the thirteenth and early fourteenth 

 centuries, and it may well turn out that some of it belongs 

 to a still earlier period. One small piece is painted, and is 

 somewhat similar to a piece in the Guildhall Museum, London. 

 Another piece shows part of a design of a circular brooch. 



Regarding the age of the castle, nothing can be definitely 



I 



