Castlewigg History Gallery


Castlewigg House and the surrounding Gardens & Land, are privately owned by Mr & Mrs Fisher of Castlewigg farm, and with Their kind permission it can be viewed. I would also like to thank Morag Fisher for her Kind permission to include the period photographs.


CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK BUTTON TO RETURN.

Here we can see Castlewigg house, This was taken circa 1905-1920. The House you see here was built
around 1800, incorporating the earlier Castle which was built in 1593, Which itself replaced an even ealier Round tower bulit in the 14th Century.
Sadly The old House lays in ruins now, as a great fire swept through it in June of 1933, no attempt was ever made to re build it.
It is somewhat over grown now, and the once proud gardens and plantations of Great
Trees are pretty much left to nature, but it is still a wonderful place, very eerie, and full of wildlife.
You can still see an ancient Cedar of Lebanon Fir, an equally ancient Monkey Puzzle, Various Oaks, Beeches, Yews & Firs of great size & age, Laurels & Rhododendrons in great profusion.
Compare the pictures now & then. Take note of the Cedar of Lebanon slightly to the left of the house,
The Cedar still stands proudly in the overgrown gardens.
Here is a close up, Below its boughs there now is a Pheasant rearing pen.
Here is an early view of a staircase with a Grandfather clock standing proudly.
The same view today.
Here we have a photo of one of the front rooms that look out to the Galloway hills.
Here we have a photo of the Dining room.

A more in-depth history


The Candida Casa Priory formed by St Ninian,
were the original owner of the lands of Wigg.
A charter shows that, after the  Reformation, Robert, Commentator of
Whithorn, Sold five merkland of Wigg to Patrick Vans of Barnbarroch.
John Vans, his son, Sold the lands of Wigg to Archibald Stewart
Of Tonderghie in  1584. The Old Round Tower, or Castle of Wigg, is Thought
To Have been built by Stewart, Who was the second son of the Laird of Tonderghie.
The Original Old doorway to this house can still be seen in the ruins,
above the door is a panel which
Bares the Arms of the Stewart of Garlies,
(from whom descended the Stewarts of Tonderghie, and then of Wigg).
It also bares the Initials of Archibald Stewart & his wife Helen McKerlie and the date 1593.

The first Statistical Account Of Scotland written 1791-1799
Contains an account of Whithorn
Mentioned, on page 279 Vol 16.


The face of the country is improving daily, not only by the cultivation bestowed up the land,
but by a passion for planting which shows itself among the landowners.
From the subterraneous timbers
Found in all the mosses, it appears that this peninsula had once been well clothed with Oaks,
Firs, Etc. It was afterwards rendered perfectly bare, of every tree & shrub.
About the year 1722, William Agnew late of Castlewigg, began to plant upon his estate,
and may be considered as the father of this important species of this improvement in
this neighbourhood. His nephew Hugh Hathorne, Esq. Succeeded him, and planted with
great spirit and success; so that now, every species of Oak, Ask, Beech, and Fir,
are in great perfection in the forest; and these with single rows, verges and clumps,
have a very happy effect upon the appearance of the country.
The beeches upon this estate are of very large girth, and great height; and the
Balm of Gilead Fir is superior to any I ever saw. The seed of this Fir is sent to London market,
and is equal to any sold there.
Here an attention to the beautiful and useful, appears to great advantage in Spring and early summer,
when the larches and cherry trees adorn the verges: Those with their well known lustre,
and these with charming flowers, rich foliage, and shining bark.
Captain Hathorn inherits his father’s spirit as a planter and has done, and is doing much
in the way of embellishing his estate. Many things encourage him in an employment
so worthy of a man of fortune, Particularly the situation of the family seat, a venerable old castle,
exhibiting a view of the state and hospitality of the Scottish barons. Its lodging rooms
are numerous, and both these and the public rooms are large, considering the time in
which they were built. The seat looks down upon a fine low country, Of extent enough to
give the best effect to a grand chain of mountains, which are adorned by woods running
along the bases, and washed by the river Cree. It also has a view of the Bay of Wigton.
The Vessels moving upon this bay and the river now mentioned,
add much to the beauty of the scene.
The garden is large, continued in the ancient style to correspond to the house,
and well provided with fruit. The box hedges and yews are remarkable for their beauty,
and several curious plants flourish here, particularly the Tulip tree.
Now
Sadly The old House lays in ruins now, as a great fire swept through it in June of 1933,
no attempt was ever made to re build it.
It is privately owned now by Mr Roy Fisher of Castlewigg farm, and with his kind permission it can be viewed.
It is somewhat over grown now, and the once proud gardens and plantations of great
Trees are pretty much left to nature, but it is still a  wonderful place, very eerie, and full of wildlife.
You can still see an ancient Cedar of Lebanon Fir, an equally ancient Monkey Puzzle,
Various Oaks, Beeches, Yews & Firs of great size & age, Laurels & Rhododendrons in great profusion.

Castlewigg lodge,
Was originally built as a Dower House (Widows Cottage)
For the Castlewigg estate. It was originally called Castlewigg Cottage.
It is uncertain exactly when it was actually built, But Various estimates date it to Circa 1850-1875.
I personally have inspected all the roof/attic spaces, and have found that all the single story rooms,
and the rear kitchen, with 2 bedrooms above, also the Utility room,  were added later in date.
I think it was built originally as a 2 Bed roomed 2 story cottage,
All the later extensions having been added by 1895 as they appear on an estate map of this date.
There have been many owners of Castlewigg lodge (cottage) over the years, it was once owned by
Sir Herbert Maxwell of Monreith. 1845-1937.
It was made into a Hotel in 1949,
We purchased Castlewigg hotel in 2003 in a really sad neglected state,
and over the last 4 years have been slowly renovating it room by room,
It is not totally finished yet, just a few more rooms to go.



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