Comlongon Castle

Comlongon Castle stands in Dumfries and Galloway, twelve kilometres south-east of Dumfries. A 15th-century tower house of red sandstone, it was built on a marshy site and raised on a stone plinth. The entrance still holds its original iron yett, a lattice gate set before the door. Inside, walls up to four metres thick lead to a vaulted cellar with a well and two spiral stairs. The tower is described as exceptionally complete, with no major alterations to its structure. The castle was begun by the Murrays of Cockpool after they gained the lands in the early 14th century. Construction is attributed to Cuthbert of Cockpool in the late 15th century, though a licence was granted to his son John Murray around 1500. The hall on the first floor carries the Royal Arms of Scotland above a large fireplace, and an ornate aumbry shows the family’s wealth. Heraldic emblems appear on projecting corbels, and mural chambers within the walls include bed recesses and a guardroom. Beyond the tower lies a Scottish Baronial mansion added in 1900, designed by local architects John M. Bowie and James Barbour. The mansion’s crow-stepped gables echo the tower’s style, and the whole complex was once a hotel popular for weddings. A walled courtyard and possible moat once surrounded the site, though these were removed when the mansion was built. The castle and mansion are category A listed buildings, recognised for their historical and architectural importance.