Dunskey Castle is a ruined, 16th-century tower house or castle, built by the Adair family at the site of an earlier 12th-century castle. It is located south of the village of Portpatrick, Rhinns, Wigtownshire, on the south-west coast of Scotland.
Dunskey Castle is a scheduled monument, a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
Description The three-storey L-plan structure is sited on a promontory, with a rock-cut ditch, wide by deep, defending the only access, from the north-east. The castle measures , with walls thick, although the building is now a roofless shell. The north-east wing is of a later date, and the foundations of a south range are visible. Near the castle are the remains of a watchtower, square, built on the cliff edge. Timothy Pont's map drawn c. 1580 – 1590 shows Dunskay Castle with 2 watchtowers on the cliff edge fronting the sea. Francis Grose's drawing dated show of 10 May 1790s the ruins of the foundations and sea-wall on the south, and what looks to be the large entrance door in the southern corner from where the inside staircase may have led straight up to the new "Hall" built c.1520. Grose's drawing shows Ireland (approx. Island Magee / Larne area) in the background across the sea.
In virtue of a tradition preserved in the Book of Leinster, W. J. Watson identifies the place named in it as Port Rig (Portrie, Portree) with the later Portpatrick, connecting 'Rig' with Reregonium, which he regards as the royal town of the Novantae and places in this region. He would thus carry Portpatrick's history back to the first century of our era, while he dates a rather later reference to about AD 250.History of the Celtic Placenames of Scotland. Portpatrick was known as the port of Castle Dunskey.
Dunskey is undoubtedly romantic. It was a location for the 1951 film Kidnapped of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Double X: The Name of the Game (1992), as well as for the 1952 film Hunted.
The owner restricts public access to the castle.
13th and 14th centuries In the 1290s, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, had a licence from Edward I of England, reigned 1272–1307) to dig for lead in the Calf of Man (off the coast of the Isle of Man), to cover eight towers of the Cruggleton Castle / Crogiltoun Castle in Wigtownshire. Was Dunskey Castle built about this time ?Chalmer's Caledonia (vol. iii. p. 372), quoted by Cumming (History of the Isle of Man, p. 307) and in 1291 the nearby Wigtown Castle was in the hands of the same Edward I who committed it to the charge of Walter de Currie or Cory / Corry / Coree (laird of Dunskey). King Edward I ultimately conferred Wigtown Castle (and Dunskey Castle ?) on John Balliol the Scottish King (reigned 1292-1296 after which Scotland was without a monarch for 10 years and Sir William Wallace fought the English in 1297, but was defeated at Falkirk in 1298).
By 10 October 1303 Walter de Corry was dead and his lands were taken into the King's hands (King Edward I of England).Fine Rolls, i 483Dumfriesshire and Galloway "Transactions and Journal of Proceedings" Ed: R.C. Reid, pub.1916. Third Series, Vol. IV, p.30 Early History of the Corriesexternal link : http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/sources/rolls.shtmlCalendar of the Fine Rolls. Vol. I. Edward I. AD.1272–1307, p.483 (493 of 798 on external link, Brigham Young University Library copy
On 28 August 1296 the Ragman Rolls for Wigtownshire had been compiled at Berwick-on-Tweed, which time and place King Edward I of England also convened a Parliament of those Scottish nobles summoned by him to attend at the border city. The Wigtownshire roll contained 26 names, and some who were later associated with Dunskey Castle were Thomas de KITHEHILT (Adair of Kinhilt / Kilhilt / Kilhelt); Fergus MakDowylt (MacDowell); Thomas MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh); Andrew (McDowell) de Logan; Dougal MacDowly (MacDowell / McDowell); Gilbert de Hanneth (Hannay); William MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh); Michel MacUlagh (MacCullough); Johan Seneschal (Stewart, from whom descended the Earls of Darnly and Lennox); Maria, Queen of Mann and the Isles.
c. 1326 "Index of Charters, &c. by King Robert I." King Robert I Robert the Bruce (born 1274 reigned 1306-1329 after the Interregnum 1296-1306). p. 27 "In the Roll of Robert the First, marked on the back with this mark, X. 1. Carta to Thomas Edzear (probably Adair) of the lands of Kildonan, in the Rynes, Wigtoun".Another version of Adair / Odeir / Edzear of Dunskey Castle in Portry / Portrie / Port-N-Rye, is : c. AD1326 "Index A. From old vol. XXII Fol. 25 verso – Ane Littill small skine quahirin ar conteinet certane complaintis of deforcementis and of haldingis of landis quhilkis ar decydit be the parliament. Carta Thomas Odeir de terris de Kildonan Dromin Porthie" [ Portrie = Dunsky & Kinhilt ].Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. vol.1 AD1306-1424 p.555, Appendix 2. no.681 c.1600 Kildonan Castle appeared to be a large castle just east of Dunskey Castle, shown on Timothy Pont's map in Blaeu's Atlas.National Library Scotland, Blaeu Atlas. http://maps.nls.uk/atlas/blaeu/page.cfm?id=95
15th & 16th centuries On 10 November 1426 Nigello Adare de Portar (Portrie – Dunskey) was a witness to the restoration of the lands of Lochnaw Lochnaw Castle, by Willelmi de Douglas, dom. de Leswalt to Andree Agnew. This Nigello Adare may have died prior to 1456.
In 1456 Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy of Dunure obtained the ward of Kynhilt (with Dunskey Castle) as shown in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Kennedy – Gilbert of DUNURE "OBTAINS ward of Kynhilt" (Dunskey) see 208 & 347.Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. VI index p.730 It is interesting that R.M.S. vol. II index on p. 1134 BALLIVUS de Carrick, lists p. 94 no.414, 13 February 1450 Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure "REX confirmavit Gilberto Kenedy de Dunure consang. suo, – quod ipse Gilbertus et heredes sui masculi essent caput totius progeniei sue tam in calumpniis quam in aliis articulis et negotiis ad KENKYNOLL pertinere valentibus; unaetum officio ballivi comitatus de Carric et hominum ipsius dectione et cum armorum ostensione in omnibus, sub comite de Carric qui pro tempore fuerit; – que idem Gilb. personaliter resignavit." iv. 182.Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. vol. II, index on p.1134 – was he a bailie & Kenkynol, as Exchequer Roll 1455 shows Gilberti Kenedy, BALLIVI comitatus de carric had ward of Kylnnahelt (Dunskey).Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. vol. VI, pp.73–74
Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure, bailie of Carrick, did not enjoy Dunskey Castle for long as in 1455, Exchequer Rolls of Scotland records that he was compensated for NOT having the ward of Adair.Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Vol. VI pp. 73,75 If he was the same Gilbert, he married Christian Adair and her son, apparently Rolland Adair, must have come of age about 1456. Christian Adair Kennedy was a widow and Dunskey apparently was resigned by Gilbert Kennedy then shown as of Quhiltis which may have been "White Hills" next to/or Kilhilt / Kinhilt, to William Earl of DouglasExchequer Rolls of Scotland. Vol. VI, p.199 who in turn must have assigned it over to Rolland Adair when he came of age.
In 1457 the Exchequer Rolls, Vigtoun (Wigtownshire) listed "Libri Responsionum" notes that Rolandi Adair t. Gilhelt (Kilhelt) had sasine of Crecach, Dunnone, Pennyanach, Kildonan (Dunskey, o'wise Portree see p. 688), Carny, and Lochbeg (Laughbeg or Middle Laigh).Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, vol. IX (appendix) p.666 Carny is shown on Pont's map as "Karn Multibrugh" north of Lefnol (Leffnoll / Lesnoll / Lochnoll) and as "Cairn" on Ainslie's 1782 map of the County of Wigton, in the National Library of Scotland, digital library early maps
In 1486 ADAIR (Adare), Rolland, deceased, father of William Adair (who must have been under-age) the ward of his lands of Kilhelt, Portre (Dunskey), Kildonane and Drummore, had been granted to an Alexander Bruce c.1468 who had had them in error for 18 years. p. 381 error of accounting for 18 years.Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Vol. IX, Index p.688 & pp.376–377, p.381
In 1488 William Adair of Dunskey Castle & Kinhilt and McCulloch of nearby Ardwell, Stoneykirk, were attacked by sheriff Quentin Agnew of Lochnaw Castle and his band of men. Agnew was pursued before the Lords of Council and in 1489 Agnew had to pay for the goods taken, but was entitled to a rebate if he returned them in good order.Act. Dom. Cou. 120. http://www.rps.ac.uk/search.php?action=fc&fn=jamesiv_ms&id=id2751&query=&type=ms&variants=&google=
About 1489 Dunskey / Dunsky Tower House [ otherwise Castle ] was partially burnt by Sir Alexander (Sandy) M'Culloch of Myrtoun Clan McCulloch.Registrum Secreti Sigilli (Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland). Vol. I AD1488-1529, printed 1908 Edin. p.45 nos.350–352; p.138 nos.933 & 935 – 3 March 1499, pardon for McCulloch, along with respites for burning the Place of Dunskay granted to Duncane Makke, litil Gilbert Makke, Johne Clerk Makee & Andro Akersane.
In the early 1500s Dunskey Castle was repaired by the Adairs of Kinhilt (the Hall of Dunskey was rebuilt and was 36feet by 17feet). The Adairs built the Castle of St. John in nearby Stranraer Wigtownshire about 1510.29 August 1496 "Anent the complaynt made be Wilzeam Adaire of Kilhelt and Archibald Makculloch of Ardwell apoun Schir Alexander McCulloch of Mertoune, knicht Clan McCulloch, Owchtre McDowell of Gerthloy (Uchtred McDowell of Garthland) Clan Macdowall, and thare complicis, that quhair thai war dylatit of art and part of the slauchter of umquhile DYONYSE of Hammyltoun, quilkis was slane on Mydsummer evin that last was, in the toune of Wigtoun, thai bean innocent thareof, and was redy al tymes to underly our soverane Lordis lawis tharefore as was allegiit, quharefore the persons forsaid with thare complicis assegit the place of DUNSKAY pertenyng to the sade Wilzeam Adair and rasit fyre and byrnt the sammyn and skaithit the said Wilzeam in househald geire tharethrou, extending to the soume of xl li., throw the quhilk fyre rasing thai birnt ane box pertenyng to Elyse McCulloch quhilk thai had in keping and in it j li. and the skaith of the birnyng of the sade Wilzeam house extending to xx li., and als that thai tuke and spulzeit fra the sade Wilzeam foure horses with a part of barkit hydis, as was rychtsa allegiit, and als fra the sade Archbald McCulloch and his pure folkis insicht gudis of househald to the availe of xxx li., togidder with ix of ky and oxin, xviij of schepe, xvj horses and meris, tane be the sade Schir Alexander and his complicis as was inlikewise allegiit."Acts of the Lords of Council in Civil Causes. vol. II, 1496-1501, pub. 1918. p.38