Port Castle
Building (Period Unknown)(Possible), Castle (Medieval)(Possible), Enclosure (Period Unknown)
Site Name Port Castle
Classification Building (Period Unknown)(Possible), Castle (Medieval)(Possible), Enclosure (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 63131
Site Number NX43NW 7
NGR NX 4270 3580
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/63131
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Glasserton
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Wigtown
- Former County Wigtownshire
NX43NW 7 4270 3580.
(NX 4263 3583) Port Castle (NR) (Remains of)
OS 6" map (1957)
The ruins of Port Castle occupy a strong position on a rocky promontory. The remains of the enclosing walls follow the shape of the peninsula, while the fourth side, built across the neck, completes a rough rectangle, 70' N-S by 85' transversely over 4' thick walls. At the NE angle the outer walls are reduced almost to ground level, but slight indications remains of a rectangular building formed within the angle. Near the centre of the N wall is a rough opening, possibly originally the main entrance. The N wall curves to meet the W wall, which stands 5' high. What seem to be a modern wall lies parallel to the W wall, forming an enclosure. The whole building is ruinous and featureless, which makes dating impossible.
RCAHMS 1912, visited 1911
Generally as described. In NW angle are the footings of a rectangular building measuring internally 5.2m by 4.2m with no entrance in its NE side. The remains do not constitute a castle, merely a walled enclosure, with two small buildings (of uncertain date) in opposing angles.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (DWR) 18 January 1973
Field Visit (16 July 1911)
Port Castle.
The remains of this castle are situated on the coast about ½ m. S. of Physgill House, and 1/3 m. to the SE. of St Nillian's Cave (RCAHMS 1912, No. 3). The site upon which the ruins stand has been one of considerable strength. The buildings have occupied a rocky promontory overlooking the sea towards the S., while to the W. is a deep ravine through which a small stream flows to meet the waters of Luce Bay. The remains of the enclosing walls have of necessity followed the shape of the headland on three sides, while the fourth side, built across the neck of the peninsula, encloses a rough square on plan, measuring about 70' from N. to S., and 85' from E. to W., over walls which have an average thickness of 4'. At the NE. angle the outer walls are reduced almost. to the surface of the ground, but slight indications seem to remain of a rectangular building formed within the angle. Near the centre of the N. wall is a rough opening which possibly indicates the position of the main entrance. The N. wall is curved to meet the W. wall, which stands to a height of fully5'. What seems to be a modern wall has been built parallel to the W. wall, thereby forming an enclosure. The whole building is in a state of ruin and without features of any kind, which renders a suggestion of its probable antiquity impossible.
O.S.M., WIGTOWN, xxxv. SE.
Visited 16th July 1911.
