Dunsyre Castle
Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Dunsyre Castle
Classification Tower House (Medieval)
Canmore ID 48815
Site Number NT04NE 14
NGR NT 0716 4766
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/48815
- Council South Lanarkshire
- Parish Dunsyre
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Clydesdale
- Former County Lanarkshire
NT04NE 14 0716 4766 to 0754 4791.
(NT 0716 4766) The castle of Dunsyre stood on the banks of the Medwyn, about 300 yds from the church. It seems to have been built on a plan so common in the Scottish towers and peels, the lower storey being vaulted and surmounted by two others approached by a circular staircase in the thickness of the well at one of the corners. The courts of the barony continued to be held within it so late as the early part of the last (18th) century.
G V Irving and A Murray 1864; New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845
The most likely site is approximately 450m S of the church, on the banks of the S Medwin. This is a slightly raised platform, but there is no trace of any building foundations.
Visited by OS (JD) 10 June 1955
According to local information, the tower is said to have stood on a flat-topped low knoll at NT 0754 4791. (400m from the church)
Visited by OS (DWR) 21 July 1971
