Mains Of Auchenfranco
Castle (Medieval), Moat (Medieval)
Site Name Mains Of Auchenfranco
Classification Castle (Medieval), Moat (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Auchenfranco Farm, Castle
Canmore ID 65032
Site Number NX87SE 4
NGR NX 8928 7241
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/65032
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Lochrutton
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Stewartry
- Former County Kirkcudbrightshire
NX87SE 4 8928 7241
(NX 8928 7241) Auchenfranco Castle (NR) (Site of)
OS 6" map (1957)
The site of a castle on Auchenfranco farm. It is enclosed by a ditch in the form of a rhombus, at the E corner of which is an opening where it is supposed that a drawbridge has been. No remains of the castle or building now stands, but the present farmer of Auchenfranco states that about 25 years ago small portions of the work were standing, which he removed for building purposes. Its present appearance would indicate that it has at one time been a place of great strength.
OS Name Book 1850.
All that is visible at this site are the remains of a moat which has been reduced by ploughing to a maximum depth of 0.9m. It encloses a rectangular area 35.0m NE-SW by 27.0m. No entrance or causeway was located across the ditch and although the interior is irregular it is not possible to discern the plan of the castle.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (DWR), 13 November 1973.
This site is listed in an Atlas of Scottish History (McNeill and MacQueen 1996) as a moated site.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), September 1997.
Field Visit (1996 - 2003)
Russell Coleman managed an Historic Scotland funded project to record medieval moated sites in Scotland. Gazetteers were produced for each regional council area between 1996 and 2002 with an uncompleted overall review in 2002-03. The results of the first year of the project were published in Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal, Volume 3 (1997).
