Scheduled MonumentsScotlandCardoness Castle

Cardoness Castle

Scotland
HES SM90058
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Cardoness Castle is a late medieval tower house situated in Kirkcudbrightshire, south-western Scotland, dating from the fifteenth century. The castle was built by the McCulloch family and stands as a well-preserved example of a Scottish tower house, featuring the characteristic vertical stone construction typical of the period. The structure comprises a rectangular main tower with corner turrets and originally included defensive features suited to the frontier conditions of the borderlands. Cardoness remained in use until the early seventeenth century and was later abandoned, but the substantial remains of its masonry survive to demonstrate the architectural conventions and defensive requirements of late medieval Scottish domestic fortifications.

Cardoness Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90058. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Cardoness Castle?

Cardoness Castle is a late medieval tower house situated in Kirkcudbrightshire, south-western Scotland, dating from the fifteenth century. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90058.

Who is responsible for protecting Cardoness Castle?

Cardoness Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90058.

What other scheduled monuments are near Cardoness Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Plunton Castle,Lennox Plunton (4.8 km), Knockbrex Fort, 55m ENE of Doonwood (5.9 km), Ardwall Island,chapels & cemetery (6 km).

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