 |
||
|
 |
|
|
||
THREAVE CASTLE
| Description | : | The Hall, Threave Castle, Scotland. Castle is situated on an island in the River Dee, about a mile west of the town of Castle Douglas. Legends say Threave Island was home of ancient rulers of Galloway a thousand and more years ago. But there is no trace of their fortress. The towerhouse that dominates island was built for Archibald Douglas (Archibald the Grim), soon after he became Lord of Galloway in 1369. By the time of his death in 1400, Archibald was the most powerful magnate in southern Scotland. When James II took steps to overthrow the Black Douglases 50 years after Archibald's death, it was at Threave the final act of the drama unfolded. The island fortress withstood a two-month siege in the summer of 1455 before the garrison surrendered. After the overthrow of the Black Douglases, Threave reverted to the Crown. Thereafter it played an insignificant role in Scotland's history and, following the surrender of its garrison to the Covenanters in 1640, the castle was partially dismantled and the island abandoned. The ruin was taken into state care shortly before World War I - one of the first great ruined castles to be so protected. Nowadays, visitors reach the island by boat after a long walk from a carpark at Melton Mains Farm.
Original size 17x11@300 dpi |
|
|||||
|
