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Comlongon Castle is a restored 14th century Medieval Scottish Castle and luxurious Baronial Hotel.
 
Comlongon Castle is regarded as one of the finest preserved examples of a Border stronghold. It is built of pink dressed sandstone, with a rubble insert, on a wide plinth base, to act as a strengthener on what was once marsh ground. Measuring 50 feet square and standing 70 feet high, it retains many original and unusual features.

The Great Hall

(long since gone), was replaced by a wooden beam unequal in length, propped up on one end by a carved pillar. Above the lintel is a unique carved 11th century overmantle depicting various plants and heads emanating from a dragon's breath, believed to depict the ancient Celtic legend of the green man, or god of spring. To the right of the fire is a small dressing room where the laird would have changed into a variety of outfits, to entertain a constant stream of business delegations and social guests. The hall is lit by high window recesses, positioned to catch the rising and setting sun through the coloured glass panels set within. Leading off the hall are three alcoves, which would have been screened by hangings or tapestries to accord some privacy for those members of the lairds family not directly involved in the activities conducted within the Great Hall. The original flagstone floor would have been covered in woven reed mats, these in turn would be almost buried under dried flowers and herbs, producing a giant pot pourri effect. However, due to the extreme fire risk presented by the tinder box dry floor coverings, illumination through traditional tallow candles was a potentially hazardous affair. Consequently most of the castle's light came from the huge fireplaces, which would have given off far more heat than required and so were designed to be expelled from the building up the huge chimney, radiating through the stone work to centrally heat the upper levels. To the left of the fire, on the south wall is an elaborate sideboard or aumbry grooved for shelves. Made from carved arched stone window surrounds, they appear to have been reclaimed from an earlier religious structure. An aumbry (originally almry, a place for alms) such as this was fairly common in Scottish tower houses and would have been used to hold sacred vessels for the mass, but later for the safe keeping of valuables or as buffets for display of stacking plate or pewter. An aumbry was always conveniently placed near the fireplace at the end of the high table. At the opposite end of the fireplace is a small hatch, or servery, which conceals the kitchen area. When the castle was first constructed, the cooking area would have been screened by a painted wooden wall, then this was replaced by a stone wall filling the archway. At a later date its function evolved to one of merely reheating food for serving, as the kitchen had been relocated in the castle courtyard. The room adjacent to the kitchen was a waiting room or "withdrawing room" where servants would retire between courses to keep out of sight of the laird's guests. Immediately entering the Great Hall, a chamber leads off to the right. Down a series of winding steps is the guard room, pledge chamber and pit, all contained within 13 feet thick walls. Set in the guard room is a small hatch measuring 2 feet by 2 feet allowing access to the dismal pit, 18 feet by 5 feet and some 11 feet deep. This hatch was covered by a series of wooden doors, packed with wool or leather, so designed as to make the only entrance soundproof and virtually airtight. This pit was used for the intimidation of prisoners awaiting the eventual payment of ransom, part of the darker side of castle life. Stronghold

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Built in the early 1400's by the Murray family, descendants of the Earl of Moray, standard bearer at the battle of Bannockburn, Comlongon guarded the approaches to Scotland from the Solway Firth. Its massive 14 foot thick walls have stood witness to generations of bitter Border conflict. Surviving this period with remarkably few scars it remains in such good condition it is regarded by the Royal Scottish Architectural Society as one of the most impressive strongholds of its age to survive.

Although lapsing into disrepair in the 17th century, the castle and estate suffered a period of neglect until, in 1880, the Earl of Mansfield restored the castle and built an extension in the form of a sumptuous Baronial mansion.

During the Second World War the building was occupied by Dr. Barnardos, housing orphans for two decades. Happily, in more recent times, the castle has entered a peaceful period becoming, from 1984, one of Scotland's premier venues to host wedding ceremonies.

Upon climbing a short series of steps, one reaches the arched entrance, this doorway is the only way in and out of the keep and was so consequently formidably protected. Firstly a huge 4 inch thick studded oak door faced any intruder. However, this was vulnerable to a concerted attack, and not fire proof, so immediately behind was hinged an iron gate or yett.

The yett was an ingenious defensive feature, wrought in such a fashion as to make it almost impossible to dismantle. Indeed, so difficult to deal with were these yetts that, in 1606 the privy council ordered their destruction in all strong places in the Borders as a consequence of the endemic local feuding. Comlongon managed to retain its original yett by virtue of Sir Charles Murray who was made warden of the western marches in 1459.

Behind this yett, on the right is a porters' recess. The porter was considered an important official, as in the first instance it was his responsibility to either grant or deny access for visitors to the castle.

The lower level or the barrel vaulted chamber served as a secure storage chamber for the keep. This chamber was divided into two levels, the lowest containing the well fed by a natural spring. This was vital in case of siege. On this ground level, fuel and fodder were stored. The upper level contained food for all the castle occupants, hopefully above any vermin infestation. Meat hooks can still be seen projecting from the ceiling.

The basement contains a display of three mummified cats, uncovered during recent excavation, believed to have been sealed up alive whilst the castle was under construction. These relics were thought to protect the occupants from evil spirits. The whole basement is designed to be virtually fireproof in the case of accident or attack, or to burn out rapidly before consuming the upper residential levels.

There are two staircases leading from the basement to the next level. The first is a small access staircase designed as a private passage between the levels for the family. The second links all the levels of the keep, terminating at the battlements. The second door up this staircase, decorated with shields, leads to an impressive stone flagged chamber measuring some 31 feet by 21 feet - the Great Hall.

Castle Life


The practice of kidnapping individuals and demanding ransom, 'the black meal' (blackmail) was a widespread activity in the Border region, generating a vast amount of wealth for the families individually engaged in such activity.

Most strongholds in the region employed groups of mercenaries known as reivers (or

Raiders). These highly motivated soldiers would organise bloody Border raids to loot and kidnap, indeed to be visited by such a raiding party coined the phrase, to be bereaved. Once an individual was taken, he was dragged back to the castle, shackled

and lowered through the hatch to the pit below and sealed (the shackles can still be seen on the wall of the Guard Room today).

This left the unfortunate soul trapped in a foul smelling, soundproof, pitch black dungeon, confined until a ransom was agreed to be paid. Starved if necessary, the prisoner was eventually dragged from the pit and placed in the next room, the pledge chamber. The exact terms of the pledge, or ransom, were carefully negotiated and written in the form of a contract, witnessed and signed. From then on the treatment greatly improved, achieving the status of an honoured guest under arrest, evidenced by the en-suite facilities provided (the Garderobe).

Ransoms at this time were usually paid in the form of sheep or cattle, resulting in certain families amassing considerable fortunes and creating some of the most powerful and influential families in the borders. Once the ransom arrived at the castle, the prisoner was released to return home to his family.

Continuing up the main staircase  gains access to the upper floors, above the Great Hall is a large open plan room, a solar, where the laird's family would sleep in a dormitory style room, hence the need for curtains around four poster beds. This room in the 16th century was subdivided into segregated sleeping arrangements. Above the solar chamber was the servants quarters known as the "windy hall", presumably this level was unglazed. The staircase then terminates at the battlements which run completely around the castle, encompassing parapets, murder holes, garrets, watch towers and guard house. It is believed that the barracks could contain up to 20 mercenaries. This level has been greatly altered over the centuries, originally being constructed from wood.

It is clear that preconceptions about life in a castle often cloud perceptions. Far from the bare draughty structures imagined, these buildings were warm pleasant, often luxurious places. When one remembers the owners of such castles were by modern day standards multi-millionaires, it is quite conceivable every comfort available at the time would be utilised to increase living standards, and as such, for those within the castle the surroundings would have been most pleasant.

The Ghost On the 25th September 1570 it was recorded that the Lady Marion Carruthers "did willfully take her own life by leaping from the lookout tower of Comlongon Castle" where she was being held captive and did "break her head and bones". Subsequently it was noticed that no grass would grow on the spot where she fell and an apparition of a young lady was often seen in and around the castle, usually crying. The events which lead up to her death began when her father, Sir Simon Carruthers, Baron of Mouswald Castle some four miles away from here, was persuaded to leave his estate to his two daughters, Marion and Janet, since he had no son. The powerful Douglas family of Drumlanrig had designs on the estate and Sir James Douglas obtained consent to marry Marion and thus get her part of it. However another local Baron, Lord Maxwell of nearby Caerlaverock Castle, took and occupied Mouswald Castle, hoping to thwart the Douglas claim. They however contested his right to occupy the castle stating that they had prior rights by way of a marriage contract. The case was settled by Privy Council in 1563 when Marion was ordered into the wardenship of Borthwick Castle and told not to try to return home until the marriage was settled. However she did escape and sought sanctuary in Comlongon Castle, owned by her uncle, Sir William Murray, and shortly after gave over half of her dowry to him, hoping this would persuade James Douglas not to enforce the marriage contract. However he was not to be dissuaded and instead sued through the courts for his 'just inheritance' i.e. Marion's estate, and he won the case. Marion was ordered to surrender herself to James. Possibly distressed to the point of madness after such a long battle to avoid marriage she threw herself from the battlements or so it was said. However, long after her death rumours began which suggested that some of Douglas's men gained access to her chamber and tossed her from the battlements. Thus James Douglas was able to obtain her half of the Mouswald Estate, without having to marry her. Because suicide was suspected at the time, poor Marion was not given a proper Christian burial and so it is believed that she haunts the castle forever looking for a proper resting place.