Baldoon Castle facts for kids

Baldoon Castle was an old castle from the 1500s. It was located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southwest of Wigtown, in an area of Scotland called Dumfries and Galloway. The castle stood just south of the river Bladnoch.

History of Baldoon Castle

The Dunbar family of Westfield owned Baldoon Castle for nearly 300 years. They received the property in 1533 or 1534. It was a special gift from King James V to Archibald Duncan.

What's Left of Baldoon Castle Today

Not much of Baldoon Castle remains standing now. You can still see a part of the south wall. This wall shows where at least three other walls used to connect to it on the north side.

About 50 meters (164 feet) to the north, you can also find the remains of an old entrance gateway. This gateway was built in the 1600s. Experts say it is a great example of Renaissance style architecture.

The gateway has tall stone pillars, called piers. These piers have cool designs with rough-looking stone blocks. These blocks are placed between smooth, diamond-shaped patterns. On top, the piers have decorative edges called cornices and fancy carved tops that look like scrolls.

Because of its historical importance, the gate piers are officially recognized as a Category A Listed Building. This means they are a very important historical site in Scotland.

The Castle's Ghost Story

People say that Baldoon Castle is haunted! The ghost of a woman named Janet Dalrymple of Carscreugh is believed to still wander around the old ruins.

Images for kids

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  A view of the remaining walls of Baldoon Castle.