Isle Of Whithorn Castle

Isle of Whithorn Castle is a late 17th century L-plan tower house that has undergone alterations in the mid 18th century and early 19th century. It stands three stories tall and is noted for its charming scale. The most significant alteration was the addition of a round-ended stair turret at the re-entrant angle in the mid 18th century. The interior has seen some fittings and changes to the roofline in the early 19th century. A marriage escutcheon above the door features the initials of Patrick Houston and Margaret Gordon along with the date 1674. The tower is built of rubble and is now painted, with a one and a half storey wing at the rear that is also of rubble, partly rendered.

The south elevation features a blind ground floor and two generous 18th century single light windows on the first and second floors, which are sash and case with 12-pane glazing. At the second floor, two angle turrets are corbelled out on widely spaced corbel stones. Originally, these turrets had individual roofs, but they are now capped by the main roof, likely a change made in the early 19th century.

The main entrance is located at the re-entrant angle, leading into the 18th century stair tower, where the dated panel has been reset above the door. Two additional entrances were likely added in the 18th century to the ground floor main block on the east and west sides. All window openings are single light, sash and case with small pane glazing. The south block features flat skews, while the north jamb has crowsteps. The building is topped with good graded slate roofs.

Inside, the ground floor is vaulted, and a curved 18th century staircase with turned timber balusters runs the full height of the tower. The first floor contains mid 18th century chimneypieces and cornice work in its two chambers, along with a bolection moulded 17th century chimneypiece that survives from that period.