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Closeburn Castle and the Kirkpatrick Family

7/7/2018

5 Comments

 
PictureCloseburn Castle

​Closeburn Castle, built ca. 1180, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited castles in Scotland and belonged to the Kirkpatrick family. It is located 1 km east of the village of Closeburn, and 2 km southeast of Thornhill in Dumfriesshire, Scotland.



The progenitor of the Kirkpatricks was IVON (pronounced Ewan). He had been instrumental in expelling the Norse people, in 1200's under king William the lion ,and later his son Alexander II . As a result he was granted lands in Annandale in the area called Kirkpatrick Dumfrieshire. The charter granting the land to Ivon was dated 5th of August, 1232. 

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​The original tower house was built on a promontory in a now drained loch. It was surrounded by a timber palisade, and later, a stone walled barmkin, or defensive courtyard, with round towers at the corners. The tower is approximately 14.5 m by 10.5 m, and rises 15 m to a flush parapet. Inside, a vaulted basement incorporated a prison. A hall above is also vaulted, with a third vault at roof level enclosing three upper storeys. The first-floor entrance to the tower still retains its iron yett, a defensive gate of metal bars.
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The barmkin was presumably demolished to make way for the 17th century manor. When the family returned to the tower in the mid 18th century, the upper chambers were subdivided, and windows were enlarged to improve the standard of accommodation. The crenellations were added to the parapet around this time. Further renovations were carried out in the 19th century; a single story extension was added to the southwest, and a red sandstone porch was added to the north side after 1856.
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Picture
The Kirkpatrick family lived in Closeburn Castle for approximately 700 years, until 1778. The Closeburn castle burned down in 1748 ,destroying most (but not all) of the family portraits and documents. Finally the estate was sold in 1778 for Ł500,000.  ​
​
Closeburn Castle is available to overnight guests and is owned by a branch of the Kirkpatrick family on the Spanish side. (That is another story!)  You may book a stay at their website:  
https://www.scottscastles.com/scotland/southern-scotland/closeburn-castle-757.html#overview

The cost (in English pounds) is approximately 116 pounds per head, per night.

More on the history of the castle, the Kirkpatrick's and each individual member can be found under the Family History & Genealogy link at the top of the page.
More pictures of Closeburn Castle:

Sources:
"History of Dumfries" by William McDowall
Scotts Castle Holidays; URL: https://www.scottscastles.com/scotland/southern-scotland/closeburn-castle-757.html#overview
Kirkpatrick Web; URL: http://kirkpatrickweb.co.uk/kirkpatrickstory.html
Closeburn Castle; Wikipedia; URL: ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closeburn_Castle
5 Comments
My great grandfather kirkpatrick
9/28/2021 11:34:57 am

Part of our family resides outside of country but is my great grandfathers

Reply
Vicky link
9/28/2021 01:29:03 pm

It is good to hear from a Kirkpatrick cousin, I am glad you found my website. Thank you for your post!

Reply
Robert Wayne Kirkpatrick
1/3/2022 08:54:05 am

I have wondered into an area that I am not familiar with. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.
I am from Amos Kirkpatrick line; Indiana,Ohio,Kansas - Now me Academy,Texas. email, rkirk72@yahoo.com

Delores Porter
1/10/2023 03:12:38 pm

My Mom's Mother married a Kirkpatrick, her sister married his brother. There is a Kirkpatrick family cemetery in Tennessee. My grandfather died when my mom was five so I don't know a lot about his family he's first name was Benton. I would love to find out!!

Reply
Vicky link
1/11/2023 08:17:32 am

Hi Dolores - I am happy you found my blog. I have a lot of history and links regarding the Kirkpatricks I have researched at this link: https://www.seibelfamily.net/kirkpatrick-main.html You can cut/paste the URL or click on the Family History link at the top of the page then scroll down to Kirkpatrick and click on the name. There are also 2 Kirkpatrick facebook pages where you can find out even more. One is Kirkpatrick Family Association (a new Clan Kirkpatrick association just formed this year and is free for 2023) and Kirkpatrick Genealogy. Both are great for connecting. Good luck in your search and be sure and to read all the other information I have on the Family History link at the top of the page!

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    My name is Vicky, and after researching my family history since 1999, I have found amazing stories that need to be told.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

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