Douglas Sites of Historical Importance; Influential Friends, Family and Enemies
Lesmahagow Priory was affiliated with Kelso Abbey. The Douglas family stored their charters at the Priory until 1289.
Hermanston in the East Lothians; lands in this manor were granted to Archibald Douglas by the Earl of Fife in the early 13th century; later given to Andrew of Douglas, uncle to William le Hardi; these ruins are of a later tower held by the St. Clairs.
Dalserf was given to William de Galbrathe and his wife Willelma de Douglas, sister of le Hardi. This is the Dalserf Kirk near the old manor.
Lochmaben Castle was being built by Edward I in 1297 when the young Earl of Carrick Robert Bruce kidnapped Lady Douglas and her children from Douglas Castle.
The mischief making monks of Melrose used their manor in Mauchline where this later tower still resides, to create some problems for Lord Douglas in Ayrshire.
Duffus Castle was once a stronghold of the de Morays, built by Freskin de Moray, ancestor of the Douglas family..
Brice of Douglas was the Bishop of Moray. He built Spynie Palace as the Bishop's residence; it was moved after his death in 1222.
In the barns of the Pittarrow mains are the stored remains of the dismantled castle of the Baron of the Mearns. Sir John Wishart was a long time friend of William le Hardi and assisted him in the raid of the heart at Fawside.
St. Ninian's in Whithorn was built as a shrine to the Saint; his cave nearby was visited by many including the Douglases and King Robert I shortly before he passed in 1329. Eleanora Douglas held lands in dower in Wigtownshire as heiress of the Lord of Galloway. Archibald the Grim, grandson of le Hardi was later Earl of Wigtownshire.
