Leswalt

**Leswalt** is a veelage an ceevil pairish in the historical coonty o Wigtounshire in Dumfries an Gallowa, Scotland. It lies atween Portpaitrick and Stranrawer, in the Rhins o Gallowa.  The pairish kivers aboot 8 square miles.

## History

'Leswalt' is a name o unkent oreegins. Possible derivations for its name include the Welsh *llys gwellt*, meanin "gress court" or mebbe Scots Gaelic *lios uillt*, meanin "fort o the glen", referin tae Lochnaw Castle.

In the Middle Ages, the aurie wis likely dividen intae feudal baronys, ilk controlt bi a Baron o the Coort, unner the oweraw control o the Shirra o Wigtounshire. In auncient times it belangt tae the monks o Tongland Aibey.

In 1390, Archibald Douglas, 3rd Yerl o Douglas grantit launds at Leswalt tae his illegeetimate son or kin, William Douglas o Leswalt. William Douglas wis sel-styled "Laird o Leswalt", an Shirra o Wigton, bit wis dimitit bi Margaret, Duchess o Touraine, dochter o Keen Robert III o Scotland an guidwife o Archibald Douglas, 4t Yerl o Douglas, as a pairt o a pouer struggle in soothwast Scotland. Unner fear he transfert launds at Lochnaw til Andrew Agnew, constable o Lochnaw Castle, receivin Cruggleton Castle in exchange.

Andrew Agnew hid been made hereditary constable o Lochnaw Castle bi William Douglas o Leswalt in 1426.  He received several chairters fae King James I o Scotland, includin ane o 31 Januar 1431, confirmin tae him an his heirs the office o heritable constable o Lochnaw, an the hale launds and "Barony o Lochnaw". In 1451 Andrew Agnew wis confirmt as Hereditary Shirra o Wigtounshire. In 1458 he wis peyed as shirra.

In 1463 whan George Douglas o Leswalt (son o William Douglas o Leswalt an Katherine Maxwell) dee'd, the launds o Leswalt and Cruggletoun revertit til the Croun, as a consequence o the forfietur o aw the houdins o William Douglas, 8t Yerl o Douglas in 1456. Thay wis appropriatit bi Mary o Guelders, the Queen Mither, weedae o King James II o Scotland, an wis subsequent claimt bi Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Laird Kennedy, a hauf-brither tae George Douglas, for his son, John Kennedy, 2t Laird Kennedy. Thir anes passt tae his son, David Kennedy, 1t Yerl o Cassilis.

Saut wis produce't at Salpans Bay in Leswalt fae 1637.

## Places o interest

### Pairish kirk

The Auld Kirk o Leswalt, noo ruint, is o medieval oreegin, haein been gien tae the monks o Tongland Aibey in the 14t century. The neebourin Agnew Aisle dates fae the 17t century. In 1828 the praisent kirk wis built an the auld ane abandont.

### Lochnaw Castle

Lochnaw Castle wis hame til the Agnew Faimily. The ruins o the Auld Castle staund on an island in Lochnaw Loch, and date til the 13t century. The praisent castle incorporates a 16t century tour hoose, bit is maistly the upshot o remodelin in the 18t century.

### Historical sites

Rev. George Wilson's *Archaeological and Historical Collections Relating to Ayrshire and Galloway* leets forts an Leswalt:

* a) Lashindarroch on Knock-na-maize circular fort
* b) Twa anes on Port Slogan
* c) Larbrax fort wi twa traverses at the Kemp's Walk
* d) Salpans Bay fort
* e) Heich Auchneel, no on the OS map
* f) Aldouran Glenheid fort, cried the Kemps' Graffs
* g) Tor o Craigoch circular fort wi ootby defences.

### Ither sites

* Labrax fort is an Airn Age fort that stuid leukin ower Broadsea Bay (Labrax Strand) an Labrax Fort Cove.
* Kemp's Walk (likely Labrax Fort, Labrax Strand), Meikle Larbrax, on a lairge promontory. Thare is an ingang (Larbrax Fort Cove) near the eastren side.
* An auncient dun leukin ower Kllantringan Bay (Kilringan Bay on 1782 map).
* Killantringan Lichthoose wis built about 1889. The name Killantringan is derived fae "Ringan's (or Ninian's) cell).
* An Airn-Age fort stuid leukin ower Salpans Bay.
* Heich Auchneel.
* Sir Andrew Agnew's moniment sits an tap o the Tor o Craigoch, a prehistoric hill fort abuin Leswalt veelage provides a fine view.
* The island in Lochnaw (o Loch Naw), a loch that his been soukit an refillt in its lang lifespan, aince haudit an 11t century castle fort, taen an demolisht in 1390 bi Archibald Douglas, 3rd Yerl o Douglas (Airchibald the Grim)
* A mote stuid by the side o Loch Naw. In 1791 Sir Stair Agnew uised its materials tae form a new approach.
* Galdenoch Castle, dated 1547, wis the hame o Gilbert Agnew o Lochnaw until 1570.

## Gailerie

File:Lochnaw Castle.jpg|Lochnaw Castle
File:Agnew Monument and hill fort - geograph.org.uk - 862618.jpg|Agnew Moniment on Tor o Craigoch hill fort
File:Loch Naw - geograph.org.uk - 164292.jpg|Loch Naw or Island o Lochnaw
File:Galdenoch Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1708980.jpg|Galdenoch Castle datit 1547 o Gilbert Agnew until 1570
File:Salt Pans Bay - geograph.org.uk - 240917.jpg|Salt Pans Bay, site o an auncient fort.  photae bi Jeff Wells
File:Site of hill fort, Broadsea Bay - geograph.org.uk - 263082.jpg|Broadsea Bay, site of Larbrax Airn Age hill fort
File:Labrax Beach - geograph.org.uk - 1371048.jpg|Larbrax strand, Broadsea Bay, wi a view o Killantringan Lichthoose
File:Killantringan or Kilringan Bay, Leswalt.jpg|Killantringan or Kilringan Bay, ablo an auncient Dun


## Leetit biggins in Leswalt

* Lochnaw Castle, With Terrace, Gatepiers, Courtyard Walls, Bell, Monument And Pavilion
* Lochnaw, Garden House
* Lochnaw, Kathleen Cottage And Gatepiers
* Lochnaw, Kinsale Tower
* Larbrax Schoolhouse And Hall (Former School)
* Lochnaw, Noel Lodge
* Lochnaw, Old Lochnaw Castle
* House Of Knock
* Meikle Galdenoch, Farmhouse, With Boundary Walls
* Beach Lodge, With Boundary Walls
* Craigencross, With Boundary Wall
* Lochnaw, Boathouse
* Agnew Monument
* Galdenoch Castle
* Lochnaw, Larbrax Lodge
* Old Leswalt Church And Graveyard
* Leswalt Parish Church, With Boundary Walls And Gatepiers
* Lochnaw, Bridge Over Mill Isle Burn
* Lochnaw, Walled Garden
* Aldouran Lodge
* Galdenoch Mill

## References

## External links