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Blacket House


Annandiae praefectura, Vulgo, The Stewartrie of Annandail
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654map image courtesy of NLS

Blacket House is a ruined 16th century tower house which belonged to the Bell family.

Towards the end of the 16th century the Bells of upper Kirtledale were in a conflict with the Irvings of lower Kirtledale. It’s possible that this may have been in regard to the shooting of Fair Helen of Kirkconnel.

Helen was said to have been the daughter of the laird of Kirkconnel and had two suitors. One is said to have been Adam Fleming of Fleming Hall while his rival may have been Robert Bell of Blackethouse. An attempt was made on Fleming’s life but Helen intervened and was shot instead. Over the years the details of the story have become confused and the surnames of the three characters are interchangeable between versions.

Blacket House is marked on Blaeu’s mid-17th century map, based on Pont’s late 16th century work, as a tower named Black-wood hous.

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Alternative names for Blacket House

Black-wood hous; Blacket Tower; Blacket-house; Blackethouse; Blackwood House; Blackwood Tower

Clans associated with Blacket House

Bell

Surnames associated with Blacket House

Bell

Where is Blacket House?

Blacket House is in the parish of Middlebie and the county of Dumfriesshire.

Grid reference:NY 24338 74369

Lat / long:55.058017,-3.1860395

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Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Blacket House

OS map 323
Eskdale & Castle O’er Forest (Langholm, Canonbie & Gretna Green)
OS Explorer map 323


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Directions to Blacket House

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Weather at Blacket House

8°C
max 8°C / min 8°C
32km/h SSW
985mb
91%
66%
06:05 18:32

Light rain
Weather observed at Ecclefechan at 18:12

References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015
The Poets of Dumfriesshire
Frank Miller
Glasgow, 1910

References (websites)

Scheduled Monument record
Canmore

Castles near Blacket House

Allerbeck (site of)

0.5km away

Kirkconnel Tower

1.3km away

Springkell (site of)

1.4km away

Nucke (site of)

1.5km away

Langshaw (site of)

1.5km away

Wyseby (site of)

2.0km away

Bonshaw Tower

2.3km away

Bonshawside (possible) (site of)

2.4km away

Birrens (site of)

2.5km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Blacket House

Cadgill cursus

7.4km away

Lochbrow cursus

21.0km away

Trailflat cursus

22.0km away

Curriestanes cursus

28.3km away

Holm cursus

28.9km away

Gallaberry cursus

28.9km away

McCulloch's Castle fort

29.7km away

Holywood North cursus

29.7km away

Holywood South cursus

29.8km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Blacket House

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

44.2km away

Trusty's Hill Class I rock carving

67.6km away

Eggerness Class I rock carving

80.0km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

98.9km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

98.9km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

99.1km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

122.9km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

122.9km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

123.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Blacket House

Whitecleugh silver chain

62.8km away

Borland silver chain

74.0km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

74.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

77.8km away

Hoardweel silver chain

101.6km away

Haddington silver chain

102.8km away

Traprain Law silver chain

106.1km away

Norrie's Law hoard

133.9km away

Dunnicaer fort

220.0km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Blacket House

Ecclefechan Hotel
hotelEcclefechan
5.1km away
Kirkconnel Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEcclefechan
5.2km away
Days Inn Gretna Green
hotelGretna Green
8.5km away
Gretna Hall Hotel
hotelGretna Green
9.7km away
Smiths At Gretna Green Classic
hotelGretna Green
9.8km away
Anvil View Guest House
bed and breakfastGretna Green
9.9km away
Gables Hotel
hotelGretna Green
9.9km away
Hazeldene Hotel
hotelGretna Green
9.9km away
Rhone Villa
bed and breakfastGretna Green
9.9km away
Kirkcroft Guest House
bed and breakfastGretna Green
10.0km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Blacket House

Kirkconnel Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEcclefechan
5.2km away
Best Western Dryfesdale Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLockerbie
14.6km away
The Cross Keys Hotel, Canonbie
hotel, barCanonbie
14.9km away
Hetland Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCarrutherstown
15.1km away
Premier Inn Dumfries
hotel, restaurantDumfries
23.8km away
Aston Hotel Dumfries
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
25.9km away
Best Western Station Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
26.8km away
Cavens Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantDumfries
30.9km away
Friars Carse Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantAuldgirth
33.5km away
Annandale Arms Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barMoffat
34.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 21st of December 2011 at 12:11 am. Updated on the 1st of February 2021 at 6:11 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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