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Holmains Castle

Holmains Castle belonged to the Carruthers family but nothing of it now remains.

The Carruthers family owned the lands of Holmains from at least the 14th century.

By the end of the first quarter of the 15th century the Carlyles of Torthorwald granted the 10 pound lands of Ecclefechan to the Carruthers of Holmains.

In 1525 James V granted various lands to John Carruthers de Holmendis and his wife, Blanche Murray, including the six merk land of Castelbank in Egilphecene. John Carruthers de Holmendis received a new grant of various lands from James V in 1542 including the ten pound land of Egilphechane of old extent.

In 1556 William Irving of Bonshaw possessed the forty shilling land in Ecclefechan of which Carruthers of Holmains held the superiority.

George Carruthers of Denbie obtained letters of inhibition against his brother, John Carruthers of Holmains, in 1618 preventing him from disponing or intromitting with (transferring ownership of or dealing with) the 5 merk land of Eccelfechan, the 6/8 land of Raffles and the 6/8 lands of Howthat which he should have infefted George in.

In 1666 George Carruthers, youngest son of the late George Carruthers of Denbie, disposed of the 40 shilling lands of Denbie, the 5 merk land of Ecclefechan “possest by William Irving elder and younger”, the half merk land of Raffles and the half merk lands of Howthat to the 1st Earl of Annandale. The Earl’s factor and Chamberlain was James Carruthers of the family of Holmains.

In 1680 John Carruthers of Holmains granted a tack of a £5 land of his £10 land of Ecclefechan to the younger William Irving of Kirkconnelincluding the clause “perpetually and continually as long as the grass groweth up and the water runneth down”. William Irving married secondly Margaret Carruthers, daughter of John Carruthers of Holmains, and had a daughter.

In 1699 George Carruthers, son of the late John Carruthers of Holmains, received a charter from William II of various lands that had been owned by his father, including “all and haill the ten pound land of Ecclefechan of old extent”, which was incorporated into the barony of Holmains.

In 1710 William Herries, son and heir of Francis Herries of Hartwood, sold Ecclefechan, presumably the ten pound land of Ecclefechan, to George Carruthers of Holmains.

In 1715 George attempted to terminate the tack his father had made to William Irving due to it not having an expiry date however the Court ruled that his father’s intention had been to grant a perpetual right to Irving and his successors and so dismissed the case.

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Alternative names for Holmains Castle

Hoilmaynes; Holmainds; Holmaines; Holmains Tower; Holmendis; Holmendys; Holmiendis; Howmains Castle

Clans associated with Holmains Castle

Carruthers

Surnames associated with Holmains Castle

Carruthers

Where is Holmains Castle?

Holmains Castle is in the parish of Dalton and the county of Dumfriesshire.

Grid reference: NY 0828 7652

Lat / long: 55.074632, -3.4380431

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OS Map for Holmains Castle

OS map 322
Annandale (Annan, Lockerbie & Beattock)
OS Explorer map 322


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Directions to Holmains Castle

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Weather at Holmains Castle

15°C
max 15°C / min 15°C
18km/h W
1009mb
72%
100%
03:34 20:57

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Torthorwald at 19:16

References (books)

Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica (Series 4, Volume 4)
W. Bruce Bannerman
London, 1912
Records of the Carruthers family
Arthur Stanley Carruthers
London, 1934
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Holmains Castle

Rockhall

2.8km away

Rockhall Mote

2.8km away

Daltonhook (possible) (site of)

3.0km away

Dormont

3.3km away

Mouswald Tower

3.4km away

Bucklerhole (site of)

3.9km away

Kirkwood (site of)

4.4km away

Raffles (site of)

4.5km away

Denbie

4.5km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Holmains Castle

Trailflat cursus

9.1km away

Curriestanes cursus

12.3km away

Holm cursus

12.8km away

Lochbrow cursus

12.8km away

Gallaberry cursus

13.2km away

Holywood North cursus

13.6km away

Holywood South cursus

13.7km away

Twelve Apostles stone circle

13.8km away

Fourmerkland cursus

17.0km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Holmains Castle

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

51.7km away

Trusty's Hill Class I rock carving

53.2km away

Eggerness Class I rock carving

66.1km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

98.3km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

98.3km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

98.4km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

117.5km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

123.1km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

123.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Holmains Castle

Whitecleugh silver chain

51.1km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

69.2km away

Borland silver chain

69.6km away

Whitlaw silver chain

82.6km away

Haddington silver chain

106.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

109.5km away

Traprain Law silver chain

110.5km away

Norrie's Law hoard

134.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

223.4km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Holmains Castle

The Hightae Inn
hotelHightae
2.6km away
Hetland Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCarrutherstown
4.6km away
The Manor Country House Hotel
hotelTorthorwald
5.2km away
Queens Hotel, Lockerbie
hotelLockerbie
6.6km away
Premier Inn Dumfries
hotel, restaurantDumfries
7.7km away
Best Western Dryfesdale Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLockerbie
8.3km away
Moreig Hotel
hotelDumfries
10.1km away
Aston Hotel Dumfries
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
10.2km away
Southpark Country House
bed and breakfastDumfries
10.2km away
Best Western Station Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
10.7km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Holmains Castle

Hetland Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCarrutherstown
4.6km away
Premier Inn Dumfries
hotel, restaurantDumfries
7.7km away
Best Western Dryfesdale Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLockerbie
8.3km away
Aston Hotel Dumfries
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
10.2km away
Best Western Station Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDumfries
10.7km away
Kirkconnel Hall Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEcclefechan
10.9km away
Friars Carse Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantAuldgirth
17.8km away
Cavens Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantDumfries
20.8km away
Trigony Country House Hotel
hotel, restaurantThornhill
25.5km away
Annandale Arms Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barMoffat
28.8km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 21st of December 2011 at 12:11 am. Updated on the 24th of January 2021 at 12:53 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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