The ruins of Buittle Castle and Old Buittle Tower, the 16th Century tower house which succeeded it, stand amidst a 200 acre estate on the banks of the River Urr just outside the small Galloway town of Dalbeattie.

An archaeological survey has shown that settlement has been on-going here since the Neolithic period, around 7 000 B.C. In 1120, after King David I of Scotland introduced Normans from England into the country, a "motte & bailey" castle of the type favoured by the Normans was built next to the river. In this type of castle a large mound of earth (the motte) is piled up on top of which is built a wooden tower. Surrounding this is the bailey, an enclosure which contains the services for the castle, protected by a wooden palisade and a ditch.

The wooden structures were eventually replaced by stone and "Botel Castle" served as the seat of the Lords of Galloway. In 1233, Devorguilla, daughter of Alan Lord of Galloway, married John Balliol of Barnard Castle, Northumberland. Grants given by them led to the founding of Balliol College Oxford. When John died in 1269, Devorguilla had his heart embalmed and placed in an ivory casket which stayed with her at all times. His body was buried in an abbey she had constructed in his memory by the Cistercian monks from Dundrennan Abbey, just along the coast. On her death she was interred, by her husband in the abbey, which now bears the name Sweetheart Abbey in memory of their love.

The archaeological dig

Simple oil lamp found during previous excavations. Traces of soot can be seen on the inside of the bowl which would have been filled with oil.

Reconstructed section of the palisade which surrounded the bailey of the original castle.

All that now remains visible of the later stone dwelling on the motte is an overgrown section of the gatehouse. This part of the site was gifted to Balliol College by the last of the Maxwell family to own Buittle.

The latter decade of the 13th Century was a turbulent time in Scottish history with many competitors seeking to take the throne left vacant after the untimely death of King Alexander III. In 1292, the son of Balliol and Devorguilla, also John, became King of Scotland and ruled from his castle at Botel - meaning "Royal Dwelling" - from which the name Buittle derives. He was, however, forced to abdicate after his defeat at the Battle of Dunbar. During the Scottish Wars of Independence the castle was besieged by the Bruces, for over five years, until it fell in 1313. Buittle briefly became a royal castle again in 1332, when Edward Balliol reigned for a short period of time, with the help of Edward III of England.