Castles of Clan Johnstone

Lochwood Tower
Lochwood Tower was the original seat of the Chiefs of Clan Johnstone, located near Moffat in Dumfriesshire. Built in the 14th century and expanded over time, the L-plan tower was cleverly situated in marshland and surrounded by forest, making it highly defensible. It served as the stronghold of the Johnstones of Annandale for several centuries and was the scene of numerous Border conflicts. The tower was burned by the Maxwells in the late 16th century and later abandoned. Today, only its thick stone walls and parts of the tower remain amid moss-covered ruins.

Raehills House
Raehills House became the seat of the Johnstone chiefs after Lochwood Tower fell into ruin. Located near St. Ann’s in Annandale, the Georgian mansion was constructed in the late 18th century and expanded in the 1830s. It remains the private home of the Hope-Johnstone family, descendants of the Earls of Annandale and Hartfell. The house blends classical and Scottish baronial styles and sits in extensive wooded grounds. It continues to serve as the residence of the clan’s hereditary leaders.

Elshieshields Tower
Elshieshields Tower, near Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire, was home to a branch of the Johnstones for nearly 500 years. Built in the 15th century, the rectangular three-storey tower later had Georgian and Victorian extensions added. It was continuously inhabited by the Johnstone family until the 20th century. The noted historian Sir Steven Runciman lived there in later years. The tower still stands today as a private residence preserving many original medieval features.

Newbie Castle
Newbie Castle near Annan was acquired by the Johnstones in the 17th century and became a secondary residence of the Lords of Annandale. Originally a moated tower house, it was expanded over time and once featured a drawbridge and defensive walls. It was described in its day as “a place of the Marquises of Annandale.” The castle fell into ruin and was demolished in the early 1800s, with only a fragment of its foundation surviving. Its location near the Solway coast marked it as a strategic site.

Wamphray Tower
Wamphray Tower, also known as Wamphray Place, was a Johnstone stronghold associated with the clan’s notorious Border reiving heritage. The tower, located near Moffat, was occupied by the Johnstones of Wamphray in the 16th century. It was the home of William Johnstone, known as “The Galliard,” who was immortalized in the Border ballad The Lads of Wamphray. After a bloody feud, the estate was sold in the 18th century. Only traces of the tower remain today.

Hutton Castle
Hutton Castle, in Berwickshire, was the seat of the Johnstones of Hilton, a cadet branch of the clan. Originally a Home family property, it passed to the Johnstones in the 17th century and remained with them for around 200 years. The 16th-century tower was later restored and expanded by Sir William Burrell in the 20th century. Interior rooms were relocated to a museum in Glasgow. The castle still stands near the Whiteadder Water as a restored residence.

Caskieben Castle (Keith Hall)
Caskieben Castle, near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, was the seat of the Johnstons of Caskieben. Built in the 14th century, it was a classic Z-plan tower house and home to Sir George Johnston, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1626. The Johnstons held the estate for over 300 years until selling it in 1662. It was later renamed Keith Hall, but retains the core of the original structure. It stands today as a private residence with layers of architectural history.

Castles Loosely Associated with Clan Johnstone

Buittle Castle
Buittle Castle in Kirkcudbrightshire briefly passed into Johnstone hands after the fall of the Black Douglases in 1455. King James II rewarded Sir Adam Johnstone with lands including Buittle, which had been a Douglas stronghold. The Johnstones did not hold it long, and it soon passed to the Gordons and later the Maxwells. Today, only earthworks and a few stone fragments survive. Its connection to the clan reflects their rise following the Douglas rebellion.

Threave Castle
Threave Castle, on an island in the River Dee, was besieged by royal forces during the 1455 campaign against the Black Douglases. The Johnstones supported the Crown and participated in the siege, which led to Threave’s surrender. Though never owned by Clan Johnstone, it played a role in their expansion of territory and influence. The massive tower house remains an iconic Border fortress. It is now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.

Lochmaben Castle
Lochmaben Castle was a royal fortress often caught in the power struggles of the Border clans. In 1454, Johnstone men helped seize it from Douglas control during the rebellion against James II. Later, in the 1590s, the castle’s surrounding lands were the scene of fierce conflict between the Johnstones and the Maxwells. Though not a Johnstone possession, the castle was central to the clan’s fortunes in Annandale. Its ruined walls still rise above Castle Loch near Lockerbie.

References

Coventry, M. (2010). The Castles of Scotland (5th ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.
Tabraham, C. (2005). Scotland’s Castles. London: Batsford.
Martin, C. (2009). Border Reivers. Stroud: Shire Publications.
Historic Environment Scotland. (n.d.). Castle records and listings.
Gifford, J. (1996). The Buildings of Scotland: Dumfries and Galloway. London: Penguin Books.
Douglas, R. (1764). The Baronage of Scotland. Edinburgh: Bell & Bradfute.