Alistair Hardaker | Images: MacLellan's Castle (Historic Environment Scotland)
Great hall features rare surviving laird’s lug, a hidden closet from which lairds could observe their guests.
New areas of MacLellan’s Castle in Kirkcudbright have been opened to the public by Historic Scotland.
Following the completion of essential conservation works, its kitchen and vaulted cellars on the first floor and historic great hall, are now open to visitors, while some internal areas of the castle remain closed while conservation work continues.
The newly reopened great hall includes a rare surviving laird’s lug, translating from Scots to ‘lord’s ear’ – a hidden closet from which the master of the house could spy on his guests in the great hall.
The conservation work focused on the castle’s south stair area, with decaying lintels restored with matching stone replacements.
Repointing work was also carried out, as was the replacement of a missing crow step, part of the castle’s stair step gable design.
Rosie Thorp, district visitor and community manager for Dumfries and Galloway at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “MacLellan’s Castle is an iconic part of the Dumfries and Galloway landscape which continues to play a vital role in the local community, so I’m thrilled to be announcing increased access to the site’s interiors.”
