Park Castle
the tower has been stripped of outbuildings, but is fully restored
16th Century Tower House
We strumbled across this tall, dark tower on a moody, gray day, and the rather bizarre inset window was enought to get me to stop and take pictures. Most of the time, windows are small-on-the-outside, and have large window seats inside. This one is weirdly backwards - the glass is inset and the deep alcove of the window points out. Weird.
one of the windows is, strangely, inset
The tower is very tall and very narrow -- four storeys, with a steeply pitched roof. A narrow (and taller) staircase wing projects from the main tower. Two other wings of additional rooms and halls were demolished, leaving the tower to stand alone.
The cellar is vaulted, and the rooms above have been restored and are rented out by the National Trust as a self-catering rental (cool!). The interior is completely finished - plastesred walls, painted woodwork in the style original to the house, and comfortably furnished. It would hve been a very comfortable, sumptuous home.
the main entrance, in the re-entrant angle, with the restored plaque
Ownership
The lands originallyl belonged to nearby Glenluce Abbey and was sold (or gifted) to the Thomas Hay (son of the last abbot of Glenluce), who built the castle in 1590.
In 1830, the property was bought by the Cunninghams, although they eventually abandoned the castle for nearby Dunragit castle. The tower was still inhabited, and used to house workers on the nearby farms.
The castle was turned over to the state and has been restored.
the l-shaped tower has many larger, 18th century windows added