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The current mansion incorporates a 14-century tower, which was in the hands of the Kirkpatrick family from the 13th century to the 18th century.
By the end of the 800's Vikings from Norway,
Sweden, and Denmark had began to settle in Scotland on the coast then moving
inland towards Closeburn. The barony of Closeburn is in Nithsdale, which
overlooks the only road north making it a very strategic place. The Norsemen
were becoming a very powerful threat, therefore it was necessary to install
trusted powerful men in key positions to defend the country from the invaders.
The lands of Closeburn were entrusted to Ivon of Kirkpatrick to defend .The
church, or the crown owned temple lands of Closeburn.
On the death of King William's daughter in 12 32 AD Ivon (junior) was"
confirmed "in feudal ownership, perhaps as an incentive, to keep him loyal.
Although he'd been long established there unofficially, it now was officially
Kirkpatrick land. The Closeburn Kirkpatrick's lived and thrived there for about
700 years after this until 1778. They have a very colourful history, and proved
to be very successful.
They rose to greater power after the Scottish wars of Independence, from that
point on they were always in favour with the Scottish kings, becoming more and
more powerful. They mostly filled high positions in Scottish affairs. They were
made sheriffs of Dumfriesshire, and were always represented in the Royal house,
right up until the 1950's, when Major General Charles Kirkpatrick was aide de
camp to king George V.
James Kirkpatrick became first Baronet of Closeburn in 1685. The first Baronet
married 3 times and had several children, there seems to have been a rift in the
family, then splitting up and going their own ways. No-one is sure why, all that
is certain is 3 sons of this Baronet landed on the Giants causeway in county
Antrim northern Ireland in an open boat in 1690, where they settled and begat
the Irish connection of Kirkpatrick's.
A mansion built by the first baronet (James Kirkpatrick) was, through the
carelessness of drunken servants, burned to the ground on the night of 29 Aug.
1748, with all the family papers, portraits, and plate; in the last war the
building was used by soldiers for practice and sadly only rubble marks the point
where this fine building was. Finally the estate was sold in 1778 for £500,000,
a colossal sum in those days. The Kirkpatrick's have since scattered to the
furthest parts of the globe.
The Kirkpatrick family who inhabited Closeburn Castle have their own special
symbol of misfortune: that of swans with a bloody breast, relating to an old
family story.
Over the loch the chiefs would be taken by canoe to the chiefs burial ground across the loch .The story goes that at one time two magnificent swans would appear there , and this would herald the speedy recovery of any of the Kirkpatrick's who were ill. Whether legend or not the fact remained that THEY believed it. The Swans were perceived to be a blessing to the chief and his family, and were revered as such. One Cynical chief Robert (circa 15th century) decided he didn't believe in such "Old wives tales " and shot one of them from the Battlements of the castle with a crossbow. This wasn't a good thing at all , because he died soon after. From that time on a Ghostly white Swan with a blood stained breast would appear on the loch whenever one of the Kirkpatrick chiefs was about to die.
Thus a legend was born. The swan became the Family Banshee. a Banshee ,in ancient Celtic Lore, is the harbinger of woe, which is said to appear and wail pitifully when bad times are on the way. A lot of Scottish families have one particular to their own clan.
There is no need to worry about the Swan appearing these days since the loch was drained in the 19th century. When it was drained the Canoe was found and it now resides in Dumfries Museum. It could be said that so much credence was put in the legend that the loch was drained to prevent the "Seeing of the Swan". It used to be said of the dying chiefs that they "Saw the Swan". but the Castle Loch was drained in 1859 by Mr Douglas Baird
Picture below is a rough drawing of the canoe found at the bottom of the loch
