Douglas
This place was home to both Wallace supporter Sir Willam Douglas and his son The Black Douglas (or Good Sir James Douglas), who was a key lieutenant of Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Sir James carried King Robert I’s heart on a pilgrimage, and was killed by the Moors in Spain at the Battle of Teba. His heart was buried in floor of the 12th Century Church of St Bride Douglas encased in a lead casket. This and the tombs of three other Family members (including Dukes of Touraine) can be viewed.
Like Lanark, Douglas was a centre for the Covenanters. In 1680 government troops rested at the Tolbooth opposite St Bride’s Church after the Battle of Aird’s Moss. In their possession were the head and hands of the martyr Richard Cameron.
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Ordnance Survey map of Ponfeigh Station
mapAn Ordnance Survey map from c. 1950 showing the location of Ponfeigh Station relative to the Douglas Water community. Ponfeigh Railway Station operated between 1864 and 1964 on the Douglas…
Estate Map of Douglas
mapAn interesting estate map of Douglas from 1822, showing how the village once was.
Ross Map of Lanarkshire
mapThe Ross Map of Lanarkshire, dating from 1772. By this time, the last Douglas Castle had been built. On the map is Douglas Mill. It is here that Bonnie Prince…
Angus Statue
postcardA Brown’s Series postcard showing the memorial to James Earl of Angus, who began the raising of the Cameronian regiment in Douglas on May 14th 1689. The organising of the…
Sandilands Viaduct to Douglas
postcardThis is a special train that has just crossed the Sandilands Viaduct going to Douglas and Muirkirk. The front train is an early example of a Caledonian railway engine. It…