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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Estate map of Douglas, 1822

Plan of Douglas Village

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Year: 1822

This is an interesting estate map of Douglas dating to 1822 showing the village as it used to be. It might be useful to compare this to the present day…

Pont map of Douglas Castle, 1956

Pont Map, Douglas Castle

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Year: 1596

This picture from Pont shows how Douglas Castle may have looked in 1596 when the map for Lanarkshire was created. The late Professor McClean from Dundee thought that Pont Map…

Old Photos of Douglas & District

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A presentation of old photos from Douglas and surrounding areas, compiled by Harvey Black. Use the embedded display below to view this presentation or you can use the controls to…

Earl of Angus, statue, Douglas

A short history of Douglas

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Douglas was home to both Wallace supporters, Sir Willam Douglas and his son The Black Douglas (or Good Sir James Douglas), who was a key lieutenant of Robert the Bruce at…

St Brides Church, Douglas

Good Sir James Douglas and his tomb

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The story of the Good Sir James Douglas is not as well known as William Wallace which is understandable in a way because he was not the iconic figure that…