Clan Estates

Oliver Castle was built between 1175 and 1199 by members of the Fraser clan probably taking its name from Oliver Fraser who flourished around 1160. It is likely that it was situated on the former hillfort site although its exact location has been lost. It was not a typical castle; merely one in a line of peel towers along the Tweed valley. Peel towers were small, free-standing fortified keeps or tower houses, built primarily for defence, that confirmed the status and prestige of the owner. They also functioned as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger. 

Oliver’s nephews Bernard and Gilbert Fraser later held in turn the hereditary office of Sheriff of Tweedale. Gilbert’s great-grandson, Sir Simon Fraser III, changed sides more than once during first the Scottish war of independence. He was eventually captured by the forces of England’s King Edward I, taken to London and hanged, drawn and quartered. His daughter Joan Fraser was heiress to Oliver Castle and brought it into the Fleming family upon her marriage to Patrick Fleming of Biggar, second son of Robert Fleming, founder of the Fleming Clan. 

After Oliver Castle came into Patrick Fleming’s possession, he quartered his arms with Fraser. He was also appointed as Sheriff of Peebleshire, a post also held by his descendants while the clan retained possession of Oliver Castle during the next 200 years.

On 7 November 1395 Patrick’s grandson David Fleming (5th clan chief) had a charter that included Oliver Castle. A century later, his GG-grandson John 2nd Lord Fleming retained the estate on succeeding as clan chief in 1500. 

While the Flemings held Oliver Castle directly from the King, the estate was actually occupied from time to time by members of the Hay and Tweedie clans as tenants of the Flemings. Gilbert Hay (related to the Flemings by marriage) was there in 1473 but William Tweedie had taken over by 1489. But their status as “lowly” tenants belied the power of the Tweedie Clan. 

The Fleming family had long been harassed by the Tweedies (who also had Fraser ancestry). The clan took their name from the river at the foot of Oliver Castle, the Tweed. They resented the fact that this land that had belonged to their Fraser ancestors was now in the hands of the Fleming family as overlords. Chambers in his History of Peebleshire described the Tweedies as being a savage race and another commentator of the eighteenth century described them as being a powerful and domineering family. They would charge tolls on travellers passing through their narrow valley and engaged in deadly feuds with neighbouring families. 

In 1524 the Tweedies were angry that Malcolm Fleming was engaged to marry Catherine Fraser because this could result in even more “Fraser land” coming under the control of the Fleming family. In order to avoid this, the Tweedies would stop at nothing in those lawless times. They murdered John 2nd Lord Fleming, abducted his son Malcolm and quickly married Catherine Fraser to James Tweedie of Drummelizier instead, thus securing her dowry. Malcolm Fleming eventually married Janet Stewart, daughter of King James IV.

Two years later, on 16 August 1526, Malcolm 3rdLord Fleming divided his lands into five baronies. One of these was the Barony of Mossfennan and included lands at Overmenzean, Overkingledoors and Oliver Castle. Soon afterwards he pledged his Oliver Castle estate to Robert Dickson for one hundred pounds and eventually parted with the estate. It was soon in the hands of the Tweedie Clan. 

Wigtown Castle was a royal castle built in the 12thcentury on the banks of the Bladnoch River just 1 kilometre to the southeast of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway. The river formerly flowed along the castle's northeast side and was utilised to form a moat around the remaining three sides, with the entrance via a drawbridge on the southwest side. The ditch was about 10 metres wide and over 3 metres deep. The castle would have had a bonded masonry curtain wall enclosing a square area measuring about 80 metres on each side, probably with towers at strategic points and the keeper’s accommodation. 

It was captured in 1286 by Robert Bruce (5th Lord of Annandale and grandfather of the future King Robert I). Bruce had previously been Regent of Scotland during the minority of King Alexander III who was his second cousin. As the King’s closest male relative, Bruce was recognised as heir to the throne but never became king because Alexander later produced three children, including King Alexander III.

When Alexander III died in 1286, the succession became highly precarious. The Scottish lords recognised his seven-year-old granddaughter Margaret (whose father was King of Norway) as his successor: the Maid of Norway. But she died before reaching Scotland and Robert Bruce was one of two contenders for the throne. It was in this context that he moved to gain control of strongholds in Scotland, including Wigtown Castle. Nevertheless, his rival, John Baillol, became king. Robert Bruce died in 1295, aged about 80.

King John Baillol was close to the English King Edward I (who had played a major role in putting him on the throne). He handed Wigtown Castle over to Edward I in 1292. Four years later Scotland signed a Treaty with France and Edward I retaliated by invading Scotland. King John abdicated and the First War of Scottish Independence started. Wigtown Castle was captured for the Scottish forces by William Wallace in 1297 but was soon re-taken by the English who appointed Adam Gordon as Governor.

Robert Bruce’s grandson Robert the Bruce became Scotland’s King Robert I in 1307 and recaptured Wigtown Castle in 1313. It is likely that he then demolished the castle to prevent the English again taking occupation. Thirty years later it was his grandson King Robert II who appointed Malcolm Fleming as 1st Earl of Wigtown.

The flood plain was reclaimed during the 18th century and ploughed for arable use. The site became a scheduled monument in 2004, although only an earthwork now remains.