Douglas Heritage Museum Take a Walk with History

Douglas Legend suggests it comes from the Gaelic Dubh Ghlais meaning Dark Water

Douglas They say if you take the name of Douglas out of Scottish history then there would be no history to tell

The Black Douglas The Wars of Independence The Village Urban Legends The Castle Ancestral Home of the Douglas Family The Church of St Bride 12th Century Edifice Covenanters The Killing Times The Cameronians Raised in Douglas 1689

The Black Douglas The Good Sir James

James Douglas was a staunch adherent, companion and trusted lieutenant of King Robert the Bruce, for many years in his service gaining a formidable reputation. He fought in over 70 battles And won them all! Second in command at Bannockburn he was knighted by the King on the battlefield

In 1328 it was his hands which received from Edward the 2nd the agreement by which the independence of Scotland was recognised. His last act of loyalty to his King was to agree to Bruce’s death bed request to take his heart on crusade. On Bruce’s death Douglas took his King’s heart and placed it round his neck in a silver casket.

He left for Spain where his fame and reputation ensured knights from across Europe rallied to his banner. Never to refuse a cry for help they travelled to Grenada in southern Spain to help Alfonso XI's fight against the heathen Moor’s who had captured the strategic Castle of the Stars situated above in the village of Teba in Andalucia.

Castle of the Stars at Teba

In the midst of the battle Sir James found himself cut-off from his own forces Facing certain death he flung the heart of Bruce into the Moorish army and plunged after it shouting “onward brave heart and Douglas will follow thee To his Death

The heart of The Good Sir James was brought back to Douglas and placed in St Brides Church Sir James Douglas Memorial Village of Teba Andalucía, Spain

Douglas Castle

Ancestral Home of the Douglas Family

Castle Greenhouse’s

Castle Stables

Demolition 1938

This edifice, the Chancel of the Ancient Church of St. Bride Founded in the 12th century was restored by Charles A. Home, Douglas of Douglas, Lord Dunglass A D 1880 The Church of St Bride

The Interior of the Church Tombs of the Douglas Family Sir James Douglas (the Black Douglas) Died 1330

Archibald, 5th Earl of Douglas 2nd Duke of Touraine Earl of Wigton and Longueville Lord of Galloway Died 1439 His uncle was King James the First and he became Lieutenant General of the Kingdom

James , 7th Earl of Douglas Duke of Touraine 1st Earl of Avondale Lord Balvany Died 1443 Also in the Tomb is his wife Lady Beatrix Sinclair Their ten children are represented below

Marjory Abernethy Wife of Hugh of Douglas Died before 1286 The oldest effigy in the Church

The Honourable Lucy Elizabeth Montagu Douglas of Douglas Countess of Home Died1877

The Vaults beneath the Church

Margaret Hamilton, Countess of Angus, died 1623 Willimina, Marchioness of Douglas, died 1660 Maria Gordon, died 1674 Archibald, Earl of Angus, died 1655 Anna Stuart, Duchess of Lennox, died 1656 Margaret, died 1660 James, Marquis of Douglas, died 1700 William, Earl of Angus, died 1694 William, 1st Marquis of Douglas, died 1660 Mary, 2nd wife of William, died age 64 Margaret, Wife of Earl of Stirling, died 1660 Anne, Wife of Archibald, Earl of Angus, died 1664 William, Earl of Angus, died 1694 Lead Coffin, no inscription, probably Captain John Kerr

Archibald, Duke of Douglas, died 1761 Margaret, Duchess of Douglas, died 1774 Archibald, 1st Baron of Douglas, died 1827 Lady Lucy Graham, died 1780 Lady Francis Scott, died 1817 Archibald, 2nd Baron of Douglas, died 1844 Charles, 3rd Baron of Douglas, died 1848 James, 4th Baron of Douglas, died 1857 Williamina, died 1866 Sholto Douglas, died 1821 George Douglas, died 1838 Cospatrick Alexander, 11th Earl of Home, died 1881 Lucy Elizabeth Douglas, Countess of Home, died 1877

The Douglas Hearts On the floor at the base of Lady Lucy is a case of stone and glass which holds two heart shaped lead caskets They contain the hearts of Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus and The Good Sir James

Douglas Heritage Museum Hope you have enjoyed this Walk With History