Leswalt

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Leswalt is a village and civil parish in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It sits between Portpatrick and Stranraer on the Rhins of Galloway, in the historic county of Wigtownshire. The parish covers about 8 square miles (around 21 square kilometers).

The name Leswalt is unclear. It might come from Welsh llys gwellt, meaning “grass court,” or Gaelic lios uillt, meaning “fort of the glen,” possibly referring to Lochnaw Castle.

In the Middle Ages the area was divided into feudal lands controlled by barons under the Sheriff of Wigtownshire. It belonged to Tongland Abbey for a time. In 1390 Archibald Douglas granted lands at Leswalt to William Douglas, who called himself the Lord of Leswalt and Sheriff of Wigton, but he lost the lands during a power struggle. The lands then passed to Andrew Agnew, the hereditary constable of Lochnaw Castle, who and his heirs held the office of Sheriff of Wigtownshire in the 15th century. After a series of transfers and forfeitures, the lands eventually moved through different families, including the Kennedys.

Salt has been produced at Salt Pan Bay since 1637.

The Old Kirk of Leswalt is medieval and is now ruins. It was given to Tongland Abbey in the 14th century. An adjoining Agnew Aisle dates from the 17th century. The present church was built in 1828.

Lochnaw Castle was home to the Agnew family. The ruins of the old castle lie on an island in Lochnaw Loch and date to the 13th century. The present Lochnaw Castle includes a 16th-century tower but was largely remodeled in the 18th century.

There are several ancient forts and fortifications in the area, such as Lashindarroch, forts at Port Slogan, Larbrax fort near Kemp’s Walk, Saltpans Bay fort, High Auchneel, Aldouran Glenhead fort (the Kemps’ Graves), and the Tor of Craigoch circular fort.