Agnews of Lochnaw

482 DESTRUCTION OF THE KING'S HOUSE. [1704.
neither wholesome nor picturesque, was left untouched by the
Sheriff, or more probably defied his unscientific efforts, but has
now been entirely removed by modern drainage and brought
under cultivation.
Sir James, whose desire for material improvements entirely
extinguished any veneration for antiquity, having thus gained
an access to the old King's Castle of Lochnaw, which had stood
unmolested in its semi-ruinous state for three hundred years
and more, now determined to turn its material to account for
his own purposes.
Though the access was bad, and it is notorious that it is
harder work to pull to pieces those old fortalices than to quarry
fresh materials, some small quantity of ornamental stone was
sufficient temptation to this Vandal. He set perseveringly to
work ; spoiled every window and door-jamb ; blew out the
rubble work ; and with his spoils rebuilt a wing of his own
abode, as well as stables and sundry other offices, and then used
up the refuse in forming dykes. Thus this interesting relic of
former times, as well as the pretty lake which had so long pro-
tected it, simultaneously disappeared from the scene ; and this
was yclept " improvement !"
Sir James, entirely unconscious of the enormity of his crime,
was careful to record the date of his misdoings ; over the build-
ings he restored — the materials for which were so wickedly
obtained — are engraved in large characters his own initials,
and those of Lady Mary Montgomery, and the date 1704.
The same year we find a commission signed at Lochnaw, 9th
May 1704, by Sir James, as Sheriff of Galloway, giving powers
to "Andrew Eoss of Balsarroch as his Sheriff-depute, and by
virtue of a precept from the Court of Chancery to infeft John,
Earl of Stair (heir-male served and retoured to umq le . James
Viscount of Stair), in the lands of Mark and Ashendarroch in the
parish of Inch ; the lands of Torhous Muir, alias Balmeg, in the
parish of Wigtown ; the barony of Ardwell, etc., and the lands
of Threave in the parish of Penninghame."
We are thus introduced to the Eosses, who were probably