The Douglas Archives

A collection of historical and genalogical records

Situated in King St, Castle Douglas, The Douglas Arms trades today as a successful small hotel with 23 bedrooms. Reputedly it first opened for business in 1779, where it was located on the key coaching route on the road to Portpatrick, the shortest sea crossing to Ireland.

The Douglas coat of arms above the door is that of Sir William Douglas, founder of Castle Douglas, who, although he never owned the inn, probably invested in it. It is claimed by some that an earlier Douglas Arms posting house was located just outside the village of Carlingwark.

The Douglas Arms was the stopping place for the coaches, which in addition to passengers, played an important role carrying the Royal Mail.

Bob Henry, elsewhere here, reports that In Pigot's Directory of 1825-6, Robert Douglas is in the Douglas Arms, King Street, Castle Douglas and in 1837-8, Marion is recorded there. In 1852, Slater has Mary Douglas.
When the building of Gelston Castle (Douglas Castle) was ongoing, circa 1805, for Sir William Douglas, the story is told of letters arriving in the town addressed to him:- 'William Douglas of Douglas Castle, care of Mrs Douglas, Douglas Arms Hotel, Castle Douglas'. However, it is noted that Mrs Douglas in the hotel was no relation of Sir William's.

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Comment by William Douglas on June 6, 2013 at 15:34

In 1875 The Payne family, owners of the Douglas Arms Hotel

The Payne family, owners of the Douglas Arms Hotel

Comment by William Douglas on March 7, 2012 at 15:53

Related to the story above, I have also seen this reference in The Journal of Sir William Brereton of Handforth, Cheshire:

Sir William Douglas obsession with the name of Douglas gave rise to the good-humoured
banter of his neighbours, one of whom is stated to have addressed a letter
to : — Sir William Douglas of Douglas Castle, bart., Douglas Castle,
c/o Mrs. Douglas, Douglas Arms Inn, Castle Douglas.

Making conections

The more information you can give about the people you mention, the more chance there is of someone else connecting with your family.

Dates and places of births, deaths and marriages all help to place families.

Professions also help.

'My great-grandmother mother was a Douglas from Montrose' does not give many clues to follow up! But a bit of flesh on the bones makes further research possible. But if we are told who she married, what his profession was and where the children were baptised, then we can get to work.

Maybe it is time to update the information in your profile?


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