Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CCCxlii ANXAXDAl.K MAXSIOXS.
gnvc a inccept of saline to John Juliiistniic, liis sun, in tlic five-iiieik laud of Wain-
pliray.' For generations afterwards, Wamphray continued to be possesscil by tlie main
line and by several cadets of the family of Jolinstone of Jolinstonc. It descended to
Jaiucs, third Earl of Hopetoun, as .-uccessor to George, tliird ^tavqnis of Annandale, by
Avhom it was sold to Sir James Stirling, jirovost of Edinburgh , about the year 1801.
The Castle of Waniphray, or AVamphray I'lace, occupies a very romantic site iu
Wamphray glen. It is .situated on a high table-laud on the north side of AVamphray
water. Steep banks, upwards of a hundred feet in height, encircle it on three sides.
To the south and south-west it coniuiaiids an extensive view of Annandale by the
Tinwald hills into Xilbsdale. On the north the hill of Dundoran towers above the
castle. The west side looks down the Wamphray glen towards the parish of John-
stone. On the cast tlie view extends along the glen to the hills above Kirkhill.
The castle had been a place of great strength and almost impregnable. The round
hill near the ruins of the cartle is called the moat hill of Wamphray, and was made use
of as a beacon hill.
An incident relating to 174J, connected with the castle of Waniphniy, maybe
noted here. John Johnstone of Wamphray, who j(nned in the rebellion of 174-5, was
warded in the castle of Wamphray. It is told of him that Johnstone of Kirkhill in
Wamphray, who came to see him, took his place and allowed him to escape, and that
the stratagem was only discovered when John John.^tone should have been led forth
to execution.
Tiie Earl of Hopetoun during his possession of AVamphray, made extensive imjirove-
nionts by plantations and otherwise. Adjoining the ruins of the old ni:insion of
AA'ampliray there are a number of Scotcli firs of considerable size and antiquity.
' Charters of this work, jip. 1-1, in.