Torthorwald Castle was originally owned by Sir David Torthorwald in the 13th Century and was the center of the village of Torthorwald, which still exists today. It has passed through many families since then. It was first handed to the Kirkpatricks and then in 1418 to the Carlyles. In 1544 it was attacked by Lord Carlyle and sacked, in his raid against his own sister-in-law. In 1609 the castle passed by marriage to the Douglases of Parkhead. It was obviously abandoned a long time ago.

Today, Torthorwald Castle is just a stone mound of earth on which the tower was built and an entrenched lower level of an enclosed area or bailey, with a 14th century central tower built on the mound or motte. This crumbling tower rises to about sixty feet and stands in the middle of a sheep pasture with a ditch around it. The earlier structures that surround the ruined keep have ramparts and wet ditches.

My painting celebrates the forlorn dereliction of this building, sitting alone in a winter's field.