Douglas - St Bride

Douglas developed around Douglas Castle, the ancestral seat of the black line of the influential Clan Douglas and the Earls of Douglas. They were friends to Robert the Bruce and one of the most powerful noble families in 1300s Scotland.

A church was mentioned on the site as early as the 12th century. The current St Bride's Church probably dates from the 14th century. Archibald ‘the Grim’, 3rd earl of Douglas, modified the church as a resting-place for his father, Sir James of Douglas, who died in 1330.

Several changes have been made over the centuries. The clock on the tower bears the date 1565. There are reports that the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart donated the clock, which by now may be the oldest known working clock in Scotland.

In 1781, the building was in a state of ruin. It was partially demolished and replaced by a new building nearby. In 1878, the choir was rebuilt. Furthermore, fragments of the walls and the tower of the original church have been preserved.