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Cardoness Castle belonged to the MacCullochs, a notable (or notorious) Galloway family in medieval times. One of them (it is unknown who) built this imposing tower house sometime in the late 15th century.
Alexander MacCulloch who died on Flodden Field in 1513 was perhaps the most colourful inhabitant. He was a dangerous individual and his two convictions for violence against neighbours were repealed only after the intervention of King James IV.
The later MacCullochs were no better behaved. In the 17th century, two Maccullochs committed murder, one of whom, Godfrey, was one of the last individuals to be executed on 'The Maiden', the guillotine in Edinburgh.
Subsequently Cardoness Castle was uninhabited and it had a number of owners until it was placed in state care in 1927. It is now a Historic Scotland property.