Martyr's Stake
Landmark In Newton Stewart, Scotland
Stone monument dedicated to two women martyred at Wigtown in 1685.
The Martyr's Stake in Wigtown was so quiet and peaceful when we visited in July 2024 and we had the place to ourselves. The site has a sort of eerie sadness to it despite the beautiful backdrop, but it also has a very important role to play in the history of Wigtown.
The Martyr's Stake stands as a stark reminder of a tumultuous period in the nation's history. It marks the spot where two women, Margaret MacLachlan and Margaret Wilson, were executed in 1685 for their unwavering religious beliefs. Their story speaks of resilience, defiance, and the enduring spirit of the Covenanters.
The Covenanters were a Presbyterian movement opposed to the imposition of Anglican practices by King Charles II and his successor, James VII. They fiercely defended their faith and the Presbyterian form of church government. This religious conflict ignited a period known as The Killing Times (1680-1688), marked by brutal persecution of Covenanters who refused to conform.
Margaret MacLachlan, a woman in her sixties, and Margaret Wilson, a young woman of eighteen, embodied that unwavering spirit. Their defiance wasn't ostentatious; they merely refused to swear an oath that declared James VII as the supreme head of the church, an act they viewed as an affront to their Presbyterian beliefs. This seemingly small act of defiance had dire consequences. They were apprehended while attending a conventicle, an outlawed outdoor religious service held by Covenanters.
The women were brought before a court in Wigtown. Refusing to renounce their beliefs, they were sentenced to death. The punishment was designed to be both cruel and a deterrent to others. They were to be tied to stakes driven into the mudflats of the River Bladnoch and left to drown as the tide rose. The strategy was barbaric - the younger Margaret, it was hoped, would relent upon witnessing the older woman's demise. However, their resolve remained unshaken. Margaret Wilson, according to accounts, even sang psalms and quoted scripture as the water rose around them. Their unwavering faith in the face of death became a potent symbol of Covenanter fortitude.
The exact location of the execution remained unmarked for centuries. It wasn't until 1858 that a simple stone monument was erected on the eastern side of Wigtown, close to the believed site of the drowning. The inscription reads:
"This marks the traditional site of the martyrdom of Margaret MacLachlan and Margaret Wilson, who were inhumanly drowned here for their adherence to Presbyterian principles on 11th May 1685."
While the monument itself is modest, its presence ensures that the memory of the two Margarets is not lost.
Wigtown was the scene of five executions during The Killing Times, and the people who died became known as the Wigtown Martyrs. You can visit the three stones erected in their memory in Wigtown parish church graveyard. Two of the stones are dedicated to Margaret Wilson and Margaret McLachlan and the other stone commemorates the lives of William Johnstone, John Milroy and George Walker who were hanged in Wigtown in 1685, the same year as the two Margarets were killed.
A sad but poignant and important part of the history of Wigtown.
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How To Find Martyr's Stake
Where To Park For Martyr's Stake?
Lat / Long
54.862427, 54.862427
What three words
There is on street parking in Wigtown centre or at Wigtown harbour a short walk away.
Contributed by Sandra Clemens
I love the great outdoors and have been a National Trust & English Heritage member for years. I also love going off the beaten track and finding places like Sharp's Folly or Rothley Castle which are hidden gems in Northumberland. My favourite recent hike was climbing Red Screes in the Lake District on a whim, not fully grasping how high 776m was. It was still an achievement to conquer a Wainwright walk and I hope to do more one day.
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