THE BARONY OF BUITTLE was created by Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, for the first Baron of Buittle, Sir James Douglas, in 1325. It functioned as the local administrative and social unit, centred around Buittle Castle, the ancient Seat of the Lords of Galloway and the Balliol Kings of Scots, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. In the intervening 700 years it was largely held by the Douglases and then the Maxwells. Today, the 32nd Baron carries on this tradition, creating initiatives to make this heritage relevant to the modern world and the local community.