In "The Fortified House in Scotland" edited by Nigel Tranter, vol 3, the following description is given, "...this interesting tower, sometimes identified with Ellangowan in Guy Mannering. It was the seat of a branch of the powerful Galloway family of McCulloch like nearby Cardoness who acquired it in the early 16th century. John Knox is said to have used Barholm as a place of refuge previous to his flight to the continent - presumably in his early career. If so, he was here perilously near the home of that most determined of papal churchmen Abbot Gilbert Brown of Carsluith, just 2 miles away.

It is worthy of note that the religious views of the two families did lead to serious clashes, for in 1579 John Brown Younger of Carsluith was called to account for the slaughter of McCulloch of Barholm. The McCullochs were strong for the Reformation and later became equally ardent Covenanters. Major John McCulloch of Barholm was executed for his share in the Pentland Rising of 1666. " 

 Perhaps the greatest volume of information about the Barholm branch of the McCulloch family is present in the manuscript "A History of the Galloway Families of McCulloch" (Walter Jameson McCulloch) which is available in the Ewart Library Dumfries. However, as pointed out by W. J. McCulloch, "For reasons best known to themselves, successive representatives of the branch have firmly and repeatedly refused to allow the family documents and papers to be examined." What is known is mainly derived from written legal records, but the lack of detailed records limit what can be said about the building, its structural changes and its occupancy. The designation "Barholm" often refers more to the branch of the family and a geographical area, rather than to a specific place.