Drumlanrig Castle
The Drumlanrig Castle is a Renaissance castle near the Scottish village of Thornhill in the Council Area Dumfries and Galloway . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. Various outbuildings are also classified as Category B or C structures. The former gardener's house, which is independently classified as a Category A building, deserves special mention. The entire property is on the Scottish Landscaping Register . In all six categories he was given the highest rating “outstanding”.
history
In the 14th century, Clan Douglas received the lands of Drumlanrig in Nithsdale from King Robert the Bruce . There were probably two predecessor castles at the site. Although a barony was established as early as 1356 , the earliest mention of a fortification dates back to 1492. In the mid to late 16th century, the basis of today's Drumlanrig Castle was built. After the site first seat of the Lords Drumlanrig was, he was with the appointment of William Douglas for the first Earl of Queensberry for Earls seat . The castle later became the ancestral home of the Dukes , then the Marquesses of Queensberry. Today Duke of Queensberry is a minor title of the Dukes of Buccleuch .
In the 17th century, Drumlanrig Castle was extensively redesigned and received its current structure. A design drawing indicates that William Bruce was responsible for the work. Another revision under William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry was carried out between 1670 and 1690. As architect, James Smith directed the measures. He worked together with the Dutch Peter Paul Boyse and Cornelius van Nerven . In this century, the construction of the surrounding parks and gardens was pushed ahead. However, the current structure was not established until the middle of the 18th century.
Because of his dissolute lifestyle, William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry, lost large parts of the family fortune. In the year he died in 1810, he had numerous mature trees felled on the property in order to remain liquid through the income from the sale of wood. When Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch inherited Drumlanrig Castle after Douglas' death, the two Dukedoms were united. The property looked neglected and Scott released funds to initiate restoration. In essence, however, it was Walter Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch, who spent around 65 years restoring, modernizing and expanding both Drumlanrig Castle and the park. The parks, which several well-known landscape gardeners and architects were involved in designing, grew into one of the most popular parks of their time. Family friend Walter Scott also stayed at the castle several times in the first half of the century.
Before the Second World War , the gardens' nine terraces were demolished. After the end of the war, the facilities were in a desolate condition. However, under Walter John Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch , the replanting of the property and its restoration began. The restoration was largely completed under his heir, John Scott, 9th Duke of Buccleuch .
Gardener's house
The former gardener's house, located around one kilometer southwest of Drumlanrig Castle near the right bank of the Nith , was built around 1831 to a design by the Scottish architect William Burn . It is a two-story cottage with a protruding, low-hanging gable roof with two dormer windows . The open veranda running along the east side is designed with three basket arches . A flatter wing adjoins the west side. Another wing has since been broken off.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- ↑ a b c d e Garden and Designed Landscape - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
Web links
- Internet presence of the property
- Entry on Drumlanrig Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
Coordinates: 55 ° 16'25.1 " N , 3 ° 48'32.1" W.