Hamilton Palace

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Hamilton Palace circa 1880.

For other uses, see Hamilton Palace (disambiguation).

Hamilton Palace was the largest non-Royal residence in the Western World in its heyday, located north-east of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

A former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, it was built in 1695, subsequently much enlarged, and demolished in 1921 due to ground subsidence. It is widely acknowledged as having been one of the grandest houses in Scotland.

1 The Palace
2 Hamilton Mausoleum
3 Decline and demolition
4 External links

[edit] The Palace

Built on the site of a 13th century tower house, the south front of Hamilton Palace was erected in 1695 by architect James Smith for William, 3rd Duke of Hamilton and his wife Duchess Anne. The North Front was completed 1842 by architect David Hamilton for Alexander, the tenth Duke. The north front was 265 feet (81 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) high, adorned with a Corinthian portico of monolithic columns 25 feet (7.6 m) high. The state-rooms, which included stucco-work, were by Smith and William Adam. These held much fine furniture and by the mid-19th century housed the best collection of paintings in Scotland, including works by Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, Anthony van Dyck, and other masters. Hamilton Palace stood at the centre of extensive parklands which, as the main axis, had a great north-south tree-lined avenue over three miles (5 km) in length. The layout was later developed, most notably by William Adam, who introduced Châtelherault hunting lodge into the south avenue in the High Parks where it commanded a broad vista northwards across the Low Parks.

[edit] Hamilton Mausoleum

In line with his grandiose enlargement of Hamilton Palace, Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton, replaced his family burial vault which stood close to the east quarter of the palace in the aisle of the old and dilapidated collegiate church. Now the solitary remaining testament to the colossal scale and grandeur of the buildings which once stood in Hamilton Low Parks, Hamilton Palace Mausoleum is a remarkable, Roman-style domed structure of panelled masonry. Standing to an overall height of about 123 feet (37 m), it occupies a site some 650 feet (200 m) north of the site of Hamilton Palace. Begun in 1842 by architect David Hamilton and completed by architects David Bryce and Alexander Richie in 1858, five years after the death of the 10th Duke. The Duke's coffin was later removed after subsidence affected the mausoleum but may have been replaced in its magnificent stone sarcophagus now that the building has stabilised.

For many years in the 1960s-1970s the structure was noticed to be subsiding and a 20ft plumb-line hanging on the front of the mausoleum indicated the lean from true. The monolithic, plinth based construction prevented structural cracking however and, after many anxious years, the building miraculously settled back to near vertical.

Inside the mausoleum are displayed the original bronze outer doors, featuring impressive bas-relief work. The interior is has recorded the longest echo of any building in the world, this is demonstrated to visitors by slamming the doors. Another curiosity of the interior architecture are the "Whispering Wa's" or walls. Two people can stand at either end of one of the curved interior walls, facing away from each other, into the niche of the wall and hold a whispered conversation. The strange acoustics of the walls project the sound eerily to the listener at the other side

The underground crypt was prone to flooding from the nearby Clyde and for many years the coffins of the Hamilton family were removed. These have never been replaced.

In the 1970s the glass oculus in the dome was replaced with a perspex version, moved into position by helicopter.

The Mausoleum is opened to the public for a few days every year (dates from Hamilton Tourist Information Office).

[edit] Decline and demolition

The demise of Hamilton Palace was the result of various factors: large and ostentatious houses had fallen from fashion; the cost of upkeep was prohibitive; and nearby coal mines resulted in dangerous subsidence as the coal beneath was removed. The decline began in the 1882 when art was sold off to raise funds by William, the 12th Duke, and continued when Alfred, the 13th Duke lent his home for use as a naval hospital during World War I.

By the time it was returned in 1919, the fate of the house was sealed and following a massive sale of contents and fittings, it was demolished in 1921. The site of the Palace is now occupied by the Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds. Most of the Palace grounds were incorporated into Strathclyde Country Park. Some of the fittings, and photographs of the interior, can be viewed in the Low Parks Museum (the old Palace Coachhouse) in Hamilton.

The sandstone bungalows on the south side of the A74, Carlisle Road, leaving Hamilton in the direction of Ferniegair and Larkhall are reputed to have been built from salvaged stone from the palace.

The remains of the tree lined avenue which linked the palace to Chatelherault hunting lodge can still be seen. These give the visitor a good indication, particularly from Chatelherault, of where the palace stood. An Esporta health club, municipal sports facilities and an Asda superstore now stand on the site of the original palace.