Dundas Castle

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Dundas Castle

Dundas Castle is a 15th-century castle, with substantial 19th-century additions by William Burn, near South Queensferry, to the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was the home of the Dundas family, and remains in private hands.

History

In 1416, James Dundas obtained a license to build a keep from the first Duke of Albany, with an extension granted in 1436. It was primarily a defensive refuge. Oliver Cromwell is known to have stayed at Dundas Castle around the time of the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.

The modern Dundas Castle was built in 1818 by the renowned architect William Burn. Burn also designed many churches and this influence is visible throughout the building. Burn's designs for the main state rooms allow for huge windows that look out on to lawns and parkland outside. The Dundas family sold the property in 1875.

In 1899 it was bought along with five farms and 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of agricultural land by Stewart Clark, in whose family the property remains. Clark was the owner of a Victorian textile company at Anchor Mills[1] and became Deputy Lord Lieutenant in the County of Renfrewshire, was elected MP for Paisley and was respected for being a great philanthropist.

During the Second World War, Dundas Castle served as the headquarters for protecting the Forth Bridge.[2]

The current owner since 1995 has been Sir Jack Stewart-Clark, the great-grandson of Stewart Clark. Stewart-Clark was an MEP between 1979 and 1999.[3]

Facilities

The frozen loch of Dundas Castle.

Since 1995, the castle has been substantially renovated. The Auld Keep, uninhabited for over 300 years, had its parapet rebuilt and its stonework restored. Electricity, toilets and banqueting facilities were installed, while dry rot in the castle itself was eliminated. The castle is now a 5 star exclusive venue, often used for weddings.[4]

In the grounds of the Castle is holiday cottage called The Boathouse, sited on the shores of a private loch. It is a 4 star-self catering venue.

Dundas Castle is a member of Unique Venues of Edinburgh[5] and Luxury Edinburgh[6]

Film and TV location

Dundas Castle has been used as a backdrop in films The Little Vampire (2000), Summer Solstice and Book of Blood (2009). It has also been used for adverts for Arnold Clark and T4’s links between shows.

References

  1. ↑ "Anchor Mills, Paisley". Renfrewshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2009-02-11. 
  2. ↑ "Dundas Castle history". Dundas Castle website. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  3. ↑ "Sir Jack Stewart-Clark's MEP archive". EU Parliament website. Retrieved 2009-02-11. 
  4. ↑ "5 Star Exclusive use venue". VisitScotland.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
  5. ↑ "Dundas Castle on Unique Venues of Edinburgh". uniquevenuesofedinburgh.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-09-13. 
  6. ↑ "Dundas Castle on Luxury Edinburgh". luxuryedinburgh.com. Retrieved 2010-09-13. 

External links

Coordinates: 55°58′31″N 3°24′53″W / 55.97528°N 3.41472°W / 55.97528; -3.41472

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