Archaeology Notes
(NX 85179921) Drumlanrig Castle (NAT)
OS 6" map (1957)


Architecture Notes
NX89NE 1.00 85190 99214 Drumlanrig Castle

NX89NE 1.01 85159 99126 Garden
NX89NE 1.02 85072 99554 1 Laundry Cottages
NX89NE 1.03 85 99 Mallyford Cottage
NX89NE 1.04 87375 97463 Dabton House
NX89NE 1.06 85950 99923 Bridge Cottage, (Gate lodge)
NX89NE 1.07 85762 98206 Low Gardens House
NX89NE 1.08 85343 99151 Drumlanrig Estate, Gardener's Cottage
NX89NE 1.09 85342 99134 Drumlanrig Estate, Glass House
NX89NE 1.10 87269 97300 Dabton House Lodge and Gatepiers
NX89NE 1.11 87419 97511 Dabton House Stables
NX89NE 1.12 87492 97575 Dabton Walled Garden
NX89NE 1.13 85451 98193 Drumlanrig Estate, Chimney
NX89NE 1.14 85945 98305 Drumlanrig Estate, Walled Garden
NX89NE 1.15 85608 98558 Drumlanrig Estate, Heather House
NX89NE 1.16 85076 99562 2 Laundry Cottages
NX89NE 1.17 85212 99247 Drumlanrig Castle, East Courtyard range
NX89NE 1.18 85157 99305 Drumlanrig Castle, West Courtyard Range
NX89NE 1.19 85112 99307 Drumlanrig Castle, Stables

See also
NX89NE 28 8486 9910 Drumlanrig Estate, Heather House (Folly, Viewing platform)
NX89NW 40 84356 98721 Drumlanrig Estate, Summer House
NS80SE 55 85172 00056 Drumlanrig Estate, Cottages
NS80SE 56 85233 00087 Drumlanrig Estate, House
NS80SE 57 8525 0047 Kennels
NS80SE 58 8524 0042 Cottage
NS80SE 59 9584 0003 Cottage
NS80SE 83 85565 00540 Creel Bridge (River Nith)
NS80SE 89 85172 00061 Cottage
NS80SE 93 85229 00353 Drumlanrig Park (house)

NMRS REFERENCE:

Architect: William Luckup, Master Mason c.1685
James Smith or Robert Mylne - 1679-1690
Peter P Boyse and Cornelius Van Nerven - carved entrance front
William Atkinson - scheme for rebuilding - 1812
Edward Blore - design for alterations c.1818
Peregrine Cust - scheme for rebuilding - 1827
William Burn - alterations and additions - 1830
William Elliot - alterations - 1813
11th Earl of Mar - designs for remodelling - (S.R.O. GD/24/V 28,29,30)
Sir Charles Barry - design for layout of house and garden

Remodelled from an earlier building in 1679-90, Drumlanrig Castle is one of the great courtyard houses, showing a combination of castellated and Renaissance styles.
Tradition says there were two previous buildings on the site, but the earliest mention of the castle is in 1492, although the Douglases had held the barony since 1356.
Traces of the former building are found in the cellar in the SE corner and in two fragmented ?16th century gun-loops built into the east wall of the castle. There are also three iron 'yetts'.
J G Dunbar 1966; C T Ramage 1876; RCAHMS 1920; J Williams 1968

Drumlanrig Castle (name verified) (Mr Kennedy, Queensberry Estates, Thornhill) is as described and planned. (Buccleuch Estates Ltd 1976) Visited by OS (TRG) 31 August 1977

Photographed by the RCAHM in 1980.

Inventory to Buccleuch Drawings (at Drumlanrig) - typescript



EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

Drumlanrig Muniment Room:

Drawer L, Nos 1105-11 - Accounts regarding work carried out by Wm. Elliot 1813
Wooden Chest No 5 - Papers regarding the rebuilding of the south block 1618-1622

R.I.B.A. Drawings Collection:

Charles Barry - perspective layout of house and garden
Edward Blore - 9 plans showing alterations c.1818



Scottish National Portrail Gallery:

Country Life, August 23rd, 1902 - article and photographs
Country Life, August 22nd 1947, p378 - article and photographs
Country Life, July 28th, 1928
Country Life, Sptember 7th, 1935 - article and photographs



Scottish Record Office:

RHP 9456 David Lowe, gardener 1738 - plan of house and gardens
RHP 9458, 9459 Wm. and David Crawford 1817, 1818 - estate plans
RHP 9677/1-79 Peregrine Cust 1827 - plans for scheme for rebuilding
William Atkinson 1812 - plans of proposed alterations for castle
Charles Barry 1841 - plans for proposed alterations
Edward Blore c.1818 - plans and elevations for alterations
RHP 13256 Nos 66, 67 & 1722 - Earl of Mar's Drawings - drawing

Account for-
Quarry and quarrystone for pavement in the House of Drumlanrig.
A wall in the Low entry
Stack of vents on the West side of house.
Renewing roof of SW turnpike
Making part of new road through the lower? park by the outside of the new enclosure.
Making laundry.
1756-1757 £55.4.8 GD103/2/399

Letters from Charles D of Queensberry and James Fergusson of Craigdarroch
concern damage done by the rebels during their stay at Drumlanrig.
1745-1746 GD 77/209

Account of work done on estate. It includes paving, making vents, a laundry
and renewing the roof of the turnpike.
1756-57 GD 103/2/399

Letters, John Smallwood, architect to the Duke of Buccleuch regarding building
works at Drumlanrig Castle. (23 items)
1816-19 GD 224/668/3

Accounts and letters, etc., relating to alleged overcharging and defective
workmanship by William Hayland, plumber, Dumfries, in relation to plumbing
work done by him at Drumlanrig Castle (installation of lead pipes, water closets).
12 items GD 224/519/6

Drumlanrig estate: miscellaneous letters and papers. (Some relate to
Drumlanrig Castle repairs. The 1772 item is a description of the course of the
lead pipework in the castle).
GD 224/518/3

Accounts of mason days at Cascade and Damhead from 1st June 1736 - 7th October 1736.
Building the walls of the aqauduct, pavementing the same and building and
pavementing the walls at Damhead etc. Thomas Mein, principal mason. Account
workmens' days and wages at the Cascade, November 1st 1735 - 1st March 1736.



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