Mansions, Mysteries, and Mayhem - The Castles and Great Houses of AngusMany fortified dwellings, great houses and castles once populated the landscape of Angus. A thousand years of history rich in colourful characters, political intrigue and feats of daring or misadventure, has bequeathed to us a legacy of romantic castles and ruins. There are several great places to visit, each quite different, and many others which are private but are interesting examples of the heritage.
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and a royal residence, since 1372. It was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the late Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret, also the legendary setting for Shakespeare´s famous play Macbeth. The romantic turreted Castle in the setting of its beautiful parkland and sweeping driveway, is of interest to visitors and historians alike. The Great Hall has a magnificent plasterwork ceiling dated 1621 and family portraits can be seen in the 19th century dining room. In 1688 a family Chapel was constructed inside the Castle. The Castle has its share of haunting stories, as befits its colourful past. The extensive park, landscaped in the 18th century, has an Italian Garden and Pinetum, a Pavilion Shop and Victorian Kitchen Resataurant. The Castle is open to the public daily from March 18th 2006 - until the end of December 2006. For further details, please telephone 01307 840393 or go to www.glamis-castle.co.uk
Edzell Castle and Garden
Edzell Castle and Garden are a surprise and delight to visit, unique among North East castles for its decorative courtyard garden. There has been a castle on or near the site since around 1100. The remaining ruin of a majestic tower house was built originally in the 15th century for the Lindsay family, and the stylised walled garden was begun by Sir David Lindsay around 1604. Highly decorated with heraldic sculptures and carved panels, bird nesting niches and planting, the walls surrounding the garden are unique in Britain. At the far corners of the garden, a bath-house and summer house were constructed. The two storey summer house survives today almost complete, featuring a panelled room with a fine example of the carved oak panelling which was once fitted throughout the tower house. There is a well-documented ghost at the Castle, let us know if you have any eerie experiences when you visit!
For more information go to www.historic-scotland.gov.uk or telephone 01356 648631
Edzell is 10km north of Brechin on the B966. Grid reference NO585691
Open All Year (Winter closed all day Thursday & Friday)
Summer
1 April to 30 September
Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 6.30pm
Winter
1 October to 31 March
Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 4.30pm
Last tickets sold at 6pm (4pm in winter)
Christmas and New Year Period
Closed 25th, 26th December and 1st, 2nd January.
Adult £4.00, Child £1.60, Concessions £3.00
The House of Dun
The House of Dun is a handsome Georgian house overlooking the Montrose Basin. It was completed in 1730 by William Adam for David Erskine, the 13th Laird of Dun. Inside, grand public rooms with elaborate plasterwork sit alongside family apartments. The House has collections of 18th and 19th century furniture, porcelain and portraits, along with exquisite embroidery by the most famous lady of the house - Lady Augusta FitzClarence, daughter of William IV and the actress Dorothy Jordan. 'Below stairs' the domestic life of the house is preserved along with the servants bells, the kitchen, and boot room. Some previous resident of the House may be lingering - judging by the continuing reports of ghostly happenings...
The poet Violet Jacob whose atmospheric poem 'The Wild Geese', has since been set to music by Angus musician Jim Reid, was a daughter of the House, which hosts many cultural events throughout the year. The house sits in its own formal gardens with parkland and woodland beyond. The courtyard buildings are also very charming, and house a bookshop, a handloom weaving workshop, self-catering accommodation and a tearoom. The House is a National Trust for Scotland property, whose land includes much of the Western half of the beautiful Montrose Basin, and the area is internationally important for its migratory wading birds and wildfowl.
HOUSE, SHOP and RESTAURANT:
Good Fri to 30 Jun and 1 to 30 Sep, Wed-Sun (closed Mon and Tue*) 12.30-5.30;
1 Jul to 31 Aug, daily 11.30-5.30. Last admission 45 mins before closing. *
NB: Property will be open Bank Holidays from Fri-Mon inclusive.
Montrose, Angus, DD10 9LQ.
Tel (01674) 810264; fax (01674) 810722; email houseofdun@nts.org.uk
Mains Castle
Mains Castle was built by Sir David Graham, a nephew of the infamous Cardinal Beaton, in the mid 16th century and its remains stand on the outskirts of Dundee. Most of the buildings were roofless not so many years ago. Mains is an unusual castle, with its tall and distinctive 6 storey stair tower, enabling a watch to be kept over nearby high ground. The buildings, some of which have long since gone, form a courtyard.
Ballinshoe
Ballinshoe is a small fortified tower house near Forfar, and was once part of the Glamis Estate. Built in the 16th century, the tower is rectangular in plan, has two single-room floors, attic space, and an adjacent enclosure. It was originally the property of the Lindsay family but passed to the Fletchers around the mid-17th century.
Melgund Castle
Melgund Castle is in central Angus. A roofless ruin until recently, the main L-plan keep has now been restored. The keep rises 4 storeys to an elaborately corbelled parapet walk, with an attic storey and watch chamber above that. The castle is believed to have been built by Cardinal Beaton in the mid 16th century, for his favourite mistress, Marion Ogilvy - to whom he may have been married in secret, before becoming a cardinal. It remained with the descendants of their son until the 17th century, before passing to the Gordons.
Photographs of Mains Castle, Ballinshoe Tower & Melgund Castle reproduced with kind permission of RJM Paxman (http://www.pbase.com/rjmpaxman/angus).
