Inveraray Castle
| Inveraray Castle | |
|---|---|
| Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
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Inveraray Castle in 2014 | |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 353: Malformed coordinates value. | |
| Coordinates | grid reference NN095092 |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Inveraray Castle (Scottish Gaelic Caisteal Inbhir Aora, pronounced [ˈkʰaʃtʲal iɲɪɾʲˈɯːɾə]) is a country house near Inveraray in the county of Argyll, in western Scotland, on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch.[1]
It has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century.
History and architecture
Work on the castle began in 1743 and replaced an earlier 15th-century castle.[2] In October 1746 the foundation stone was laid.[3] Built in Gothic Revival style, later additions included a third floor with dormer windows and steep conical roofs. The village of Inveraray was moved in the 1770s to give the castle a more secluded setting.[4]
Designers who worked on the house include William Adam and Roger Morris; the interior includes a number of neoclassical rooms created for the 5th Duke by Robert Mylne.[1] These are among the rooms open to the public. James Lees-Milne was not impressed by the house when he visited it in 1943, noting the "ugly" grey stone and calling it "grim and forbidding".[4]
In 1975 a devastating fire struck Inveraray and for some time the 12th Duke and his family lived in the castle's basement, while restorations requiring a worldwide fundraising drive were carried out.[5]
Modern era
The castle is open to visitors. Its collection includes more than 1,300 pikes, muskets, swords and other weapons.[4]
The 13th Duke and his family live in private apartments occupying two floors and set between two of the castle's crenellated circular towers. Recent renovations included the installation of the house's first central heating.[1]
Inveraray Castle is a Category A listed building. It is surrounded by a 16-acre (6.5 ha) garden and an estate of 60,000 acres (24,000 ha).[1] Besides welcoming visitors to the castle, the estate's activities include commercial forestry, tenanted farming, wind and hydro power and deer hunting.[4]
In 2012 the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey was partly filmed here; the castle stood in for the fictional "Duneagle Castle". Inveraray Castle also featured in a series on Scottish castles made by American broadcaster PBS. The "Best of the West" festival, organised by the Duchess, is held at the castle each September.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Matthew Dennison (14 July 2011). "Inveraray Castle: home to the Duke of Argyll". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 76–87. ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
- ↑ "Inveraray Castle". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Dickie, Mure (8 August 2015). "Scottish peer with a clan-do attitude". Financial Times. p. 2.
- ↑ "The Duke of Argyll". The Daily Telegraph. 23 April 2001. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
External links
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