Architecture Notes

Event ID 827005

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Architecture Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/827005

Threatened Buildings Survey (TBS) team’s interest in carrying out a survey of Dumfries House was prompted by the death of Eileen, Dowager Marchioness of Bute, in 1993. The importance of this very private house was recognised in both architectural and furniture historian circles. After various discussions with David Jones of St Andrews University and Dr Sebastian Pryke who had both visited the house, its importance and uncertain future made it a strong candidate for a TBS survey.

The first formal request to discuss the possibility of undertaking a survey was made in 1996. In October 2007 RCAHMS undertook a detailed photographic survey prior to the proposed sale. This enabled a thorough record of the house and its interiors to be made before the ownership was transferred. RCAHMS also carried out a measured survey in February 2008. Both these surveys have been invaluable to the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust, which now owns the house and estate. The proposal by the RCAHMS to write a book on the architectural development of Dumfries House, putting it in the context of Scotland and further afield, has been warmly welcomed by both the Trust and the Mount Stuart Archives where most of the surviving documents relating to the house remain. Charlotte Rostek the Curator of Dumfries House is providing invaluable help and support for the research into and the understanding of Dumfries House.

The 5th Earl of Dumfries commissioned a new house signing a contract in 1754 with John, Robert and James Adam. A

new site was chosen to the south east of Leifnorris, the Earl’s house on his Ayrshire Estate. The house and estate were renamed Dumfries at the laying of the foundation stone. The doocot and a barn survive from the earlier Leifnorris estate. The house was completed in 1760, but the earl also embellished his estate with a new home farm, bridge, coach house, wash house, ice house and gothic temple gate lodge. Through the 5th Earl’s great niece the Dumfries estates and titles passed to the Marquesses of Bute. In the early nineteenth century the house was completely redecorated and replumbed, including at least five water closets. Five new gate lodges were built, the gardens extended and embellished and the home farm extended and remodelled. This was combined with a wide variety of agricultural and industrial improvements across the estate. The most visible alterations to the house were carried out by Robert Weir Schultz for the 3rd Marquess of Bute between 1894 and 1900. This included the addition of substantial wings behind the two eighteenth century pavilion blocks and lavish new gardens. The 4th Marquess continued to work with Weir Schultz but in the 1920s employed Balfour Paul, with whom he had worked on the restoration of 5–7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, to create a new dining room. In 1956 Dumfries House became the home of his daughter in law, Eileen, Dowager Marchioness of Bute, until her death in 1993. On 6 June 2008 the house was officially opened to the public by HRH Prince Charles Duke of Rothesay.

Information from RCAHMS (SG 2010)

Architect: John and Robert Adam 1754-59

J. P. Gandy-Deering - Lodge 1827

RCAHMS Search Room:

Moxon & Carfrae A/C books no 247 1820

Ayrshire Agricultural Report 1811

R W Schultz. Extracts from Office Contract journals Fee books etc. typescript ( Survey of Private Collections record sheet P109 p.37)

EXTERNAL REFERENCES

Architect: Robert Weir Schultz. 1905 Adds and alts (prints).

NS. (Allan Stevenson). 1895. Drains.

Allan Stevenson. 1913-14. Alts to attic storey.

Plans at Darley Hay Partnership, Ayr.

Dumfries House: Letter, Frederick Pitman, 48 Castle Street, Edin to Charles G Shaw Esq, Ayr.

Concerns items of expenditure '.... Sir James mentioned that he wished The Curators' consent to some works at Dumfries House. The building of a bathroom, some improvements to the kitchen and the introduction of Gas to the House and Offices..... If Ld Bute after being informed what the Gas, Kitchen and Turkish Bath are to cost expresses a strong wish to have them done I take it for granted that the Curators will agree .....'.

June 18 1867

Letter: William Railton, St Marnock Place, Kilmarnock to Charles G Shaw Esq, Ayr.

'I was at Dumfries House and completed my sketch of the Hall and took the assistance of the Decorator .... I found it necessary to prepare a coloured sketch .... in order to give a proper idea of how the Hall could be effectively painted .... I will despatch it to Lord Bute with the Plan for the Bath'.

May 6 1867 Bute Papers (Dumfries House) A1573

Letter of 18 July 1867 mentions building of Gardener's House

Letters from William Railton to Charles G Shaw:-

Report on the progress of mason and joinerwork.

Sketch and instructions given about pantry.

Kitchen range in the hands of Messrs Stewart.

Ornamental tile floor.

Lamps for the passage outside the doors of the Wings.

Bathroom platform.

Arrival of plumber.

5 Sept 1867 - 11 Oct 1867 Bute Papers (Dumfries House) A1574

Letter: James Ferguson to Charles G Shaw Esq.

He wishes the work agreed with Lord Bute to go ahead.

It includes: Turkish Bath

New Kitchen range

Gas supply

10 July 1867 Bute Papers (Dumfries House) A1573

Dumfries House. Specification of alterations and additions.

Concerns Entrance to Library.

Library.

Wings of House.

Includes: New doors to be made at the entrance to the library. Library ceilng to be plastered and cornices matched to correspond with those on the staircase. Pilasters and doors to be of wainscot. Lantern light to be finished as shown on Plan.

Arches to be thrown across ceiling from pilaster to pilaster and finished with a truss and cap of stuccor ornamented upon each side, on top of each pilaster. Soffits and sides of arches to be panelled and moulded as shown and each compartment of ceiling to have a large cornice round it.

The stone jambs in the library to be wrought in imitatiom of marble.

Probable expense of library and entrance to it. #202.

Wings of the House. The back walls to be raised to the level of the ridge of the roof. The top of the roof to be finished with a platform covered with lead. Each wing to have 3 new windows. Each apartment in wing to have a new bound door. Old plaster to be stripped and renewed and to have a neat cornice.

Probable expense. #213

Bute Papers (Dumfries House) A1542

Reports on mason and carpenter work follow.

Receipted accounts for slater and joinerwork.

#258.1.0.

Bute Papers (Dumfries House)

Bundle A1542

Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection, DC23406, 1949.