Dundas Castle
Country House (15th Century) - (19th Century)
Site Name Dundas Castle
Classification Country House (15th Century) - (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Old Dundas Castle; Dundas Castle Policies
Canmore ID 50602
Site Number NT17NW 6
NGR NT 11835 76714
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/50602
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- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Dalmeny
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County West Lothian
NT17NW 6.00 11835 76714
(NT 1178 7671) Tower (NR)
OS 6" map (1968)
NT17NW 6.01 1166 7683 Works; Stables (Possible)
NT17NW 6.02 11853 76024 Boathouse
NT17NW 6.03 11875 76697 Fountain and Sundial
NT17NW 6.04 11240 76978 Castle Grove
NT17NW 6.05 11177 76987 Brown Acre
NT17NW 6.06 11171 76988 Lilac Cottage
NT17NW 6.07 11164 76989 Rose Acre
NT17NW 6 and NT17NW 08 11159 76990 Dundas Main
NT17NW 6.09 11728 76836 Blue Acre
NT17NW 6.10 12559 75676 South Lodge
NT17NW 6.11 12041 75829 Dundas Loch Bridge
NT17NW 6.12 11792 76707 Dundas Castle Keep
NT17NW 6.13 11801 76669 Stable Court
See also:
NT17NW 7 1161 7678 Chapel Acre
NT17NW 22 11482 76768 Dovecot
NT17NW 51 12896 77004 North gate-lodge
NT17NW 52 11543 76346 Icehouse
NT17NW 53 11461 76400 Walled garden
NT17NW 54 11332 76439 Castleloch
NT17NW 55 1162 7672 Chapel Acre, house
Dundas Castle: Adjoining the offices of the mansion built in 1818 is a 4-storeyed, L-shaped tower, built c. 1416 to which a second wing was added c.1424, projecting from the NW angle.
The rubble walls of the tower are surmounted by a 16th century crenellated parapet. The tower is in a good state of repair, though much altered internally, having been at one time converted into a distillery.
The lands were in the possession of the Dundas family from c. 1120 until 1875, when the estate was sold to James Russell. The castle was beseiged in 1449, and is said to have been visited by both Charles II and Oliver Cromwell in 1651, though it does not seem to have been involved in the hostilities at that time.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 1926
This tower is as described and is in a good state of repair.
Visited by OS (BS) 14 August 1974
NT 1178 7671. Two service trenches on the E and SW sides of the tower house were excavated by Headland Archaeology Ltd as part of the current refurbishment programme. Bedrock was encountered close to the surface in the E trench, its surface partially modified during the construction of the tower house. A series of features, most probably associated with the brewery phase of the building's use in the early 19th century and the construction of the modern mansion, were also revealed. No evidence for later medieval or post-medieval activity on the site was traced during the course of this work. A previously unrecorded inscription, probably 16th century in date, was also located during the course of this work, built into a nearby wall. An archive report has been deposited with the NMRS (MS/899/7)
Sponsor: Dundas Castle Estate.
C E Lowe 1996
Scheduled with NT17NW 6.03 and NT17NW 22 as Old Dundas Castle, castle, sundial and dovecot.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 3 March 1999.
NT17NW 6.00 11835 76714
15th century with later additions
Additions - ARCHITECT: William Burn 1818
Charles H Greig Alterations 1900
OWNER: Sir Stewart-Clark
NMRS REFERENCE
Famous Scottish Houses, p.93 - article and photograph
SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE REFERENCE:
Accounts for glazier work. Patrick Turnbull, glazier
1685 GD73/498
Account for glazier work Micheal Wauch, glazier
1695 GD75/485
Part of account for wright work at Dundas House, Robert Kay, wright
1735 GD75/523
Account for glazier work. Charles Bruce, glazier
1735 GD75/518
Account for wright work due by George Dundas of Dundas to Alexander Peter, wright ?106, 12.2
1744 GD75/533
Account for Smithwork done for the Laird of Dundas. James Reis, smith
1660 GD75/478
Photographic Survey (1956)
Photographic survey of Dundas Castle, West Lothian, by the Scottish National Buildings Record in 1955.
Watching Brief (25 July 2012 - 26 July 2012)
A watching brief on trench excavations associated with the laying of a cable at the site of Dundas Castle in order to identify and record any archaeological remains that might be exposed by the works. The work was commissioned by Enviko Ltd, and a specification was agreed with Edinburgh City Council. A narrow trench 245 m long across the grounds to the S of the castle was monitored to a maximum depth of 0.9 m. No archaeological features were uncovered during the watching brief.
Headland Archaeology 2012 (D. Wilson) OASIS ID: headland1-131066
