Dunkeld, Dunkeld House

Dunkeld House, the former residence of the Duke of Atholl, stood to the N of the cathedral (NO04SW 1.00). It was destroyed by Commonwealth troops in 1653 but was rebuilt in 1679; the house was eventually demolished in the early 19th century, although the stable block and court of offices remained until after 1858. The house of 1679, designed by William Bruce, is depicted by Slezer.

Cropmarks confirm the extent of the ancillary buildings and the layout of the policies as revealed on a plan of the lawns of Dunkeld House made after 1821 (Atholl Muniments D3.34).

A new house, 'Dunkeld New Palace', was begun in the 1820s (NO 0203 4259) but never finished (NO04SW 29).

Information from RCAHMS (IMS) April 1989.

Slezer 1693; New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; R Pococke 1887.

An aerial transcription was produced from oblique aerial photographs. Information from Historic Environment Scotland (BM) 31 March 2017.

Air photography has recorded the cropmarks of these features.

Information from RCAHMS (JRS) 11 January 1993.

NO 025 426 Recent tree planting in what were once the grounds of Dunkeld House was thought to have affected underlying archaeological deposits, notably a 17th-century tower recorded at one time as holding the library. A team of NTS Conservation Volunteers assisted in an assessment of this threat. A trench across a prominent mound discovered this to be a landscape feature, but a second trench, located through the careful analysis of old maps and plans, led to the discovery of a wall trench and internal floor levels of what is thought to have been the tower. The trees affecting these deposits have now been removed, and it is hoped that funds can be found for a geophysical survey of the whole area.

Sponsor: NTS

R Turner 1994.

NO 0096 4269 A watching brief was conducted in November 1998 during site preparation for erecting portacabins. This involved the digging of a service trench and ten pits within a designed landscape at Dunkeld House Hotel. No archaeologically significant features were revealed.

Sponsor: Miller Partnership

D Rankin 1999

A geophysical and resistivity study, along with limited excavation were carried out on the site of the house and its grounds in the summer of 2005. The resistance survey located the remains of several buildings and paths. This included Clark's Bowling Green, a aection of garden with ornamental paths and layout. The results show that Dunkeld House was thoroughly demolished. A number of 18th century connecting service buildings were discovered. These are thought to include a laundry, slaughterhouse and granary. The magnetometer survey was less successful due to a lack of magnetic contrast between building materials and the natural. A total of 6 trenches were excavated on the basis of the geophysical results. The remains of roadways, walls, landscaping features, building debris and an 18th-century post-hole.

L McAllan, D Kellogg, M Gondek, R Jones 2005

A geophysical and resistivity study, along with limited excavation were carried out on the site of the house and its grounds in the summer of 2005. The resistance survey located the remains of several buildings and paths. This included Clark's Bowling Green, a aection of garden with ornamental paths and layout. The results show that Dunkeld House was thoroughly demolished. A number of 18th century connecting service buildings were discovered. These are thought to include a laundry, slaughterhouse and granary. The magnetometer survey was less successful due to a lack of magnetic contrast between building materials and the natural. A total of 6 trenches were excavated on the basis of the geophysical results. The remains of roadways, walls, landscaping features, building debris and an 18th-century post-hole.

L McAllan, D Kellogg, M Gondek, R Jones 2005

A geophysical and resistivity study, along with limited excavation were carried out on the site of the house and its grounds in the summer of 2005. The resistance survey located the remains of several buildings and paths. This included Clark's Bowling Green, a aection of garden with ornamental paths and layout. The results show that Dunkeld House was thoroughly demolished. A number of 18th century connecting service buildings were discovered. These are thought to include a laundry, slaughterhouse and granary. The magnetometer survey was less successful due to a lack of magnetic contrast between building materials and the natural. A total of 6 trenches were excavated on the basis of the geophysical results. The remains of roadways, walls, landscaping features, building debris and an 18th-century post-hole.

L McAllan, D Kellogg, M Gondek, R Jones 2005

Resistivity survey.

L McAllan, D Kellogg, M Gondek, R Jones 2005