Drumlanrig: The Castle, its People and its Paintings
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Drumlanrig: The Castle, its People and its Paintings
With its picturesque domes, walls of pale pink sandstone and splendid Dumfriesshire setting, Drumlanrig is one of Scotland’s most romantic castles, its story entwined with that of the country itself. Today’s castle was superimposed on a medieval Douglas stronghold by the 1st Duke of Queensberry and took a decade to build. Finished in 1689, its North Front is a stunning stage set of dressed stone, classical pilasters and carvings of swags, scrolls and spooky faces. The 2nd Duke, known as ‘The Union Duke’ for his role in the 1707 Act of Union, added the great oak staircase, while his son created the vast gardens. The 4th Duke, a rakish cousin known as ‘Old Q’, left it to future Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry to rescue the castle and fill it with treasures, including Rembrandt’s luminous Old Woman Reading.
Table of Contents
THE PEOPLE The Dukes of Queensberry Renaissance portraits Gentlemen in the Serving Room Portraits of the Duchesses The independent Duchess The Royals in the story The Fencible and Militia regiments
THE PRINCIPAL ROOMS The Drawing Room The Ante-Room and its Rembrandt Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Bedroom The Great Oak Staircase The Dining Room The Serving Room The Northeast Tower The Morning Room The Parlour The Boudoir The White Bedroom Room Thirty-Nine The Inner Hall and Armoury The Charter Room and West Passage The Southwest Tower and Basement The heart of the Castle
THE CASTLE AND BEYOND Stepping out into the landscape Views of Drumlanrig The grand plan The watercolours Stone carvings Up on the roof Durisdeer and the Queensberry Aisle Modern landmarks