Description: Nestling in the Ayrshire countryside in a 750-acre estate in south-west Scotland, Dumfries House is one of the grandest of the nation’s great houses. Designed and built by Robert and John Adam in 1759, this imposing Palladian mansion is one of the finest examples of their architectural work and contains a unique collection of 18th century rococo furniture.
Strangely although only nine miles away from my home I knew little about the existence of this gem until recently. It only opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2008. Wondering what all the excitement was about as Dumfries House had received glowing reports from its visitors my wife and I went along to see it and in turn went ‘wow’.
The house has quite a history. In the 1754, William Dalrymple, the 5th Earl of Dumfries, commissioned the Adam brothers to design a stately home on his Ayrshire estate. Five years later, the house was complete – a three-storey Palladian mansion linked by wings to two flanking symmetrical pavilions giving a relatively simple exterior. The brothers also designed the Coach House, Washing House, two Obelisks, the Avenue Bridge and Gateway and the Porter’s Lodge.
Its outstanding design is the interiors. Robert Adam’s gift for decorative design shows through in the ornate ceilings, friezes, and decorated chimneys, doorways and picture frames. The furniture consists of an outstanding eighteenth century collections with magnificent examples of the work of Thomas Chippendale and Edinburgh craftspeople Alexander Peter and William Mathie. It is the most complete and intact collection surviving in any Scottish country house with the furniture sitting in the locations designed for them by Robert Adam.
In 2007 the owner (Marquis of Bute) decided to sell the property to concentrate on his estate, Mount Stuart, on the Scottish island of Bute. To save this unique property and contents for the nation, a consortium of charities and the Scottish Government led by HRH Prince of Wales stepped in at the 11th hour to purchase the property. So late was the bid made and accepted the contents were heading down the motorway to the auction house of Christies in London and had to turn back. Even now some of the price tags remain attached to items, which by themselves are worth thousands of pounds Sterling.
An independent trust, the Great Steward's Dumfries House Trust now runs the house. It opened to the public in the summer of 2008 with the first tours sold out.
What makes Dumfries House unique is the immaculate condition of the 600 items of furniture and the breathtaking craftsmanship of the 18th century’s finest furniture makers that went into them. The house holds one of the world’s fullest collections by Thomas Chippendale. Scotland was a testing ground for his early rococo furniture and Dumfries House was his key project. Significant Chippendale pieces include the Rosewood Bookcase, the Drawing Room Seat Furniture, the Black and Gold Lacquered Clothes Press and the Rococo Mirrors. Dumfries House also showcases many important pieces from Scottish furniture makers of the age, including Francis Brodie’s Lady’s Closet and Alexander Peter’s seat furniture, beds and sideboard table.
Dumfries House is open from Thursday to Monday every week. Pre-booked individual and group tours are available. Space limits groups to only 18.
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