Ardkinglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ardkinglas House |
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| Location | near Cairndow, Argyll and Bute, Scotland |
| Built | 1906-1908 |
| Architect | Sir Robert Lorimer |
| Architectural style(s) | Scottish baronial style |
| Owner | David Sumsion |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 20 July 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB13786 |
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Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
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| Official name: Ardkinglas and Strone | |
| Designated | 1 July 1987 |
| Reference no. | GDL00022 |
Ardkinglas House is a very old and important country house in Argyll, Scotland. It's located near the village of Cairndow, right by the beautiful Loch Fyne. The land around Ardkinglas has been important since the 1300s. It used to belong to the famous Clan Campbell.
Today, the Ardkinglas Estate is huge, covering over 12,000 acres of hills and gardens. The main house you see now was built in the early 1900s. It was designed by a famous architect named Sir Robert Lorimer. Before this house, there were other buildings on the site. The estate is still owned by the Noble family. You can visit the house sometimes, and the amazing woodland gardens are open all year round!
Contents
A Look Back: Ardkinglas Estate History
The Ardkinglas Estate has a long and interesting past. Over hundreds of years, different buildings stood here. Each one played a part in the estate's story.
Ardkinglas Castle: A Medieval Fortress
The very first main building on the estate was Ardkinglas Castle. People think it was built way back in the 1300s. This castle was shaped like a big square, with walls about 98 feet long on each side. It had strong towers on three corners. There was also a large gate tower at the front, protected by two smaller towers. By 1769, the old castle was no longer standing.
A long time ago, in 1584, King James VI of Scotland gave an important job to James Campbell of Ardkinglas. He made him the "comptroller" and "general searcher" of customs. This meant he helped manage the king's money and checked ships for illegal goods. Later, in 1679, Colin Campbell of Ardkinglas was given the special title of a baronet. This is a bit like being a knight, but the title can be passed down in the family.
The First Ardkinglas House: A Short-Lived Home
In the 1700s, the Campbell family wanted a new, grander house. They asked famous architects like Robert Adam to draw up plans. But none of these fancy designs were ever built. Instead, a new house was finished in 1795. People later described it as "rather dull." Sadly, this house was destroyed by a fire in 1831. After the fire, the family didn't build another grand house right away. They actually moved into the stable building, which was made into their main home for a while.
The Present Ardkinglas House: A Modern Masterpiece
In 1905, a very clever man named Sir Andrew Noble bought Ardkinglas. Sir Andrew was an expert in ballistics, which is the science of how guns and bullets work. He was in charge of a big artillery factory in Newcastle.
Sir Andrew hired Sir Robert Lorimer, a famous architect, to design the new Ardkinglas House. Building started in May 1906. Sir Andrew wanted the house finished very quickly, but it still took about 21 months. The house was very modern for its time. It even had electricity, powered by a special hydro-electric plant on the estate!
In 1972, John Noble inherited Ardkinglas. He started a business farming oysters in the loch. In 1988, he opened the first Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. This has now become a well-known chain of restaurants. Ardkinglas House has also been used as a location for TV shows and movies. You might have seen it in The Crow Road or The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep. You can sometimes visit the house, and you can even rent out the old "Butler's Quarters" for a stay!
Exploring the Ardkinglas Gardens
The Woodland Gardens at Ardkinglas are truly special. They date back to the 1700s and are open all year round. You can enjoy amazing views of Ardkinglas House and the beautiful Loch Fyne behind it.
The Arboretum is a part of the gardens with many huge trees. It was planted in the 1860s and 1870s. Some of these trees are record-breakers! One Grand Fir tree used to be known as "The Tallest tree in Britain." Another tree, a Silver Fir, is called the "Mightiest Conifer in Europe." Its trunk is incredibly wide, over 31 feet around!
The Ardkinglas Railway: A Tiny Train Line
| Overview | |
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| Locale | Scotland |
| Dates of operation | 1866–late 1890s |
| Successor | Abandoned |
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| Track gauge | 12 in (305 mm) |
| Length | 1 mile |
Did you know Ardkinglas once had its own tiny railway? The Ardkinglas Railway was a narrow-gauge railway. It was built in 1866 to help move things around the estate. It also served as a fun "garden toy" for George Livingston-Campbell-Callander, who owned the estate at the time.
The railway ran along the shore of Loch Fyne. It had one small steam locomotive, which is like a mini train engine. There was a passenger carriage with two seats and several wagons for carrying goods. The railway was taken apart by 1897. The old boiler from the locomotive was even found on a beach many years later!
Images for kids
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Ardkinglas House
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Ardkinglas House in 2019
