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Craigenputtock House and Estate
Native name The Craig
George moir craigenputtock.jpg
Painting by George Moir 1829
Location Dumfries and Galloway
Area 800 acres (324 ha)
First occupied 15th century
Built 18th century (completed)
Built for The family of Welsh
Current residents Carter-Campbell of Possil
Architectural style(s) Georgian
Listed Building – Category B
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Craigenputtock is a special estate in Scotland. It's famous because the writer Thomas Carlyle lived there for six years, from 1828 to 1834. While he was there, he wrote some of his most important early works, like Sartor Resartus.

The name Craigenputtock comes from old Scottish words. Craig means "hill," and puttock means "small hawk." So, it's like "Hawk Hill." The estate covers about 800 acres (324 hectares) of farmland in Dumfriesshire, which is part of Dumfries and Galloway.

The main building is a two-story, four-bedroom Georgian country house. It's so important that it's a "category B listed building," meaning it's protected for its history. The estate also has two smaller cottages, a farm, and lots of moorland (open, wild land) and woodland.

History of Craigenputtock

The Craigenputtock estate has been owned by the Welsh family since around the 1500s. Eventually, it was inherited by Jane Welsh Carlyle (1801–1866), who was Thomas Carlyle's wife.

The Carlyles moved into the house in 1828 and stayed for seven years. This is where Thomas Carlyle wrote his famous book Sartor Resartus. After their time there, they moved to London.

When Thomas Carlyle passed away in 1881, he left the property to Edinburgh University. Today, the Carter-Campbell family lives there, and the estate is looked after by the Carlyle Craigenputtock Circle (C.C.C.).

Thomas Carlyle once said about Craigenputtock:

It is certain that for living and thinking in, I have never since found in the world a place so favourable. How blessed might poor mortals be in the straitest circumstances if their wisdom and fidelity to heaven and to one another were adequately great!

—Thomas Carlyle on Craigenputtock

This shows how much he valued the quiet and peaceful environment of Craigenputtock for his writing and thinking.

Life at Craigenputtock

Living at Craigenputtock was a unique experience for the Carlyles. It was quite isolated, far from towns and other people.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler - Arrangement in Grey and Black No2 Thomas Carlyle c1872 - (MeisterDrucke-774156)
Carlyle, painting by Whistler

Thomas Carlyle found the quietness perfect for his work. He felt he could write much more there than in a busy city like London. He had his own small library where he could focus on his books and ideas.

However, for Jane Welsh Carlyle, life at Craigenputtock was more challenging. She was used to a more social life and didn't have much experience with household duties. Being far from friends and society, with only her busy husband for company, was tough for her. Despite this, she rarely complained.

The house itself is not fancy or grand. It's a simple, square building. The front of the house faces a grassy bank, and the back view is blocked by farm buildings. This means you can't see much of the beautiful countryside from inside the house.

Exploring the Estate

Even though the house doesn't have great views, the surrounding estate is impressive. If you climb Castrammon Hill, which is near the house, you can see amazing views. From the top, about 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level, you can see wide horizons.

You can see Loch Urr (a lake) and many hills stretching far away. This area is also close to places important to Thomas Carlyle's life, like Ecclefechan, where he was born and is buried.

The estate also has a "Pulpit Stone." This stone was used by the Covenanters in the 1600s for secret prayer meetings. It's a reminder of the long history of the land.

Images for kids

  • Craigenputtock

    Front elevation of Craigenputtock House, 2006

  • Craigenputtock kitchen

    Kitchen, 1890.

  • Carlyle's Study

    Room in which Sartor Resartus was written, 1890

  • Craigenputtock Hill

    Craigenputtock Hill, 1890

  • Carlyle's Estate, Craigenputtock 8

    Craigenputtock from sketch by G Howard

  • Craigenputtock (aerial view from the northeast, 1955)

    Aerial view of Craigenputtock from the north east, taken in 1955

  • Craigenputtock (aerial view from the southeast, 1990)

    Aerial view of Craigenputtock from the south east, taken in 1990

  • Rear view of Craigenputtock in 1891

    Watercolor by Helen Allingham of the rear view of Craigenputtock in 1891

  • Craigenputtock in 1895 (rear view)

    Rear view of Craigenputtock, taken in 1895

  • Craigenputtock in 1895

    Photograph of Craigenputtock in 1895

  • Entrance to Craigenputtock (2007)

    Photograph of Craigenputtock entrance in 2007

  • James Paterson - Craigenputtock 1882

    Craigenputtock moor painted by James Paterson in 1882 in watercolor on paper. Now hangs in the Smith Art Gallery, Stirling. Paterson records in his journal that he stayed at Craigenputtock.

  • Craigenputtock kitchen - James Paterson

    A sketch of the kitchen at Craigenputtock by James Paterson when he was staying there in 1882, now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

  • Pulpit Stone at Craigenputtock (2007)

    Photograph taken in 2008 of the pulpit stone at Craigenputtock. Used by the covenanters in the 1600s for secret prayer meetings.

  • Life of Schiller

    Craigenputtock drawn by George Moir in 1828 for the frontispiece of Leben Schillers

  • Craigenputtock (rear view, 2008)

    Rear view of Craigenputtock

  • Craigenputtock from the East (2006 painting by Christine Lovelock)

    Painting by artist Christine Lovelock (daughter of the Gaia Theorist James Lovelock) view of Craigenputtock from the east in 2006

  • Craigenputtock from the northeast (2006 painting by Christine Lovelock)

    Painting by artist Christine Lovelock (daughter of the Gaia Theorist James Lovelock) view of Craigenputtock from the south in 2006

  • Craigenputtock18982

    Craigenputtock, a view from the drive, 1898.

  • Back door and library window - Craigenputtock

    The back door and library window

  • Craigenputtock front view

    The front view of Craigenputtock

  • Craigenputtock, back of house and farmstead

    The farmstead and back of the house

  • Craigenputtock kitchen - James Paterson

    The kitchen Craigenputtock

  • Craigenputtock moor, house in the distance 1882

    Craigenputtock with the house in the distance

See also

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