Dumfries House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dumfries House
Dumfries House and the Mahfouz Fountain, 2016
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	14 April 1971
Reference no.	LB14413
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Designated	1987
Reference no.	GDL00149
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Dumfries House is a beautiful old country house in Ayrshire, Scotland. It's built in a special style called Palladian, which means it looks grand and balanced. The house sits on a huge estate about 2 miles (3 km) west of Cumnock.

What makes Dumfries House really special is that it still has most of its original furniture from the 1700s. This includes amazing pieces made by the famous designer Thomas Chippendale. Today, The Prince's Foundation, a charity, owns the house and estate. They keep it open for visitors and use it for events like weddings. Both the house and its gardens are important parts of Scotland's history.

The estate used to be called Lefnoreis Castle and belonged to the Craufurds family. The current house was built between 1754 and 1759 for William Dalrymple, the 5th Earl of Dumfries. It was designed by the famous architects John and Robert Adam. Later, in 1814, the house was inherited by the 2nd Marquess of Bute. His family owned it until 2007.

In 2007, there was a risk that the house and its unique furniture would be sold off separately. To save this important piece of history, a group led by Prince Charles (who is now King Charles III) bought the estate and everything inside it. They even got a big loan from the Prince's charity. The idea was to fix up the estate so it could support itself and help the local area. They planned to do this through donations, sponsorships, and by building a new community nearby called Knockroon.

Dumfries House opened to the public in 2008 for tours. Since then, many other parts of the estate have been opened. These areas offer education and jobs, helping to fund the charity's work. King Charles III was at Dumfries House on September 8, 2022, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, became very ill. He then traveled to Balmoral Castle, where she passed away later that day.

Why Dumfries House is Special

Dumfries House is considered a "category A listed building" in Scotland. This means it's a very important historical site. Historic Environment Scotland calls it an "exceptionally fine and unspoilt Adam mansion." The beautiful grounds are also listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. This shows how important the gardens and parks are to Scotland's heritage.

A Look Back: History of Dumfries House

Front view of the house

The Lochnorris Estate's Beginnings

Long ago, this land was known as Lochnorris (or Lefnoreis). It was owned by a family called the Craufurds of Loudoun. The first castle on the estate stood on a raised area near where the coach house is now.

The Earl of Dumfries Builds a New Home

In 1635, William Crichton, 2nd Earl of Dumfries bought the estate. The property and the title later passed to his grandson, William Dalrymple-Crichton. He decided to build a brand new house.

Dumfries House was designed and built between 1754 and 1759 by the famous Scottish architects John and Robert Adam. Robert Adam helped with the building until he left for his "Grand Tour" of Europe. The house is a great example of their early work. It's built in the Palladian style, with a main three-story building connected to smaller parts by wings. A master builder named James Armour, whose daughter married the poet Robert Burns, also worked on the house.

The Marquess of Bute Takes Over

In the front garden

In 1814, Dumfries House was inherited by John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute. The Crichton-Stuart family owned the property until 2007. They mainly lived at Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Later, the Dowager Marchioness of Bute, Lady Eileen, lived there until she passed away in 1993. The house then went to her grandson, John Bute, who was also a racing driver.

Saving the House from Sale

Front view of the house

John Bute thought about selling the house because of family expenses. He first offered it to the National Trust for Scotland in 1994, but they said no. He kept the house and even replaced the roof.

In 2004, it was offered to the National Trust again, but a deal couldn't be reached by 2007. In April 2007, it was announced that the house would be sold, and its contents would be auctioned off separately. Experts worried that the amazing furniture collection, which had been almost untouched since 1803, would be split up. A campaign was started to buy the house and keep it together.

A Charity Steps In

Second floor hallway to the bedrooms

The estate was finally bought as a whole after Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) learned about the campaign. On June 27, 2007, it was announced that a group led by the Prince, including charities and the Scottish Government (who gave £5 million), had raised £45 million. This money bought the house, its contents, and the large estate, and also set up a trust to look after it.

The trust was named "The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust." This name refers to a title that Prince Charles held in Scotland. A big part of the money came from a £20 million loan from The Prince's Charities Foundation. The goal of the trust was to make the estate self-sufficient and help the local economy. They planned to do this through donations, sponsorships, and by building a new "eco-village" called Knockroon on the grounds.

When the global financial crisis hit in 2008, it affected the plans for Knockroon. This made it harder to pay back the £20 million loan. However, by 2012, the loan was repaid thanks to private and company fundraising. An extra £15 million was also raised for renovations and upkeep.

After being restored, Dumfries House opened for public tours on June 6, 2008. Over the years, many other projects have started. For example, a farm on the estate is being restored to teach about sustainable farming. The old coach house and stables were turned into a cafe and bistro. The first part of the Knockroon village opened in 2011.

In October 2011, work began on clearing the old Walled Garden, which had become overgrown. In April 2012, the Dumfries House Lodge, a guest house, opened. It was made by fixing up an old farm building. The estate's old water-powered sawmill has also been fixed and now teaches traditional building skills.

King Charles, when he was Prince of Wales, continued to support Dumfries House. In 2017, he celebrated 10 years of Dumfries House. He said that the estate now has over 150 employees and helps thousands of people. In May 2018, "The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust" was renamed "The Prince's Foundation".

In October 2022, King Charles appeared in a special episode of the BBC TV show The Repair Shop, filmed at Dumfries House. He shared objects from the collection that needed fixing. In January 2023, it was announced that Dumfries House would open to the public as a warm space to help people with loneliness during cold weather. In September 2023, the King held an important meeting called a Privy Council Meeting at the house for the first time.

Learning and Skills at Dumfries House

Dumfries House has several special education centers. Here, students can visit and learn about many different subjects. These include science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as farming and gardening. The programs follow the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. They give students from nearby areas like Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow, and Lanarkshire a chance to learn new skills and think about future careers.

These centers are open all year round for both primary and secondary schools. In 2022, a new farming and rural skills training center began to be funded. Here, The Prince's Foundation will host events and hands-on workshops for many students each year.

Gallery

See also

• Terringzean Castle, an old ruin on the Dumfries House estate