Dundas Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dundas Castle
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dundas Castle in 2007
Dundas Castle
Coordinates	55°58′30″N 3°24′52″W / 55.9750859°N 3.4145594°W / 55.9750859; -3.4145594
Site information
Owner	Sir Jack Stewart-Clark
Open to the public	The castle can be rented for weddings and other special events
Website	dundascastle.co.uk
Site history
Built	15th century
Materials	Stone

Dundas Castle is a really old castle located near Edinburgh, Scotland. It was first built in the 1400s, but it also has many parts added later in the 1800s by a famous architect named William Burn. For hundreds of years, it was the home of the Dundas family. Today, it belongs to Sir Jack Stewart-Clark, who is a politician and businessman. The castle's main tower and the newer mansion are considered very important historical buildings. Even the gardens around the castle are special and listed in a national inventory.

History of Dundas Castle

The name Dundas comes from an old Scottish word, dùn deas, which means 'south hill' or 'pretty hill'. The story of Dundas Castle began a long time ago, in the 11th century.

Early Owners and the Dundas Family

Around the year 1000, King Malcolm Canmore gave the land of Dundas to a man named Gospatrick. Gospatrick had moved north to Scotland to get away from William the Conqueror in England. Later, around 1180, Gospatrick's great-grandson gave the land to his relative, Helias. Helias then took the name "Dundas" from his new land. This is how the Dundas family started, and they became very important landowners in the area.

Building the Castle Keep

In 1416, James Dundas got permission to build a strong tower, called a keep. This keep was made even bigger in 1436, giving it an "L" shape. The keep was used as a home during peaceful times and as a fortress when there was fighting. It was a very important building for the family.

A famous historical figure, Oliver Cromwell, even stayed at Dundas Castle around 1650, during the time of the Battle of Dunbar. You can still see a statue of him outside the keep today!

New Additions and Changes

In 1818, a later James Dundas decided to make big changes. He had parts of the old building taken down and rebuilt in a beautiful Tudor-Gothic style. This work was done by the well-known architect William Burn. Burn designed many churches, and you can see that influence in the castle's look. His designs included huge windows that let in lots of light and offered amazing views of the lawns and parkland outside.

New Owners and Modern Times

Building and maintaining the castle and its large gardens was very expensive. Because of this, the Dundas family had to sell the castle and its lands in 1875. A man named William Russell bought it. Then, in 1899, it was sold again to Stewart Clark. He owned a textile company and was known for his kindness and generosity.

Stewart Clark's son, John, later took the special name 'Stewart-Clark' to honor his father. He was given the title of a Baronet in 1918, which is a special honor from the King or Queen.

During the Second World War, Dundas Castle played an important role. It was used as the main office for protecting the Forth Bridge, a very important bridge nearby.

Since 1995, the castle has been owned by Sir Jack Stewart-Clark. He is the great-grandson of Stewart Clark and was a Member of the European Parliament for many years.

What You Can Find at Dundas Castle Today

When Sir Jack Stewart-Clark inherited the castle in 1995, it needed a lot of work. Instead of selling it, he decided to fix it up.

Restoration and Events

The old keep, which hadn't been lived in for over 300 years, was repaired. Its stone walls were fixed, and it got electricity, heating, bathrooms, and a kitchen. The main castle building also had repairs, and its beautiful rooms, like the drawing room, library, and dining room, were redecorated. Today, Dundas Castle is a very fancy place, often used for weddings and other special events. It's known as a "5-star exclusive venue," meaning it's a top-quality place for private events.

The Boathouse

In the castle grounds, right by Dundas Loch, there's a charming holiday cottage called the Boathouse. It's a "4-star self-catering venue," which means people can rent it and cook their own meals, like a vacation home.

Filming Location

Dundas Castle is so beautiful that it has been used as a background in several movies and TV shows.

• The Little Vampire (2000)
• Summer Solstice (2005)
• Book of Blood (2009)

It has also appeared in commercials for Arnold Clark and in TV links for T4.

Images for kids

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  1829 drawing by Thomas Shepherd

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  The Boathouse

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  Another view of the loch

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  Part of the grounds

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  Entrance to the estate

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  The edge of the estate, with the Forth Road Bridge in the background

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  Dundas Loch in the Winter