House of Dun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids House of Dun |
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The south front (top) and north front of the House of Dun, as illustrated in William Adam's Vitruvius Scoticus.
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| General information | |
| Location | Angus, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°43′45″N 2°32′25″W / 56.7293°N 2.5404°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Adam |
The House of Dun is a beautiful historic home in Angus, Scotland. It's owned by the National Trust for Scotland, an organization that protects important places. The house is located near the Montrose Basin, a special nature area. It sits between the towns of Montrose and Brechin.
Contents
History of House of Dun
The Erskine Family Home
The land where the House of Dun stands was home to the Erskine family for a very long time. They lived there from 1375 until 1980. One famous family member was John Erskine of Dun, who was important during the Scottish Reformation. This was a big change in Scotland's religious history.
Building a New Home
The current House of Dun was designed by a famous architect named William Adam. Building started in 1732 and finished in 1743. The house has amazing plaster decorations made by Joseph Enzer, especially in the main hall called the saloon. The new house replaced an older tower house from the 1300s. David Erskine, Lord Dun, who was the 13th owner, wanted a more comfortable and impressive home. He was a lawyer and a judge.
New Owners and Changes
The Erskine family continued to live in the house for another 250 years. Over time, some parts of the house were changed inside. This happened when Lady Augusta Fitzclarence moved in. She was a daughter of King William IV. Lady Augusta married John Kennedy Erskine, who was set to inherit the property. When they moved in, Augusta made many changes to modernize the house.
A famous writer and poet named Violet Jacob was also born in the House of Dun in 1863. She wrote many stories and poems about the Angus area.
Saving the House
The last owner of Dun was Millicent Lovett. In 1948, she moved out of the main house into another building on the estate. She put all the furniture and old items into the attic. The house was then rented out and used as a bed and breakfast for many years.
Millicent never moved back into the house. When she passed away in 1980, she left the House of Dun to the National Trust for Scotland. The Trust found all the original furniture and items in the attic! They spent nine years carefully putting the house back to how it looked when Lady Augusta lived there. In 1989, the House of Dun opened to the public. The Queen Mother attended the opening to celebrate 300 years since William Adam's death.
The Montrose Basin nature reserve is also a National Trust for Scotland property. It's a special place for birds and wildlife.
Archaeology at Dun
Archaeology is the study of human history through digging up old things. Near the House of Dun, archaeologists have found signs that people lived there as far back as 9,000 years ago! There's also a large standing stone called the Stone of Morphie a few miles north of the house.
Notable People Connected to House of Dun
- John Erskine of Dun (1509–1591): An early owner of Dun and an important leader in the Scottish Reformation.
- David Erskine, Lord Dun (1670–1758): The 13th owner who decided to build the current House of Dun.
- Lady Augusta Gordon (1803–1865): A daughter of King William IV who helped modernize the house.
- Violet Jacob (1863–1946): A Scottish writer and poet who was born in the house.
See also
- Clan Erskine
- Dun, Angus
