Dumfries House

[johnralphcarpenter]

Fleeing the rain in Argyll on Tuesday, we headed south to Ayrshire and Dumfries House. Since the Great Steward of Scotland* took an interest, vast amounts of money have been poured into this place, to excellent effect.




* That's His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, KG, KT, GCB, OM, AK, QSO, PC, ADC, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The restored Rothesay Garden and woodland walk are tranquil.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The restored walled garden and the new arboretum will be well worth a visit - in about 30 years time!

[johnralphcarpenter]

One more of the arboretum, and then the glasshouses, worth a visit now if you like Pelargoniums (I do). The purple one is Pelargonium cordifolium var. rubrocinctum.

[Growild]

I was amazed with the work that has been done but the gardens will need time to establish. I feel very lucky that this is right on my doorstep and money is being put into east Ayrshire. I only visited last weekend for the first time when I actually had a day off from the nursery. Their coffee is very nice too

[Maggi Young]

Little post here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12013.0  about the involvement by some SRGC friends in the project.

What surprises me is that Johnny Dumfries, (now Johnny Bute as the 7th Marquess of Dumfries and Bute) felt so burdened by the double death duties after his accession to the title that he was about to sell Dumfries House, lock stock and barrel - he is, after all, a man reported in 2012 as having an estimated fortune of around  £115 million.  I suppose he felt Mount Stuart was more worthy. 

[David Nicholson]

One to add to the list Ralph, many thanks

[TC]

Here are a few pictures taken at Dumfries house on 22nd March.  We have visited the House several times over the past few years and I would certainly recommend it for a visit.  It's hard to get your head round seeing 5 Chippendale chairs in situe where they were first b rought to the house.  The value of some of the items is mind boggling...what looks like a dresser is valued at £25 million not to mention other items of furniture.
The estate is now open as a public park and has many large specimen trees.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Little post here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12013.0  about the involvement by some SRGC friends in the project.

What surprises me is that Johnny Dumfries, (now Johnny Bute as the 7th Marquess of Dumfries and Bute) felt so burdened by the double death duties after his accession to the title that he was about to sell Dumfries House, lock stock and barrel - he is, after all, a man reported in 2012 as having an estimated fortune of around  £115 million.  I suppose he felt Mount Stuart was more worthy. 

He accepted £45 million for the house, estate and contents, which sounds a lot until you realise that half a dozen items of furniture there would together achieve that value at auction. One cabinet was valued at £20-25 million.

[johnw]

He accepted £45 million for the house, estate and contents, which sounds a lot until you realise that half a dozen items of furniture there would together achieve that value at auction. One cabinet was valued at £20-25 million.

It was either the cabinet or the snowdrop collection.