Dunans Castle

Dunans Castle (/ˈdənənz/)[1] is an historic structure located in Glendaruel, on the Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The property is owned by Charles and Sadie Dixon-Spain. A property at Dounens was shown on maps in 1590; Dunans House was elaborated into its present mock castle form in 1864. Once part of a much larger estate the property presently includes 16 acres (65,000 m2) of ground and in 2001 was ruined by fire.[2][3][4]

Dunans Castle
Dunans Castle viewed from the road, the still residential Dunans House is visible on the left.
Dunans Castle is located in Argyll and Bute
Dunans Castle
General information
StatusFire damaged ruin
TypeMock castle
LocationGlendaruel, Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute
Town or cityColintraive
CountryScotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates56.072485°N 5.1496005°W / 56.072485; -5.1496005, National grid reference NS 04064 91102
OwnerCharles Selwyn Dixon-Spain & Sadie Michaela Dixon-Spain

History
This device, bearing the motto LECHADHU, represents the strong ties between the Fletcher Clan and the Stewarts of Appin.

For over two centuries Dunans was home to the Fletcher Clan who moved to the site between 1715 and 1745 carrying with them the door of their previous home at Achallader Castle (the door was used for the private chapel and was reported missing in 1999).[5] The original mansion-style house (to the left in the picture) was extended into its present dramatic Franco-baronial "castle" form by the architect Andrew Kerr with the additions consisting of four main apartments and 6 bedrooms. The building passed out of Fletcher hands in 1997 when the entire 3000 acre Dunans estate was sold off by Colonel Archibald Fletcher's heirs and subsequently split up.[6] Following a number of financial problems,[7] the Category B listed castle was gutted by fire on 14 January 2001 while being run as a hotel and the building was left as a ruin.[8] The fire began in the attic space of the castle section and destroyed three floors with only the pre Victorian west wing surviving undamaged.[3] The owner Ewa Lucas-Gardener had ignored fire safety experts warnings that the building's fireplaces were unsafe and abandoned the building after the insurers refused to pay out.[9] Now under new ownership,[10][11] the site, including a Victorian path network, has undergone some restoration supported by the Dunans Charitable Trust.[12] The castle was reported to have three resident ghosts.[13]

Present day

Dunans Castle Limited, which runs the ScottishLaird.com website, published the Conservation Plan for Dunans in April 2014.[14] Written by conservation architect Robin Kent,[15] the book outlines the programme for the restoration of the castle and the bridge.

The regional blog ForArgyll.com is run from the site as is the Walking Theatre Company. The building remains in the at-risk category of the Buildings at Risk Register and is described as being in very poor condition.[16]

Bridge and mausoleum
Dunans Cottage

Leading to the castle is Dunans Bridge, an A-listed structure, designed by Thomas Telford in 1815 and constructed to commemorate the battle of Waterloo by John Fletcher.[17]

Once part of the Dunans estate, but still in the ownership of the Fletchers is the Fletcher of Dunans Mausoleum, a grade C listed structure located in the gardens of the neighbouring Stronardron house.

Further buildings once part of the estate but now privately owned include Dunans Lodge, the original gate house to the estate and Dunans Cottage, two workers' cottages combined into one dwelling.

Scottish Laird fundraiser
See also: Laird § History and definition

The current owners operate a scheme whereby individuals can be given or can purchase "Laird or Lady packages" which entitle them to "own" a square foot of land in the grounds of Dunans Castle in Scotland and use the decorative title "Laird of Dunans" or "Lady of Dunans". The profits from the sale of these packages are used to restore this private property.

The Court of the Lord Lyon states that “ownership of a souvenir plot of land is not sufficient to bring a person otherwise ineligible within the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon for seeking a coat of arms”, and indicated if these souvenir plots were being purchased for this purpose then they were as good as meaningless.[18][19] The Scottish Land Register also does not recognise individual ownership of such small plots,[20] meaning purchase of these titles holds no legal entitlement to ownership of the land nor use of it: they are simply decorative.

Owners
Name(s)Ownership periodNotesSources
Archibald Fletcher, 9th Chiefcirca 1745-1763Recorded as resident in 1745, though the date of arrival could be any time between 1715 and 1745[21]
Angus Fletcher, 10th Chief1763-1807[21]
John Fletcher, 11th Chief1807-1822Commissioned the bridge from Thomas Telford[21]
Angus Fletcher, 12th Chief1822-1875Commissioned the gothic elaboration from Andrew Kerr[21]
Harriet Fletcher
Bernard James Cuddon-Fletcher		1875-1889Cuddon took his wife's name, as did their children, keeping the estate in the Fletcher name[21][22]
Bernard James Cuddon-Fletcher1889-1934Cuddon-Fletcher kept the estate in his own right between his wife's death and his own demise[21][22]
Andrew William Fletcher
Ian Archibald Fletcher		1934Shared between the previous owners 3rd and 4th sons[21][22]
Ian Archibald Fletcher1934-1962Bought out his brother after the estate was left to them both[21][22]
Colonel Archibald Ian Douglas "Archie" Fletcher1962-1997Upon his death his heirs sold the castle out of the Fletcher line[21][22]
Jonathan Irving Hyslop
Pranee Hyslop		1997-1999[23]
Robert David Lucas-Gardiner
Ewa Jheresa Lucas-Gardiner		1999-2003[24]
Charles Selwyn Dixon-Spain
Sadie Michaela Dixon-Spain		2003-Bought the ruin for £230,000[25][26]

References
  1. Charles Dixon-Spain. "Charles Recommends our "The Conservation Plan for Dunans" by Robin Kent for all Lairds and Ladies". YouTube. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  2. "Police probe castle fire". BBC News. 14 January 2001. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  3. Rebecca McQuillan (15 January 2001). "Highland hideaway destroyed by fire Forensic teams and firefighters search ruins for cause". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  4. "Lord and lady of manor hailed from Hull". Herald Scotland. 15 January 2001. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  5. Missing door is 700 years old. (News) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), September 23, 1999
  6. "Slice of family history changes hands". Herald Scotland. 9 September 1999. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  7. Hughes, Lorna (1 October 2000). "FAKE LORD AND LADY OWE US ALL A PILE; Taxman and Customs chasing cash from couple in the castle. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  8. "In Depth | Photo Gallery | Your Pictures: 25 Oct-31 Oct". BBC News. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  9. Gutted castle's future bleak as couple flee - The Scotsman, James Doherty, December 10, 2001
  10. Sue Tranter (11 May 2002). "In a class of their own Home front Designs on a dream retreat? Here are four that were built as one-offs and guarantee exclusivity, says Sue Tranter". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  11. "On the market: Lancashire, Somerset, Argyll". The Daily Telegraph. 25 May 2002. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. "Dunans Heritage Project". Dunanscastle.org. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  13. "Castle Weddings-Madonna, Skibo Castle". Lovetripper.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  14. "The Conservation Plan for Dunans, Lairds and Ladies edition is Published!". Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  15. "Robin Kent architecture". Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  16. "Dunans Castle, Glendaruel | Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland". Buildingsatrisk.org.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  17. "News Archive". Dunoon-observer.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  18. "Caution the souvenir hunters". The Journal Online. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  19. Cramb, Auslan (11 December 2004). "How to lord it over your friends for only £29.99". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  20. "Terms" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  21. "The Fletchers of Dunans, The Fletcher of Glenorchy, An Ancient Scottish Clan". Spaceless.com. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  22. "Dunans: The Fletcher of Glenorchy - An Ancient Scottish Clan". Web.archive.org. 21 October 2004. Archived from the original on 21 October 2004. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  23. "Judgement of Scottish Law Courts".
  24. "The countess, her castle, and the fake Faberg eggs", The Scotsman, John Woodcock, January 20, 2001
  25. "Laird's Blog". Laird of Dunans Castle. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  26. "Mill conversion would 'destroy' value of castle", The Scotsman, John Ross, August 2, 2004
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