Drumlanrig Castle

Drumlanrig Castle is situated on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The category A listed castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry.[1]

Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle entrance front

It is open to the public at set times.

Construction

The 'Pink Palace' of Drumlanrig,[2] constructed between 1679 and 1689 from distinctive pink sandstone,[3] is an example of late 17th-century Renaissance architecture. The first Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas, had the castle built on the site of an ancient Douglas stronghold overlooking the Nith Valley.[4] The castle has 120 rooms, 17 turrets and four towers.[5]

In 1984, aerial photography revealed the outline of a substantial Roman fort some 350 yards to the southeast of Drumlanrig Castle. The fort was partially excavated in 2004 by the Time Team television programme.

Art collection

The castle is home to part of the Buccleuch art collection which includes Rembrandt’s An Old Woman Reading,[5] and Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna of the Yarnwinder, which was stolen in 2003 and returned in 2007 after being found in Glasgow,[6] and many other paintings, tapestries and objects of art. The Madonna of the Yardwinder is currently on loan at the Scottish National Gallery.

The stableyard houses the Stableyard Studios and cafe.[7]

Etymology

The earliest record for Drumlanrig is from 1384, spelled Drumlangryg. There are a number of possible etymologies for the name. It may represent Cumbric drum 'ridge' + -lanerc 'small area of cleared woodland'. However, the first element may also be Gaelic druim 'ridge', either added to a Cumbric name or to Scots *lang-rigg 'long ridge'.[8]

  • Drumlanrig Castle in 1880
  • Plan. The building extends 145 feet (44 metres)
  • The entrance front.
  • Drumlanrig Castle and its garden
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See also

References
  1. Historic Environment Scotland. "Drumlanrig Castle, Outbuildings and Pavilion Blocks Piers, Balustrades and Quadrant Walls and Garden Urns  (Category A) (LB3886)". Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  2. WILLIAM TINNING and ALISON CHIESA (2003-08-28). "Tax break for the Pink Palace raiders Low security of viewing scheme that avoids inheritance duty". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  3. Rose, Kenneth (2001-12-24). "Princess Alice: no Victorian, but eminent none the less". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  4. "The Castle". Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  5. "The Duke of Buccleuch". London: Telegraph. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  6. "UK | Scotland | Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West | Trial date for da Vinci accused". BBC News. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  7. http://www.drumlanrig.com/visit-drumlanrig-castle
  8. James, Alan G. (2014). The Brittonic Language in the Old North: A Guide to the Place-name Evidence. Volume 2: Guide to the Elements. p. 152. Archived from the original on 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2017-03-27.

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