- Dunira, Perthshire
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Coordinates: 56°23′19″N 4°02′45″W / 56.38867°N 4.045746°W
Dunira 
Dunira
Dunira shown within Perth and KinrossOS grid reference NN738237GB Council area Perth and Kinross Lieutenancy area Perth and Kinross Country Scotland Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town Crieff Postcode district PH6 Dialling code 01764 Police Tayside Fire Tayside Ambulance Scottish EU Parliament Scotland UK Parliament Ochil and South Perthshire Scottish Parliament Perth Mid Scotland and Fife List of places: UK • Scotland • Durnira is an estate of about 350 hectares (860 acres) in Perthshire, Scotland, about 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of the town of Comrie and about 25 miles (40 km) north-west of Stirling.[1] The estate is set against a backdrop of mountains, hills and rich lush lowland. Dunira was the home of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, although the house he built was replaced in the 19th century. The replacement house burned down in 1948, although the estate is still active.
Contents
History
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
The politician Henry Dundas (28 April 1742 – 28 May 1811) bought the 20,000-acre (8,100 ha) estate in 1784. Dundas commissioned a design for a new house from architect Henry Holland in 1798, although the house that was built between 1803 and 1808 was the work of William Stirling. The surrounding parkland was laid out by Dundas, possibly with input from Holland.[2] In 1802, Dundas was elevated to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Viscount Melville and Baron Dunira.
The estate was sold in in 1824 to Sir Robert Dundas of Beechwood.[2] His son Sir David Dundas had the house, which flooded regularly, demolished and rebuilt to the design of William Burn, who also constructed the terraces. In 1864, David Bryce designed additions to the house. Dundas had established a pinetum by the late-19th century, and other improvements were made across the estate.[2]
The Dundas family sold Dunira some time before 1920. The new owner, Mr W.G. Macbeth, commissioned Thomas Mawson, a landscape gardener, to redesign the gardens in the early 1920s.[2] During the Second World War, the house was used as a military convalescent hospital. Most of the house was destroyed by a fire in 1948 leaving the office court standing.[1] This was used as a residence until demolished in 2005. In 2000, the Thomas Mawson garden was partially restored as part of the Channel 4 television programme Lost Gardens.[3]
Current status and use
The estate was listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of historic parks, by Historic Scotland in 1987.[4]
The estate is currently used for shooting game, stalking, fishing and golf with a variety of holiday accommodation and facilities for visitors but the estate is not open to general public access.[5]
References
- ^ a b Parks & Gardens UK website, accessed 28 August 2011
- ^ a b c d "Dunira: Site History". Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland. http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2400:15:0::::GARDEN:GDL00156#history. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Potter, Jennifer (2000), Lost Gardens, Channel 4 Books, ISBN 9780752218731
- ^ "Dunira". Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland. http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2400:15:0::::GARDEN:GDL00156. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Durira Estate official website - accessed 28 August 2011
External links
- Durira Estate official website
- Dunira by Comrie in Perthshire, Scotland: The local history of Dunira by Edward Rushworth
Categories:- Houses in Scotland
- Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes
- Demolished buildings and structures in Scotland
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