Monreith House

Monreith House
Entrance front of Monreith House
Location:	Port William, Dumfries and Galloway
Coordinates:	54°45′14″N 4°33′22″W / 54.7538°N 4.5562°W / 54.7538; -4.5562Coordinates: 54°45′14″N 4°33′22″W / 54.7538°N 4.5562°W / 54.7538; -4.5562
Built:	1791
Built for:	Sir William Maxwell, 4th Baronet
Architect:	Alexander Stevens
Architectural style(s):	Georgian
Listed Building – Category A
Designated:	20 July 1972
Reference #:	19561
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Criteria:	Work of Art Historical Horticultural Architectural Nature Conservation
Designated:	1987
Location of Monreith House in Dumfries and Galloway

Monreith House is a category A listed Georgian mansion located 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) east of the village of Port William in Mochrum parish, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.^[1] The classical-style house was designed by Alexander Stevens in 1791, for Sir William Maxwell, 4th Baronet.^[1] The new house replaced the now-ruined Myrton Castle on the estate. The grounds of the house are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens, and are classed as "outstanding" in five out of six categories.^[2]

History

The Maxwell family first acquired Monreith in the 15th century, and built Myrton Castle on the estate. William Maxwell of Monreith was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1681. Magdalene Blair, wife of the third baronet, made tapestries of the gardens in the mid 17th century, which remain in the house.^[3] Sir William Maxwell, 4th Baronet, inherited the estate in 1771 and commissioned the present Monreith House from Alexander Stevens (1739–1796) in 1791.^[1] Sir William also laid out the grounds of the house as they largely remain today.^[3] In 1821 the porch was added to designs by Sir Robert Smirke.^[1]

Sir Herbert Maxwell (1845–1937) succeeded as 7th Baronet in 1877. He sat as Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire from 1880 to 1906, and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1897. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown until 1935. In 1911 he published a book on Scottish gardens, and developed a substantial plant collection at Monreith.^[3] Following his death and the Second World War, the house was rented and the gardens declined. The 9th baronet inherited the estate in the 1980s and carried out restoration work to the house, including the creation of holiday accommodation.^[3] In March 2011, Monreith House was the subject of a Channel 4 television documentary presented by hotelier Ruth Watson as part of her Country House Rescue series.^[4]

The Monreith Cross in Whithorn Museum

Monreith Cross

The Monreith Cross is a 10th-century free-standing carved stone cross. The cross stands 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in) high, and the circular head is 0.45 metres (1 ft 6 in) across. The cross originally stood on a hill known as the Mowr or Moure, but was moved several times. In 1974 it was removed from the Monreith estate for conservation, and is now on display in the Whithorn Museum.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Monreith House: listed building report". Historic Scotland. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=19561. Retrieved 2011-03-16. 
2. ^ "Monreith". An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/gardens/gardenssearchsummary.htm?s=&PageID=2114. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Monreith: Site History". An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland. Historic Scotland. http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/gardens/gardenssearchmoreinfo.htm?s=&PageID=2114&more_info=Site. 
4. ^ "Monreith". Channel 4. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/country-house-rescue/episode-guide/series-3/episode-3. 
5. ^ "Monreith Cross". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/62773/details/monreith+cross/. 

External links

• Monreith House homepage