Inveraray Castle
| Inveraray Castle | |
|---|---|
| Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
Inveraray Castle in 2014
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 Inveraray Castle
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| Coordinates | grid reference NN095092 |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Inveraray Castle (Gaelic Caisteal Inbhir Aora, pronounced [ˈkʰaʃtʲal iɲɪɾʲˈɯːɾə]) is a country house near Inveraray in the county of Argyll, in western Scotland, on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s longest sea loch.[1] It has been the seat of the Duke of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, since the 17th century.
History and architecture
Work on the castle began in the 1750s, in Gothic revival style. Later additions included a third floor with dormer windows and steep conical roofs. The village of Inveraray was moved in the 1770s to give the castle a more secluded setting. [2]
Designers who worked on the house include William Adam and Roger Morris; the interior includes a number of neoclassical rooms created for the 5th Duke by Robert Mylne.[1] These are among the rooms open to the public. James Lees-Milne was not impressed by the house when he visited it in 1943, noting the "ugly" gray stone and calling it "grim and forbidding".[2]
In 1975, a devastating fire struck Inveraray and for some time the 12th Duke and his family lived in the castle's basement, while restorations requiring a worldwide fund raising drive were carried out.[3]
Today
The castle is open to visitors. Its collection includes more than 1,300 pikes, muskets, swords and other weapons.[2]
The 13th Duke and his family live in private apartments occupying two floors and set between two of the castle's crenellated circular towers. Recent renovations included the installation of the house's first central heating.[1]
Inveraray Castle is a Category A listed building. It is surrounded by a 16-acre (6.5 ha) garden and estate of 60,000 acres (24,000 ha).[1] Besides welcoming visitors to the castle, the estate's activities include commercial forestry, tenanted farming, wind and hydro power and (deer) hunting.[2]
In 2012, the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey was partly filmed here; the castle stood in for the fictional "Duneagle Castle". Inveraray Castle also featured in a series on Scottish castles made by American broadcaster PBS. The "Best of the West" festival, organized by the Duchess, is held at the castle each September.[2]
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
- Website for Inveraray Castle
- Its page in the Gazetteer for Scotland
- Best of the West festival website
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- Articles with OS grid coordinates
- Commons category link from Wikidata
- Castles in Argyll and Bute
- Listed castles in Scotland
- Category A listed buildings in Argyll and Bute
- Clan Campbell
- Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes
- Gardens in Argyll and Bute
- Historic house museums in Argyll and Bute
- Country houses in Argyll and Bute
- Reportedly haunted locations in Scotland
- Clan Campbell seats
- Scottish building and structure stubs
