In July 2022, we opened our doors to the public to offer tours, learn the history of Dudhope Castle and share their own connections to it. Our Trainee Associate Consultant, Michael Carrol, researched the history for a few months and produced this informative guide. With thanks to Dundee City Archives, The Wellgate Library and Canmore for the use of their images for the film.
We also invite you to take part in our online survey where we are asking for your stories about Dudhope Castle and ideas for what we can do with it.
Transcription
We start our journey in 1298 when William Wallace first grants the lands of Dudhope to the Scrimgeour family for their loyalty as banner bearers in the early Wars of Scottish Independence. We know that the castle was built on top of the original structure that existed here but sadly no plans or drawings of the building prior to 1799 exist so we have to go off of historical descriptions and archaeology. As far as we can tell the very first castle structure that existed here looked very similar to Broughty Ferry castle.
Over the past 700 years of its existence, the castle has undergone many changes.
In 1580, Sir James Scrimgeour made the decision to heighten the south wing to another floor for him and his wife Dame Magdalen Livingstone. This technically makes the south wing of the castle the oldest part of the structure.
About a century later, after the death of John Scrimgeour in 1668, King Charles II passed over to Scrimgeour’s heirs and gave the titles to Charles Maitland, the 3rd Earl of Lauderdale. This wouldn’t last long, however, as Maitland was ousted from parliament by his enemies and ran into financial difficulty while being investigated for corruption. As a result, he was fined £72,000 sterling (£17 million roughly today) and would go on to sell the property to John Graham of Claverhouse, better known as Bonnie Dundee.
Bonnie Dundee
John Graham (Bonnie Dundee) would only occupy the castle for the next 4 years after purchase as this was the last place he left from when he marched to the Battle of Killiecrankie. Claverhouse would win the battle but died of his injuries shortly after. With no one else left to inherit the land, the King then passed the titles over to the Douglas family.
So, now the year is 1703 and with the Douglas family owning the building they would make one of the biggest changes to the structure, largely removing the large north wing tower house and replacing it with a wing that would mirror the south block. The Douglasses were happy with their new home and would go on to live here for the next 90 years.
World War 1 & 2
By the year 1790, the Douglasses moved home and leased the castle out to the Ordnance Office who would then take over the building to use as a military barracks. The army would put up more buildings surrounding the castle such as a hospital, stables and officers’ quarters. The latter of which was then converted into Dundee’s first museum. In 1890 the council recognized the potential of the property. And so, with their own money and funds raised by private citizens, they managed to purchase the property for 31,700 pounds (roughly 4.3 million pounds today).
After the purchase of the castle and grounds, the inactive Military Officers building was converted into Dundee’s first Museum in 1900. It was known as a museum of Mechanics Industries and Technique and was also the home of the famous Bolton and Watt engine which can now be found at The Verdant Works Museum in Dundee. By the 20th century, the building was taken over by the ministry of works and was used as a military barracks during World War One in 1914 and later during World War Two in 1939. This was the last time the castle would see significant use.
After the end of the war, the animal pens installed on the sides of the building remained and it was repurposed into a small Zoo containing monkeys and peacocks that would roam the Garden area. The zoo was short-lived, however, due to the monkeys’ tendency to bite children who would try to feed them.
‘The People’s Castle’
The Castle came under threat of being demolished in 1958 due to its inactivity since the war. Thankfully these plans were halted due to Citizens pointing out the legality of this as half the funds used to purchase the property came from the people of the city. Hence, the nickname ‘The People’s Castle’.
After the restoration of Dudhope Castle in 1988, the refurbished space was put to good use for the community. Much of the space was put to use as a hospital for children with hearing and speech disabilities classes for teaching handicrafts as well as housing Abertay University‘s business school. From the 2000s up until 2021 and the City council used the building as office space for their social work department.
Dudhope Castle has served the community through the decades and will continue to do so as the headquarters of The Circle in Dundee; we hope to continue the legacy of the people’s castle, serving the needs of the community for many years to come.