Basic Site Details

Name: Taymouth Castle
Town, district or village: Taymouth
City or county: Perthshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Our engraving this week illustrates one of the most magnificent staircases in Great Britain — that of Taymouth Castle, Perthshire, seat of the Marquis of Breadalbane. The staircase was erected many years ago. The tracery, mouldings, and ceiling, are formed in stucco. None of the enrichments are painted in colours, but quite plain. The windows are of plate glass, the upper and middle portions of them being stained. The floor is formed of oak, in mosaic. The architect was Mr. William Perden (sic). We are indebted to Mr A Murray, of the architect's office, Guildhall, for the drawings from which the engraving is taken.[Building News 5 September 1862 p180 and illustration]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Taymouth Castle Hydro Hotel  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Castle  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 13c. 1740 AdditionAddition of wings and other alterations. Rebuilding in 19th century appears to have obliterated these.
Item 2 of 1317461750Alterations and additionsAlterations. 'Plans of the dining room, entry to the house, & other things' mentioned in accounts of Lord Glenorchy who was supervising the estate of behalf of his octogenarian father.
Item 3 of 1318011805Build/constructionRebuilding of castle begun but Paterson was dismissed before the building was complete.
Item 4 of 13After 1805 Destruction/demolitionBuilding by Paterson demolished and new house on a different site.
Item 5 of 131806 Plans drawn upLandscaping scheme drawn up.
Item 6 of 1318181821AdditionExtensive Gothic additions
Item 7 of 13Before 1822 Build/construction 
Item 8 of 1318271828AdditionExtensive Gothic additions
Item 9 of 13Before 1868  Baths within castle
Item 10 of 13c. 1875  Internal alterations
Item 11 of 13After 1919Before 1931Alteration/conversionConversion of Castle to Hotel
Item 12 of 131981  Condition and proposals report for conservation and re-use as holiday homes.
Item 13 of 132005 RepairRepairs begun

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 26William Adam Bc. 1740 Addition of wings and other alterations. Rebuilding in 19th century appears to have obliterated these.
Item 2 of 26John Douglas C17461750Alterations. 'Plans of the dining room, entry to the house, & other things' mentioned in accounts of Lord Glenorchy who was supervising the estate of behalf of his octogenarian father.
Item 3 of 26William Porden  c. 1800 Original architect? as referenced in Building News
Item 4 of 26John Paterson H18011805Began to rebuild castle but was dismissed before the building was complete.
Item 5 of 26Archibald & James Elliot GAfter 1805 Paterson house demolished by the Elliots and new house built on new site.
Item 6 of 26Archibald Elliot GAfter 1805 Paterson house demolished by the Elliots and new house built on new site.
Item 7 of 26James Elliot Gc. 1805 Paterson house demolished by the Elliots and new house built on new site.
Item 8 of 26Alexander Nasmyth J1806 Acted as landscape consultant
Item 9 of 26William Atkinson H18181821Extensive Gothic additions
Item 10 of 26William Atkinson K18271828Extensive Gothic additions
Item 11 of 26James Gillespie Graham F18381839Remodelling of west wing
Item 12 of 26James Hamilton  Before 1868 Baths within castle
Item 13 of 26Charles George Hood Kinnear Ac. 1875 Internal alterations
Item 14 of 26John Dick Peddie Ac. 1875 Internal alterations
Item 15 of 26Peddie & Kinnear Ac. 1875 Internal alterations
Item 16 of 26Andrew Balfour DAfter 1919 Conversion of castle to Castle Hydro Hotel
Item 17 of 26Balfour & Stewart DAfter 1919Before 1931Conversion of castle to Castle Hydro Hotel
Item 18 of 26William Fraser Tytler Stewart DAfter 1919Before 1931Conversion of castle to Castle Hydro Hotel
Item 19 of 26Thomas A J Pollock C1981 Condition and proposals report for conservation and re-use as holiday homes.
Item 20 of 26William Archibald Cadell C1981 Condition and proposals report for conservation and re-use as holiday homes.
Item 21 of 26Mark Sidgwick D2005 Repairs begun
Item 22 of 26Dermot Patterson E2005 Repairs begun
Item 23 of 26LDN Architects E2005 Repairs begun
Item 24 of 26Mark Hopton E2005 Repairs begun
Item 25 of 26Samuel ('Sam') Boyd Russell E2005 Repairs begun
Item 26 of 26Thomas ('Tom') Duff E2005 Repairs begun

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 5Breadalbane, 2nd Earl ofClient for John Douglas work
Item 2 of 5Breadalbane, 3rd Earl of 
Item 3 of 5Breadalbane, 4th Earl ofClient for Nasmyth scheme
Item 4 of 5Breadalbane, Marquess ofBaths within castle
Item 5 of 5Breadbalbane, 2nd Marquess of Cleint for Gillespie Graham work

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Adam, William1820Vitruvius Scoticus  Plate 51
Item 2 of 7Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p20
Item 3 of 7Anon1743Braco Case Petitions and Depositions  13
Item 4 of 7APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 5 of 7Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory1868Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory London, Wyman 
Item 6 of 7Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 7 of 7Gifford, John2007The Buildings of Scotland: Perth and Kinross Yale University Pressp717-724

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Building News5 September 1862  p180 and illustration
Item 2 of 3Country Life8 October 1964  Article by Alistair Rowan
Item 3 of 3Country Life15 October 1964  Second part of article by A Rowan.

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 6Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register12093 
Item 2 of 6National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD 112/21/78; 112/4GD112/4. Entails and related papers, 1704-1894

Including improvement vouchers of accounts for repairs to Taymouth and elsewhere on the entailed Breadalbane estate, some for building the new east wing of Taymouth to Mr Atkinson's plans, 1819.
Item 3 of 6National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD112/74/30Work by Atkinson: Bills for materials and work done from London.
Item 4 of 6National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD112/74/371831 March 19. Grove End, St Johns Wood.
William Atkinson, architect, to [Breadalbane].
Discussion of bills for work done in Park Lane and what has been sent to Taymouth Castle
Item 5 of 6National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD224/651-3Buccleuch family papers - letter by Atkinson
Item 6 of 6RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers William Fraser Tytler Stewart: F no2906 (box 14)