Basic Site Details Name: | Dumfries House | Town, district or village: | Cumnock (near) | City or county: | Ayrshire | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | A listed | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The house was designed by the Adam brothers (Robert, John and James). Contract drawings signed by all three.
Plaster work by Philip Robertson a cousin of the Adam brothers. Firegrates by David Robertson, brother of Philip. | Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Mansion house | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1754 | 1760 | Build/construction | | | 1860s | | Alterations and additions | West wing, Turkish bath | | 1867 | | Alterations and additions | Main block, redecoration of entrance hall and north parlour. Carried out by Campbell & Smith. | | 1894 | | Survey | Survey carried out | | 1895 | | Plans drawn up | Designs produced for alterations and enlargement | | c. 1896 | c. 1897 | Alterations and additions | Main block: redecoration and alterations to bedroom floor, toplighting of corridor etc | | February 1897 | | Plans drawn up | Revisions to proposals for enlargement | | May 1897 | 1908 | Addition | Enlargement of west wing, tapestry room, book room schoolroom, smoking room, west corridor. Scheme finalised May 1897. Contracts October 1897. (William Swanston clerk of works, details modelled by Lawrence Turner, lead work, clock dial William Dodd. Also main block: strenghtening and partial replacement of first floor in steel and concrete. | | 1899 | 1905 | Addition | East wing enlargement to provide new chapel. East corridor, final scheme, April 1899 and May 1899. William Swanston clerk of works. | | May 1899 | 1900 | | Proposed Chinese bridge over River Lugar reusing abutments of previous iron bridge (not built) | | 1903 | 1905 | | Demolition of Turkish bath; new billiard room and smoking room; alterations to Tapestry room | | 1906 | | | Chapel: marble lining (left incomplete) | | 1913 | 1914 | Alterations and additions | Minor alterations to attics and roof structure replaced | | 1928 | | Proposed | Reconstruction of Schultz's chapel proposed. | | 1934 | 1935 | | Chapel dismantled and space in basement converted to library and on first floor into dining room | | 1968 | | Restoration | Also dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | William Adam | | L | 1740s | | Drew up initial designs. | | James Adam | | S | 1754 | 1759 | | | John Adam | | S | 1754 | 1759 | Continued designs after his father's death in 1748. Also designed large frame above chimneypiece and Avenue Bridge. | | Robert Adam | | S | 1754 | 1759 | | | William Atkinson Railton | | H | 1860s | | West wing, Turkish bath | | William Atkinson Railton | | J | 1868 | | Main block, redecoration of entrance hall and north parlour. Carried out by Campbell & Smith. | | Robert Weir Schultz | | B | 1895 | 1906 | Major additions and alterations (see 'Event' for full list) | | William McClelland | | B | 1895 | 1895 | Major additions and alterations - as draughtsman to R W Schultz | | Allan Stevenson | | | 1913 | 1914 | Minor alterations to attics and roof structure replaced | | Arthur Forman Balfour Paul | | C | 1934 | 1935 | Chapel dismantled and space in basement converted to library and on first floor into dining room | | Rowand Anderson & Paul | | C | 1934 | | Chapel dismantled and space in basement converted to library and on first floor into dining room | | Archibald Crawford | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | Ian Alexander Sinclair | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | John Crowe McBride | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | John Watson (junior) | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | Watson, Salmond & Gray | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | William MacDonald | | K | 1968 | | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Bute, 3rd Marquess of | Additions and alterations between 1895 and 1903 | | Bute, 4th Marquess of (John Crichton-Stuart) | Additions and alterations between 1903 and 1935 | | Dalrymple, William - 4th Earl of Dumfries | Original building, 1754-59 |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsChild StructuresThis structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details): | | Building Name | Notes | | Dumfries House, Lodge | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Close, Rob and Riches, Anne | 2012 | The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran | | New Haven and London: Yale University Press | p295-6, 298-302 | | Close, Robert | 1992 | Ayrshire and Arran, an Illustrated Architectural Guide | | Edinburgh: RIAS | p140-1 | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Davis, Michael C | 1991 | The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire | | Ardrishaig, Argyll: privately published | pp245-6 | | Green, Simon | 2014 | Dumfries House: an architectural story | | Edinburgh: RCAHMS | pp166-167, 187-196, 197-201, 202-204, 213, 218-219, 228, note 73 | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | Ruddock, Ted | 1979 | Arch Bridges 1735-1835 | | | p118 | | Stamp, Gavin | 1981 | Robert Weir Schultz, Architect, and his work for the Marquesses of Bute | | London: The Curwen Press / Mount Stuart | pp33-6 (quotes letter of 11 August 1934 at Mount Stuart) | | Taylor, Kristina and Peel, Robert | 1021 | Passion, plants and patronage: 300 years of Bute Family Landscapes | | Artifice Books | pp149-150 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Ayrshire Archives (from February 2007) | Darley- Hay Partnership archive | | Plans/drawings by Robert Weir Schultz and Allan Stevenson | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 14413 | Dumfries House | | Mitchell Library Glasgow | Office Plans and drawings of Watson, Salmond & Gray | 550 | Boxes A, B, C | | Mount Stuart | Bute Archives | | Letter books, 1895 onwards; drawings |
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