Dunmore

http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hes/web/f?p=PORTAL:DESIGNATIONS:0

Type of Site

No information available.

Location and Setting

Dunmore Park lies some 8 miles (13.5km) ESE of Stirling on the south bank of the River Forth, about 4km from the Kincardine Bridge and the same distance from the M876. The site is bounded by the A905 to the north and east of the Park and by woodlands to the south and west. The policy woodlands and ornamental trees are significant in the surrounding agricultural landscape, and fine views are obtained from the Park, particularly to the north-east and across the Firth.

The designed landscape remained similar in extent between the 1865 and 1910 1st & 2nd edition maps. It was bounded by the A905, and by the woodlands to the west and south of the Park, and extended to Dunmore village in the north-east and Airth village in the south-east. Since the estate was broken up in 1968, the Park area has been farmed, but traces of the former design remain in the field pattern and tree plantings. Dunmore Tower, the remains of the former Elphinstone Castle, has been incorporated as a feature in the designed landscape. There are 760 acres (308ha) of remnant designed landscape today.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

The Mansion House, listed B, is a ruined tudor gothic design by William Wilkins, built c.1820 and currently under demolition. The Stables, also 19th century, are listed B and have been adopted for farm use. Dunmore Tower, of 15th-16th century origin, was restored in the 19th century and listed C(S). The Pineapple and Walled Garden, built in 1761 or slightly later, are listed A (and are the subject of a separate entry). There is also the East Lodge which is listed B.

Parkland

The parkland is farmed today and the outer fields are cropped. However the roundel plantings remain, as does a lime avenue along the main drive to the house. More ornamental trees remain along the former drive from the walled garden to the house and in the area to the south-west of the house. Most of the individual parkland trees have gone and both the West Lodge and the summerhouse recorded on the 1st edition map have since disappeared.

Woodland

The woodland blocks to the south and west of the parks are coniferous plantations today. Formerly there were many woodland walks within the woodlands linking the house and shrubbery with the walled garden, the chapel and Tower, and with other features such as the summerhouse. There was an extensive walled shrubbery planted to the north of the house, which is overgrown today.

Walled Garden

The large walled garden is divided into two sections: the west section which was subdivided into ten compartments with an ornamental canal at its southern end, and the eastern section which was used as an orchard in 1863. The unique folly gardenhouse, The Pineapple, was built in 1761, not long after pineapples were introduced to Scotland in 1732. It was surrounded on both sides by an extensive range of glasshouses which have since gone. The Pineapple has been restored and is available for holiday lets through the Landmark Trust.