House of Dun

The following is from the Historic Environment Scotland Gardens and Designed Landscapes Inventory. For the most up-to-date Inventory entry, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website:

http://portal.historic-scotlan...

Location and Setting

The House of Dun lies about 2 miles (3km) north-west of Montrose and 3.5 miles (6km) east of Brechin. The A935, which links the two towns, forms the southern boundary of the site. A minor road off the A935 forms the western boundary, and the east drive skirts the eastern boundary of the designed landscape. The landform slopes gently to the south and the house faces south with extensive views across the Montrose Basin. The proximity of the site to the coast has the effect of moderating the climate and, as a result, the gardens are rarely susceptible to frosts. The house and south parks are visible from the A935.

The site of the original house, Dun Castle, lies across the Den of Dun to the west of the present house. The castle fell into disrepair and the new house was built between 1727-30, resited to the east to take advantage of the fine views south across the Montrose Basin. Two plans for the new gardens around the house were drawn up in 1723 by the Earl of Mar in Paris and sent to Lord Dun. General Roy's map of 1750 shows a north/south avenue near the new house with shelterbelt plantings around the neighbouring fields, but no extensive formal garden at that time, and it shows no designed landscape around Dun Castle. The layout developed by the 1st edition OS map of 1862 has remained similar until today. The north park contained many parkland trees and included an avenue to the north of the house. The south park also contained many more trees than today. There are 99 acres (40ha) in the present designed landscape.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

The House of Dun, listed grade A, comprises a rectangular block of two storeys, basement and attic. The advanced centre of the north front is treated as a triumphal arch, giant fluted pilasters carrying a moulded frieze surmounted by the cornice and blocking course. William Adam was the Senior Architect. The Court of Offices to the west of the house was also designed by William Adam and is listed A. Included in the group listing of A are the walled garden to the east of the house, the terrace gatepiers and steps, and the sundial dated 1727. The large walled garden by the remains of Dun Castle is listed B, as is the old gateway to the castle. The Ice Houses are also listed B. The early 19th footbridge over the Den of Dun is listed C(S) while the West and East Gates and the Tudor Gothic early 19th century East Gate Lodge are listed B. The Mausoleum dates from c.1835 and is listed B. There are various garden ornaments in the formal garden.

Paths and Walks

The walk put in by Lady Augusta up to the large walled garden and the burial ground lies to the west of the house. The path is mostly in good condition although it requires some improvement in places, particularly the steps. The large white quartz stones of the Rockery are still to be found as the path enters the Den of Dun on its eastern side. The Rockery and any interesting plant material it once held is now rather overgrown.

Parkland

The parkland lies to the north and south of the house and a ha-ha divides the south park from the field beyond which is planted with a vegetable crop. When the house was built in 1730, there were already many fine trees in the park and these were added to at that time. The 1st edition OS map of 1862 shows several parkland trees which have since been lost. A line of Sequoias was planted just to the north of the house in 1856 and it is thought that the seeds came from William Lobb's pack of 1853 seed. A gap was left in the line for the view north of the house through the avenue. Alan Mitchell measured the Sequoia line in 1982. The parks are grazed and have been used until recently as horse pastures; some new individual park trees have been planted recently and fenced.

Woodland

A shelterbelt has been planted along the northern boundary of the north park. The only other policy woodland is within the glen or 'Den of Dun' and its tributary valley to the south of the large walled garden, where oak, sycamore and beech have regenerated naturally.

The Gardens

The terraces to the south of the house were also laid out by Lady Augusta. The steps and dividing yew hedges remain although they have become overgrown in recent years. A small parterre of box hedges in the shape of a horse-shoe with studs lies immediately below the steps to the south front of the house. It has been interplanted with roses, and the terrace has been planted with fuchsias and roses. The lower terrace contains a tennis court and a vegetable plot, both developed in recent years.

Walled Garden

The smaller walled garden adjoins the east side of the house and has been used variously over the years: as a horse exercising ground in Alice Erskine's day, as a formal rose garden in Lady Augusta's time, and as a pheasantry in the 1970s. It is sadly overgrown today, although the box edges of the former herbaceous borders remain.

To the west of the house in a corresponding position lies the Court of Offices, in the centre of which some weeping willows shelter the game larder. Old photographs show today's large pollarded limes, as tiny ornamental, clipped trees.

The large walled garden was developed after the new house was built in 1730; it is unusual in shape and extends over the site of the former Dun Castle. The old arched gateway is an impressive feature stranded within the walls. The garden is let and a large part of it is not kept up; there are some glasshouses left, but they are not in very good condition. There is a gardener's cottage to the north of the garden.