Megginch Castle

Some early-18th-century plantings survive in the parkland at Megginch Castle as well as 18th- and 19th-century avenues. There is a 19th-century woodland garden which incorporates an avenue of hollies dating from before 1600 The early-19th-century terrace garden is marked out with ancient yews and consists of topiary, formal parterres and shrub borders. The walled garden, the earliest walls of which date from the late-16th century, has ornamental and productive plantings dating from the 18th to the 20th century.

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

Megginch Castle is situated off the A85 (T) some 9 miles (14.5km) east of Perth and about 10 miles (16km) west of Dundee. Although only about 50' (15m) above sea level it stands out in the landscape surrounded by the flat plain of the Carse of Gowrie. The A85 runs along the northern side of the policies and the southern side is bounded by the Perth to Dundee railway. The minor road to Errol borders the site to the west and the hedge line between Errol station and the A85 borders it to the east. When the Carse of Gowrie was part of the estuary of the Firth of Tay, the raised ground, on which Megginch stands, was an island. The climate is typical of central Scotland and the policies are protected by shelterbelts from the cold easterly wind blowing up the Firth. The soils are gravelly and there is good loam in those parts which have been cultivated for many years. The Carse of Gowrie is called the 'Garden of Scotland' and the surrounding land supports fairly intensive arable farming crops. There are long views north to the range of the Sidlaw Hills, and southward across the River Tay to Norman Law and the Hills of Fife. The woodlands around Megginch can be seen from some distance particularly as the surrounding land is fairly flat and well cultivated. From the A85(T), North Belting Wood, stretching along the roadside, contributes greatly to the scenery.

Megginch Castle is sited in the middle of the park which itself lies almost in the centre of the policies. The inner park is enclosed by woodland and the outer park and policies are more open. General Roy's plan of c.1750 shows a small garden around Megginch and two long avenues of trees, one running due south and the other west. They joined at a point just south of the Castle. The designed landscape, as it exists today, is shown on the 1st edition OS plan, dated 1866, and extends to an area of some 400 acres (162ha). An avenue running east/west extends for about 1 mile (1.5km) to Megginch Lodge on the A85. A second avenue runs from the Old Rose Garden just north of the Castle eastwards to the Grange. The Terrace Garden lies to the west of the Castle and the Walled Kitchen Garden is sited to the north.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Megginch Castle, listed category A, was built around a 15th century tower and fortalice. It was added to in 1575, and again between 1707 and 1715. Further decorations were designed by Robert Adam in 1790. In 1820 the alterations were completed by W.M. Mackenzie. In 1928 Mills and Shepherd altered the Castle and added an entrance porch. After a substantial fire the Mills and Shepherd alterations were removed and in 1970 the area restored to the early 19th century period. The Castle is basically L-shaped with three storeys and a tower. Just to the north-west lie the Screen Walls and Outbuildings which are listed with the Castle. The Stables and Doocot, listed category B, were built in 1806 by Robert Drummond. The octagonal doocot, designed like a pagoda, has a model of Robert Drummond's ship, the 'General Elliot', on top acting as a weather vane. In 1815, an oak tree was planted in the centre of the courtyard to commemorate Robert Drummond.

The Walled Garden, listed category B, is in two parts. The northern section was built in 1807 by Robert Drummond. The southern wall has a sundial attached to it, dated about 1575. To the west of the Walled Garden lies the Icehouse, listed category B, which was built in the late 18th century. The Kennels, listed category C, were built in 1930 in a gothic style with diamond shaped windows.

The Chapel, listed category B, was burnt by John Knox. It was rebuilt in 1679 and was rebuilt again in 1781. A late 17th century type of sundial, with an inscription dated 1890 on it, stands next to the small burial ground adjoining the chapel. The gothic North Lodge and Screen, listed category B, were built in 1796 by Robert Drummond. The West Lodge at the end of My Lady's Walk is listed category B and was also built by Robert Drummond in about 1806. The 'ruined' Gothic Arch at the entrance to the Beech Walk is listed category C(S) and was built around 1800 by Robert Drummond. The Mains, a brick farmhouse of 1740, was added to by Frances Drummond, widow of John Murray Drummond in 1891. The Kingdom Farm Buildings were built by John Drummond about 1750. The derelict South Lodge stands near Errol Station.

Parkland

The 10 large oak trees in the parkland south of the Castle were planted by John Drummond in 1709. Thomas Hunter, in his description of Megginch published in 1883, records oaks, elms, limes, sweet chestnuts and larches growing in the park. The larches were introduced from Blair Atholl.

The northern section is divided by two great avenues; the one leading from the gothic arch to the A85 is called Long Walk and was planted with oaks by Admiral Sir Adam Drummond in 1827 to replace an earlier avenue called the Great Avenue. From the Gothic Arch east to the drive is the Beech Walk, planted about 1750 by Adam Drummond. The other is the oak avenue leading to the North Lodge and main entrance gates planted in 1726 by John Drummond. The lime avenue planted by Mrs Colin Drummond before 1760 runs due west from the Stableyard and could have joined the other main avenue taken out by 1806. Before Mrs. Drummond went to Canada in 1760 she was able to join her handkerchief round the trunk of one of these trees. A third, and not so significant avenue, runs along the east drive and was planted with hardwoods, mainly oak, sycamore, sweet chestnut, lime and beech in around 1840, probably replacing the avenue shown on General Roy's plan. The 1st edition OS plan shows several specimen trees dotted about the park but very few remain today and most of the fields are cultivated with arable crops.

Woodland

The narrow shelterbelt of trees enclosing the inner park was probably planted about 1790 with beech, oak, elm and some larch. Some were replanted in the 1880s and a small plantation of conifers has been recently added in the south- east corner. The southern area of the park has now been fenced off for a new planting of hardwoods. Pannoch Wood and North Belting Wood, planted in 1796, were partially replanted with mixed hardwoods and some Scots pine and larch in the 1880s probably after the ferocious storm in 1881. Another lime avenue was also planted. Several trees of the original planting in 1796 were left and are still growing among the later trees today. A few ornamental trees, particularly conifers, were also planted in the woodland.

Woodland Garden

The Woodland Garden area was enclosed from the park after 1866 as the 1st edition OS plan shows it as still part of the park. It was fenced in 1931, and the Chapel included in the garden. There is a holly avenue of very old hollies leading to it which probably dates from before 1600. A letter of 1702 describes the 'very old yews and hollies'. Outside the meadow, where bulbs and wild flowers have naturalized, large hybrid Rhododendrons, hollies and other shrubs have grown to vast sizes. Recently, some clearing has taken place and more planting is planned.

Between the Gothic Arch and the Garden, exotic conifers were planted like a pinetum. Trees included a large Wellingtonia, grown by Mr Matthew of Gourdiehill from seed sent from California, several Cedars of Lebanon, a large Douglas fir, a Lucombe's oak, an ancient Chamaecyparis pisifera, and several Monkey puzzles. They were mostly planted in the 1840s by Admiral Sir Adam Drummond, and are described by Hunter.

The Gardens

The Terrace Garden lies to the west of the castle, and the Rose Garden lies to the north adjacent to the Walled Garden. The four clumps of extremely old yews mark the outside edge of the Terrace Garden which according to legend were the yew hedge round the monastery garden, and were described as 'very old' in 1702. Lady Charlotte Drummond laid out the garden about 1830 and planted the holly varieties of 'Golden King', 'Silver Queen' and Grandis. (These have been identified by Susyn Andrews of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew who had not previously seen these varieties in gardens planted before 1863 or 1867.) The extravagant topiary yew figures were set out by Mrs Malcolm Drummond in the 1890s. An enormous crown, made from gold and green yew, was planted to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 (and the Golden Wedding of John and Frances Drummond in 1885). The parterres are still planted with tulips and forget-me-nots in spring, and colourful annuals in summer. On the north side, shrubs and herbaceous perennials are planted along the walks and hedges. They include the rare white form of Rosa banksiana, said to have been grown from seed brought back from India in 1796 in the 'General Elliott'. Two years before, the double red camellia was sent from China to Megginch; it still occasionally flowers.

Walled Garden

North of the Castle is the Rose Garden, laid out with box hedges and brick paving, and containing over 100 different varieties of shrub roses, some of the earliest ones were imported from Holland in 1702. Many more were planted by Lady Charlotte in the 1830s, some by Geraldine in the 1890s, and others by Violet in the 1930s, and many more since 1966.

The top walled kitchen garden is known to have been here since 1575, which is the date of the sundial on the wall, though the brick walls are almost certainly 1715 and built onto older stone foundations. It has an early Wisteria brought from China in the 1790s, and the garden has been partly restored as a Herb and Physic garden. There are also plans for an astrological garden.

The Kitchen Garden was extended in 1796 and the 'hot walls' were constructed at the same time. They were made with flues from coal burning stoves which ran through the wall, heating the special brick facings on the walls to prevent late frosts from damaging flowering or budding fruit. Peaches, nectarines and apricots are still grown on this wall. On the north wall are some red currants which have been growing there since 1783. Apples, pears, plums, cherries and greengages are all trained along the walls. The earliest recorded is of the cherry, Governor Wood, planted in 1880. Vegetables are still grown to supply the Castle, and red currants and blackcurrants are grown for sale. There are two long flower borders bedded out each year down the centre, and a good crop of hay is taken off the rest for the wild White Park Cattle.

To the north of the north wall is a large orchard. Its original extent can be seen in the 1st edition OS plan. Many of the trees are still growing and some are quite old, including varieties like the Drummond Pear, Bishop's Mells, Winter Strawberry, the Bloody Ploughman and Tower of Glamis. There is a planned re-planting of fruit trees every year, mostly Victoria Plums, with some Greengages, ornamental Malus and Rowans. About 2 tons of Victoria Plums are sold from the orchard each year. Two greenhouses were demolished in 1946 and 1954, and were replaced by a modern long one to the north of the garden. Last year a plastic tunnel was installed instead of the old frames, some of which are now planted out with heathers, rosemary, periwinkle, Hypericum and lily of the valley. There are also two sheds used for storage and potting, and a toolshed.