Dunans Castle
A fire-gutted castle with three reported resident ghosts.
via Wikipedia: Dunans Castle · see source
On the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, within Glendaruel, stands Dunans Castle, a building of historical significance.[1] The site covers 16 acres, and a fire in 2001 caused its ruin.[2]
Quick Facts
- Building type
- Mock castle
- Location
- Glendaruel, Cowal Peninsula, Argyll and Bute
- City
- Colintraive
- Country
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Owner
- Charles Selwyn Dixon-Spain & Sadie Michaela Dixon-Spain
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
A property at Dounens was shown on maps in 1590.[2] The house dates back to the sixteenth century and was bought in 1746 along with the Dunans estate by Andrew Fletcher, head of the Fletcher clan.[3] For over two centuries Dunans was home to the Fletcher Clan, who moved to the site between 1715 and 1745.[4] More than 50 firefighters from across Argyll descended on the castle at the height of the blaze.[3]
In 1864, Dunans House was transformed into the mock castle appearance it has today.[2] The Fletcher family no longer owned the building after 1997, when the whole 3000-acre Dunans estate was sold.[5] While operating as a hotel, the castle suffered a devastating fire on 14 January 2001.[5] The fire started shortly before 4am in the attic, consuming three floors and the roof space.[3]
Ewa Lucas-Gardener, the owner at the time, disregarded fire safety experts' cautions about the unsafe fireplaces.[5] The structure is still listed in the Buildings at Risk Register's at-risk category, with its condition described as very poor.[6]
What the cited sources add
A 2001 Herald Scotland article reported that the owners had not confirmed allegations of receiving threats to destroy the castle.[3] The same article stated that the hotel confirmed the castle's owners took refuge there after the fire.[3] A BBC News report from 2001 said police were treating the fire as suspicious.[7] That BBC report also noted unconfirmed reports that the owners had received threats the building would be burned down.[7]
The same article noted the castle's website described it as a venue for accommodation, conferences, and weddings.[8] A 1999 Herald Scotland article reported that Dunans House was marketed as having potential as a large private home or country hotel.[9]
References
- Wikipedia, "Dunans Castle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Charles Dixon-Spain, "Charles Recommends our "The Conservation Plan for Dunans" by Robin Kent for all Lairds and Ladies", YouTube (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Dunans Castle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Police probe castle fire", BBC News, 2001-01-14; Rebecca McQuillan, "Highland hideaway destroyed by fire Forensic teams and firefighters search ruins for cause", Herald Scotland, 2001-01-15; "Lord and lady of manor hailed from Hull", Herald Scotland, 2001-01-15 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Rebecca McQuillan, "Highland hideaway destroyed by fire Forensic teams and firefighters search ruins for cause", Herald Scotland, 2001-01-15. facts only, no text reused. heraldscotland.com
- Wikipedia, "Dunans Castle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Missing door is 700 years old", Daily Record, 23 September 1999 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Dunans Castle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Slice of family history changes hands", Herald Scotland, 1999-09-09; Hughes, "FAKE LORD AND LADY OWE US ALL A PILE; Taxman and Customs chasing cash from couple in the castle. - Free Online Library", Thefreelibrary.com, 2000-10-01; "In Depth | Photo Gallery | Your Pictures: 25 Oct-31 Oct", BBC News, 2003-10-31; Rebecca McQuillan, "Highland hideaway destroyed by fire Forensic teams and firefighters search ruins for cause", Herald Scotland, 2001-01-15; Doherty, "Gutted castle's future bleak as couple flee", The Scotsman, 10 Decemb en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Dunans Castle" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Dunans Castle, Glendaruel | Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland", Buildingsatrisk.org.uk (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Police probe castle fire", BBC News, 2001-01-14. facts only, no text reused. news.bbc.co.uk
- "Lord and lady of manor hailed from Hull", Herald Scotland, 2001-01-15. facts only, no text reused. heraldscotland.com
- "Slice of family history changes hands", Herald Scotland, 1999-09-09. facts only, no text reused. heraldscotland.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Dunans Castle (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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