Scotland · Still standing
Dudhope Castle
Dudhope Castle is a late-medieval Scottish tower house on the southern face of Dundee Law, extended into an L-plan residence in the late 16th century. The building features multiple round angle-towers and a prominent south front that has served varied uses from noble residence to barracks and later civic offices.
Its prime
1600
Today
Still standing
As it stood in 1600
What Dudhope Castle looked like in its prime.
A three-storey L‑plan stone tower house finished in white harl, with a low main roof and multiple projecting circular angle towers capped by steep conical slate roofs. The symmetrical south façade has a central entrance set between rounded projecting turrets, a small bellcote/clock above, and regular rectangular multi‑pane windows; some windows have stone pediments dated "1600." The castle sits on the lower slope of Dundee Law overlooking an open forecourt and parkland.
Its story
The story of Dudhope Castle.
Dudhope Castle was built in the late 13th century by the Scrymgeour family, originally a smaller tower house on the southern face of Dundee Law, later extended into an L-plan residence. The Scrymgeours held the castle and the office of Constable for some 370 years, until the death in 1668 of John Scrimgeour, first Earl of Dundee, when Charles II ignored the rightful heir, John Scrimgeour of Kirkton, and granted Dudhope and the Constableship to Charles Maitland, younger brother of the 1st Duke of Lauderdale.
Maitland, in financial difficulty, sold Dudhope in 1684 to John Graham of Claverhouse, better known as 'Bonnie Dundee'. The Douglas family were the last family of occupants, until about 1790, and the building later served as barracks. In 1854 Dundee's town council took a sub-lease on the grounds for recreation, eventually buying them for £31,700, £20,000 raised by the council, the rest from citizens by Lord Provost Mathewson, heading off the Earl of Home's plan for terraced housing.
The corporation of Dundee even attempted to demolish the castle in 1958. It survived, and the Scrymgeour connection endures inside: wall hangings pertinent to the family, and window drapes in Scrimgeour tartan arranged by the Scrimgeour Clan Association, organised in 1971.
Step inside
4 places to explore in 1600.
The record describes 4 distinct spots at Dudhope Castle, including 1 interior: main hall (scrimgeour room). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
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Clans who held Dudhope Castle.
The families that held Dudhope Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Scrymgeour
Built the castle in the late 13th century; held it with the Constableship of Dundee for some 370 years, until 1668.
Maitland
Granted to Charles Maitland by Charles II in 1668; sold on in 1684.
Bought by John Graham of Claverhouse, 'Bonnie Dundee', in 1684.
The last family of occupants of the castle, until about 1790.
From the archive
Dudhope Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.
The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.
Fig. 849. — Dudhope Castle. View from South-East.
1892 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 4 (1892)
Public domain
Fig. 850.—Dudhope Castle. North-East Gable.
1892 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 4 (1892)
Public domain
Fig. 852. Dudhope Castle. Date over Window in Courtyard.
1892 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 4 (1892)
Public domain
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