Dudhope Castle, Scotland

Dudhope Castle is one of Dundee’s oldest buildings. It's dramatic setting is just below the Dundee Law, which is the highest point of the city. The castle was originally built in the late 13th Century, by the Scrymageour family who were appointed the constables of Dundee by William Wallace. The original Dudhope Castle was a small tower house, this was replaced in the 1460’s, and extended in 1580 to its current plan. In 1668, the Scrymageour family sold the estate to John Graham of Claverhouse, who was known as “Bonnie Dundee”. Graham was a Jacobite leader and was killed at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

In more recent times, Dudhope Castle's future has been uncertain. It was converted for a few different uses, including a woollen mill and a barracks. The castle interior suffered from neglect, vandals and improvers over the years. The town council in Dundee took a 35 year lease on the castle, and it was decided to create a public park out of the grounds, which opened in 1895. The lands are still a park today, but it was nearly lost again after the lease expired, and there were plans to demolish it in 1958, in order to build housing. The town council purchased the castle and restored it in the 1980’s. The interior has been altered over the years and it is not open to the public, but the lands are still a park for the people of Dundee today.