HRH The Prince of Wales and John Bute outside Dumfries House

Welcome to Dumfries House

Welcome to the official website of Dumfries House - one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes and best kept heritage secrets.

Built between 1754 and 1760 by the Adam brothers for the 5th Earl of Dumfries, with a unique collection of Chippendale furniture, the House has been described as an 18th century time-capsule since the principal rooms and their contents have remained virtually unchanged for 250 years.

In June 2007,The Prince of Wales headed a consortium of charities and heritage bodies to purchase this unique house, its contents and adjoining land, in order to keep this historical jewel intact and accessible to the public.

A charitable trust was formed and named after one of His Royal Highness’s titles: The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust to take forward the important work of preserving this cultural treasure for future generations.

The House, which is renowned as one of the UK’s most important 18th century classical houses, will open its doors to visitors in the summer of 2008.

This website serves as an information base for Dumfries House and we hope you enjoy reading about the historic house, its rare contents and exciting future plans. We look forward to welcoming you in the future.

Work at Dumfries House is on-going. Visit the website again soon to find out about all the latest news and developments. Alternatively you can subscribe to our update feed.

“It is a unique house and estate and, of course, a very special part of Scotland’s, and indeed the U.K.’s, heritage. . . .I am thrilled by the prospect of enabling people to enjoy this 18th Century treasure, but I also hope (and intend) that we can use the opening of the house, and the employment and facilities it will provide, as a way of helping to regenerate the whole surrounding area which has suffered much deprivation and disadvantage in recent years.”
(HRH The Prince of Wales)