Heritage and History

Early History

Purchased by William Crichton, 1st Earl of Dumfries, in 1635, the Estate consisted of ‘tower, fortresse, mansion place, orchard yards and pertynences’. Early records show that the mansion place, later referred to as Leifnorris House, was situated to the north-west of the present Dumfries House and was in use as a residence by the Crichton family throughout the second half of the 17th Century.

With a distinguished military career behind him, William Crichton Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries inherited his title upon the death of his mother in 1742. Some six years later he began negotiations for the design and build of Dumfries House.

Below is a summary chronology of the House and its owners:

1748 A meeting was suggested between Lord Dumfries and John Adam.
1754 Contract for the design and build of Dumfries House agreed with Adam brothers and foundation stones laid on 18th July
1759 Building of Dumfries House completed
1768 Death of William Crichton Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries at Dumfries House. Leaving no heir, the estate was passed to his nephew, Colonel Patrick MacDowall-Crichton
1771 Leifnorris House finally demolished
1783 Construction of marble-tiled bathhouse and installation of hothouse in gardens
1803 The estate passed to John Stuart, Lord Mountstuart, the son of the marriage of Elizabeth Penelope Crichton and John, Lord Mountstuart. The new Earl (the 7th) was the grandson of both the 6th Earl and the 1st Marquess of Bute and adopted the surname Crichton in 1805.
1814 7th Earl of Dumfries succeeds to Bute Estate and titles becoming 2nd Marquess of Bute
1815 Construction of Waterloo Bridge
1817 Water closets installed
1848 John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute inherits estate
1897 Extension and alterations to House began by Arts & Crafts architect, Robert Weir Schultz
1900 Death of 3rd Marquess of Bute at Dumfries House. His son, John Crichton-Stuart inherits estate as 4th Marquess of Bute
1902 A memorial crucifix to 3rd Marquess erected in the grounds
1909 House wired for electricity
1913 Concrete floors and roofs installed.
1934 New Dining Room and Library added.
1942 Dumfries House requisitioned by army. Camp built in grounds of estate
1947 Death of 4th Marquess of Bute.
1956 Death of 5th Marquess of Bute. Dowager Marchioness of Bute returns to live at Dumfries House
1993 Death of Dowager Marchioness of Bute, last family member to be resident within Dumfries House

The Future...

An independent trust, The Great Steward’s of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust, was established to manage the presentation and maintenance of the house, its collection and grounds. In November 2007 the estate was purchased from John Bute by a consortium led by HRH The Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay.

This consortium included:

The Prince’s Charities Foundation
Scottish Government
Historic Scotland
The Art Fund
Garfield Weston Foundation.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund
SAVE Britain’s Heritage
The Monument Trust
The Dunard Fund
The Siegmund Warburg Voluntary Settlement