Latest news with #ClanDonnachaidh
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Daily Record
Centuries old Scottish mansion once owned by Tennent's chief now lies in ruins
The estate has had some legendary owners down the years. Venture approximately 18 miles west of Pitlochry in Perthshire this summer, and you might stumble upon a sight that is both extraordinary and deeply affecting. Standing stark against the landscape are the skeletal remnants of what was once a magnificent mansion, Dunalastair House. From a distance, it retains a semblance of its former imposing structure, but a closer approach reveals nothing but a grand ruin, a haunting shell of stone and memory. The site, while haunting, has recently become a point of interest for explorers. It is perhaps surprising to learn that less than a hundred years ago, this now derelict building served a significant purpose, operating as a school for Polish children. The history of the Dunalastair Estate stretches back centuries, originating with the ownership by Clan Donnachaidh, also known as Clan Robertson. The Robertson family held control of the estate in and around the area. A prominent figure linked to the site was the great poet chieftain, Alexander Robertson of Struan, a staunch Jacobite. He is believed to have resided in a house known as the Hermitage, thought to have been located on or close to the present Dunalastair site. This earlier structure was destroyed by fire following the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Subsequently, around 1800, a double tower house, known as Mount Alexander, was constructed on the site. The Robertson clan's direct control continued until 1853. In that year, George Duncan Robertson, the 18th Chief, sold the property to General Sir John Macdonald of Dalchosnie. According to the Dunalastair Estate website, General Sir John Macdonald chose to demolish the building then on the site and constructed his own residence, the structure whose remains are visible today. Several decades later, the estate was sold again by Alastair Macdonald, son of Sir John, to Hugh Tennent. Hugh was the great great grandson of the founder of the Wellpark Brewery, now known as Tennent's brewery. Hugh would revolutionise the popular beer after being inspired by trips to Bavaria in Germany, the first of which he made in 1881, the same year he bought Dunalastair House. Tennent's Lager, as we know it today, was first brewed at Wellpark in 1885. Despite his success, Hugh died aged 27 in 1890, having owned Dunalastair for just nine years. The following year, in 1891, the house and estate were acquired by James Clark Bunten, who was the Chairman of the Caledonian Railway Company and is the great grandfather of the current owner. However, from this period, Dunalastair began to experience a decline. This was particularly noticeable after the onset of World War One, when the large staff required to maintain such a property became increasingly scarce. During the Second World War, the estate found a temporary new purpose as a school for the children of Polish refugees. Despite this, its decline continued into the 1950s, exacerbated by a fire around this time. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In the 1950s, the house's contents and furniture were sold off. Its condition worsened considerably in the 1960s following significant vandalism and the theft of lead from the roof, leading to its current state of complete disrepair. Currently, although various proposals have been made for the restoration of the house, the high costs involved have thus far prevented any such projects from proceeding.
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Costumes from Hollywood adaptation to feature in Macbeth exhibition
Costumes worn by Hollywood stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard in a big screen adaptation of the classic William Shakespeare play Macbeth are set to go on public display for the first time in Scotland. Outfits worn by the actors in their respective roles as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the 2015 adaptation directed by Justin Kurzel will feature in an exhibition celebrating the bard's Scottish Play at Perth Museum. The costumes, by Oscar-winning designer Jacqueline Durran, will be shown alongside a First Folio of Shakespeare's plays from the National Library of Scotland and a sword dating from the 11th century – the same century the majority of the events of Macbeth are set in. Other items on show include the historic Clach na Bratach stone from Clan Donnachaidh, the descendants of the real King Duncan I who was killed in a battle against Macbeth in 1040, and Charlotte Rose's painting Dagger Of The Mind which explores mortality in the Shakespeare play and the tobacco industry. Curators say the objects will provide a new and potent perspective to the Stone of Destiny, which is already on permanent display at Perth Museum and upon which the real Macbeth is believed to have been crowned. Ashleigh Hibbins, head of audiences and engagement at Culture Perth and Kinross, said: 'We cannot wait to surprise and captivate visitors with this unique opportunity to dive into Macbeth the man, the play, and its cultural impact across the centuries. 'From Hollywood films to Broadway and West End shows, to classrooms around the world, Macbeth continues to resonate with us across the centuries. ' Perthshire is the location for many iconic scenes in the play, so what better place than Perth Museum to explore this legendary Scottish figure?'
