| Inveraray Castle | |
|---|---|
| Inveraray,Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom | |
 Inveraray Castle in 2021 | |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Location | |
  Inveraray Castle Shown within Scotland | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 56°14′15″N5°04′25″W / 56.2374808°N 5.0735762°W /56.2374808; -5.0735762 |
| Grid reference | grid referenceNN095092 |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Events | |
| Website | www |
Listed Building – Category A | |
| Designated | 20 July 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB11552 |
Inveraray Castle (pronounced/ˌɪnvəˈrɛərə/IN-vər-AIR-əor/ˌɪnvəˈrɛəri/IN-vər-AIR-ee;Scottish GaelicCaisteal Inbhir Aora[ˈkʰaʃtʲəl̪ˠiɲɪɾʲˈɯːɾə]) is a country house nearInveraray in the county ofArgyll, in western Scotland, on the shore ofLoch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch.[1] It is one of the earliest examples ofGothic Revival architecture.
It has been the seat of theDukes of Argyll, chiefs ofClan Campbell, since the 18th century.
James V stayed at the old castle of Inveraray in September 1533. A new lute was bought for him inGlasgow and carried to Inveraray by his servant Troilus.[2]
The present castle was built in theGothic Revival style. Improvements on the estate began in 1743 byArchibald Campbell, Earl of Ilay, soon to become 3rd Duke of Argyll.[3] The foundation stone of the new castle was laid in October 1746,[4] and it replaced an earlier 15th-century castle.[3]
It is one of the earliest Gothic Revival buildings, together withStrawberry Hill House. It was built ofashlarlapis ollaris.[4] Originally, all the roofs were flat andcrenellated. Later, a third floor with pitched roof and dormer windows was added on all four wings, and steep conical roofs were added to the four round towers. In the 1770s, the village of Inveraray was demolished and rebuilt a short distance away, to give the castle a more secluded setting.[5]
Designers who worked on the new castle includeWilliam Adam andRoger Morris. The interior has a number of neoclassical rooms created later in the 18th century for the5th Duke byRobert Mylne.[1] These are among the rooms open to the public.James Lees-Milne was not impressed by the house when he visited it in 1943, noting the "ugly" grey stone and calling it "grim and forbidding".[5]
In 1975, a devastating fire struck Inveraray and for some time the12th Duke and his family lived in the castle's basement, while restorations were carried out, funded by a worldwide fundraising drive.[6]
The castle is open to visitors. Its collection includes more than 1,300 pikes, muskets, swords and other weapons.[5]The 13th Duke of Argyll and his family live in private apartments in the castle, which occupy two floors and are set between two of the four crenellated circular towers. Recent renovations included the installation of the house's first central heating system, powered by burning wood-chips from the family's forestry holdings.[1] It was previously heated only byopen fires.[citation needed]
Inveraray Castle is a Category Alisted building. It is surrounded by a 16-acre (6.5-hectare) garden and an estate of 60,000 acres (24,000 hectares).[1] Besides welcoming visitors to the castle, the estate's activities include commercial forestry, tenanted farming, wind and hydro power, anddeer stalking.[citation needed]
When the duke is in residence his banner of arms is raised above Inverary Castle. At other times the banner of arms for Clan Campbell, which appears in the 1st and 4th quarters of his arms, flies.[7]
The castle has featured in a number of media productions including:Downton Abbey (2012);[citation needed]Great Estates Scotland (2014);[citation needed] andSusan Calman'sSecret Scotland (2020).[citation needed] The "Best of the West" festival, organised by the Duchess, was held at the castle each September until 2018.[5] Other productions includedAn American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates,[8][9] theBBC miniseriesA Very British Scandal,[10] andThe Diplomat (2024).[11]
The castle is reputedlyhaunted.[12]
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
