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| From just about anywhere in Plockton, you can't miss the Castle.
Every visitor asks — what is its history, and who owns it now? |
| The castle was built by the Matheson family in the 1860s. These
were the Mathesons of Jardine Matheson, who can be said to have founded
Hong Kong as we know it. It passed through various private hands,
particularly the Hamilton estare, before ending up with the County
Council who latterly used it as a sucessful domestic science college,
before allowing it to fall into disrepair.
Here is a history of Duncraig Castle before the new ownership.
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| The castle is now owned by the Dobson family from the Mildands,
who are valiantly repairing and renovating the old pile. (They were
the subject of a BBC series — the Dobsons of Duncraig —
in the winter of 2004.) |
| e-mail:
contact@duncraigcastle.co.uk |
| web:
www.duncraigcastle.co.uk |
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| The latest news from Perlin Dobson,
1 June 2007 |
| Exhibition of the History of Duncraig Castle |
| Local people (especially those who were students at Duncraig Castle)
and visitors alike will enjoy this fascinating exhibition of the history
of Duncraig Castle put together by Perlin Dobson and held in the Castle.
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| The Exhibition continues, from 11am to 1pm,
Monday — Friday. Other times are available by appointment.
Please email or check with Perlin on 01599 544 295 before visiting. |
| Sir Alexander Matheson, a retired business magnate, built Duncraig
Castle in the 1860s. Since then the castle has had a varied history,
occupied by members of the landed gentry until the Second World War,
when it was used as a Royal Navy Sick Quarters. After the war it was
left to Inverness County Council to be administered for the good of
the people of the Highlands. From 1945 it was used as a domestic science
college for girls, but after it was shut down in 1989 it was unoccupied
for more than twelve years. |
| In 2003 Sam and Perlin Dobson saw it advertised during their honeymoon
and the story of how they and their extended family bought the castle
and began the long task of restoration was told in the BBC television
series ‘The Dobsons of Duncraig’. Restoration work is
still underway but the Castle is already in use for weddings, conferences,
location hire and accommodation. |
| Perlin would like to thank all those who contributed photographs
and/or stories to the exhibition and encourages those who visit to
add any information they have. |
| Click here
for a photo of our College board. (580KB) |
|
| The news from Perlin on 22 September
2006. |
| Duncraig continues to keep us busy in lots of exciting ways. Over
the last year we have been the venue for many different things —
a 90th birthday party springs to mind for a woman based at Duncraig
when it was a Naval Hospital in the last war — more of that
later. |
| Duncraig will also be featured in the film 'Mr Lonely', due out
next spring. I won't tell you the details and spoil the surprise but
it's well worth seeing for the location. 3/4 of the film was based
at Duncraig Castle. |
| We have also played host to House Guests from across the globe.
Several weddings are planned for next year as are various group activities. |
| Next year being the Highland
Year of Culture, I am advising those wanting to stay at
the castle to book early as the Highlands should get even fuller than
usual. |
| Back to the 90th birthday party — as mentioned, the 'birthday
girl' was based here in the war. Mrs Franklin seperately sent the
following picture of her father taken with the other Navy Medical
Staff in 1940. |
 |
| I would like to collect stories, pictures or anything else that
is out there on the history of Duncraig Castle to house an ongoing
exhibition. I have recently also been contacted by a journalist based
in Calcutta researching the work of 'our' Sir Daniel Hamilton ( the
person who bequeathed the castle to Inverness County Council). |
| The 'Duncraig Girls' (those that stayed here while at college),
teachers and others also, are welcome to visit, as are the numerous
Mathesons and Hamiltons whose stories are an essential part of Duncraig
Castle's history. |
| Sam, Perlin, their daughter Amelia, Granny and Grandad remain at
the castle. Duncan and Lorain moved out as seen in the series. Lisa
and Brian have moved into Plockton, Greg and Elfine are a little further
afield in Dornie. |
| The most asked question from the series 'The Dobson of Duncraig'
— "Have you got the heating sorted as yet?" still
gets a negative response — apart from in guest rooms, of course. |
| The series is being shown world wide and I have received emails
from Europe, Australia and Canada. At present we are featured in an
American magazine — Scottish Life. |
| We are just renewing the options with Buena Vista (Miramax)
regarding the rights to our story — so we might still be walking
the red carpet yet! |
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| This is what Perlin told the
Plockton Web, on 16 March 2005. |
| The family is recovering from the ravishes of winter and hope that
finer weather is on its way. |
| We have all been presently surprised by the interest taken in our
decision to live at Duncraig as an extended family and did not envisage
having a television series made and possibly being the subject of
a film. (We should know by the end of 2005.) |
| Our adventure started less than two years ago when we all moved
up from the Midlands. |
| This is our family make-up: |
 |
Alan and Sybil Dobson: |
Granny and Grandad |
|
Sam, Perlin & Amelia: |
Son, wife and child |
|
Greg, Elfine, Gabriel, Fergus & Rowan: |
Son, partner and children. Another baby expected soon |
|
Duncan, Lorain, George & Elizabeth: |
Son, partner and children |
|
Lisa, Brian and Megan: |
Daughter, husband and child |
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| We all have different 'wings' in the castle and are working together
to finish the other areas which will be used for guest accommodation
and as a venue for what ever people may want to book us for (within
reason!). We have had lots of queries for weddings to date. |
| In the future we hope to make use of the surrounding areas. Suggestions
to date include paragliding off the ridge behind us or the more sedate
'paintballing'! For those requiring more subtle past times, there
are the usual fine walks and gentle hills as well as water-based sports.
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| The children love the surroundings and enjoy both the inside space
and being able to explore the coast line — there is always something
to see under the rocks and pebbles just below us. |
| There are highs as well as lows — the chickens did not make
in through the storms in January, neither did the boat Sam jointly
owns. It was quite exciting seeing it being rescued from the bottom
of the Loch. Does anyone want some crew for the regatta? |
| Renovations are on-going. We appreciate that we are just the present
guardians of the castle and want to ensure that it is returned to
its former glory. Judging by the number of good wishes we have received,
there are a lot of people that feel the same way about 'our' castle. |
| We would also like to thank the local community for their support
and patience during the filming, and for taking us to their hearts. |
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