The House Of Plenty
The Scots Magazine|May 2023
This decaying Scottish stately home was rescued by a prince and has been transformed into a bustling hub of education and opportunity
PAUL FISHER COCKBURN
The House Of Plenty

EVERYONE, it seems, has a story to tell about Dumfries House - and for Jacqueline Farrell, who grew up within two miles of the Ayrshire estate, it's a story of artistic inspiration and change.

Growing up, the estate was a mysterious place.

"I was luckier than most in that my grandfather had a connection to the house, he looked after the TV sets," she says. "He managed the local shop, so he was allowed to maintain Lady Eileen's TV, and we got to stand on the front steps - that was quite exciting!

"It was always a place of mystery and glamour to most of the locals - but a place for others, not the community."

This was back in the day when the slowly decaying property of the Crichton-Stuart family, and home - until her death in 1993 - of the Dowager Marchioness of Bute, Lady Eileen, was not particularly welcoming to visitors.

That's all changed. Now owned by educational charity The Prince's Foundation, the restored house and estate are arguably something unique.

"It's not a stately home, it's not a garden, it's not a college or a school - it's all of those things," says Jacqueline, who is now education director for The Prince's Foundation.

"Local people - including myself - are proud of that, and proud to see the success it's brought to the area the proof of the concept is that it's regenerating the local community," she says.

"When you give people pride in their assets and their area, it just begins to change the culture."

From being one of Scotland's most overlooked hidden treasures - an 18th-century Palladian country house, with so much of its original furniture that the contents were once thought to be worth as much as the building itself - the estate has become a self-supporting operation that's been making real changes to people's lives since it was bought from its former owners in 2007.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من The Scots Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من The Scots Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE SCOTS MAGAZINE مشاهدة الكل
Unst To Orbit
The Scots Magazine

Unst To Orbit

Shetland's spaceport is set to take Europe by storm, launching rockets to the stratosphere

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Just Passing Through
The Scots Magazine

Just Passing Through

A tale of the unexpected unfolds at dawn in a Stirlingshire glen as a rare, shy creature slips out of the shadows

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
Brigadoon Revisited
The Scots Magazine

Brigadoon Revisited

An affectionate look back at the low budget \"synthetic Scotch\" movie that still sparkles in the mist, 70 years on

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
A Brand New Opening
The Scots Magazine

A Brand New Opening

The Scots Magazine revisits the Old Course in St Andrews almost 70 years on and celebrates recent progress in welcoming women

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Kenmore's Crossroads
The Scots Magazine

Kenmore's Crossroads

Fury over a luxury redevelopment at the Perthshire village made news headlines around the world but is the tide of popular opinion turning?

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
Seeing Double!
The Scots Magazine

Seeing Double!

Sam Heughan's Outlander body double, lain Wilkie, shares stories about his experiences on and off screen

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
The Story & The Song
The Scots Magazine

The Story & The Song

With a soundtrack to a Shetland tale, author and musician Malachy Tallack blends his artistic passions in his latest venture

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
A Rebirth From The Earth
The Scots Magazine

A Rebirth From The Earth

Erland Cooper's intriguing project has given nature and two determined fans a hand in shaping and bringing his new album to light

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Nip Of Champions
The Scots Magazine

Nip Of Champions

Whisky has long been associated with moments of triumph, including a recent example of clever sporting motivation

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
The Waterside Hotel
The Scots Magazine

The Waterside Hotel

A spectacular spot on the stunning Ayrshire coast

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024