| Doune Town and Surrounds |
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 DOUNE
Doune lies seven miles north west of Stirling. Travellers driving along the main A84 gain only the briefest of glimpses of the village as its centre lies a little off to the north of the road.
Doune's history goes back at least as far as the Romans, who probably had a fort here in the area later occupied by Doune Castle. The discovery of medical instruments suggests the Romans also had a hospital here, on the site of what is now Doune Primary School.
The village's more recent history owes much to the Castle in whose shadow it originally grew. Over the years the centre of the village migrated steadily westwards, towards the line of the main drove route from the Highlands to the markets of central Scotland. Doune Castle now stands a little apart from the village and to its east.
The village has a slightly time-stood-still feel, with a range of small shops intermingled with cottages. A surprise in the centre is the location on the main street of the headquarters of Harvey Maps, again looking like it belongs to another time and place.
Doune's centre today is the Mercat Cross, standing in a triangular area at which the main streets intersect. The Mercat Cross was the commercial heart of the village, and the centre of the many fairs held in Doune over the course of the year. A more grisly testament to the movement of the centre of the village can be seen from the declaration of King Charles I that public executions should take place at the Mercat Cross rather than, as before, at the Castle.
Doune is bounded to the south by the River Teith. It is crossed today by the A84 at the Bridge of Teith. This is the same bridge that was built by the royal tailor, Robert Spittal of Stirling, in 1535. There had previously been a ferry across the river at this point. The story goes that Robert Spittal wanted to cross the river one day but was a little short of cash. The ferryman refused to carry him across for less than the standard fare. It is said that Robert Spittal's subsequent building of the Bridge of Teith had less to do with his concern for the public good than his desire to do the ferryman out of a job.
On the south side of the River Teith lies Deanston. This was a company village built in 1785 to house workers for the vast Adelphi cotton mill, designed by Richard Arkwright. In the early 19th Century the mill provided 1000 jobs for adults and children. Until 1933, all workers lived either in Deanston or Doune. The mill was enlarged and updated in 1950, but closed in 1965.
It was then converted into Deanston Distillery, with the weaving shed becoming a warehouse. The distillery has since seen a change of ownership and a period of closure from 1982 to 1990, but it has been back in production since then.
Links to Doune Websites:
 http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/doune/doune/index.html
http://www.perthshire-scotland.co.uk/doune2.htm |
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DOUNE CASTLE
Doune Castle is named for a dun, meaning fortified town, which stood nearby. Doune was the Highland center for pistol making. There are traces of prehistoric earthworks around this stone castle. This iteration of the castle was built as a hunting lodge for Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, who was the Regent of Scotland from 1396-1420. Much of the castle has been restored in recent centuries, but it is still one of the least changed castles in Scotland.
Albany died in 1420, and his son, Murdoch, inherited the castle. He didn't have it for long, though. He was put to death by James I in 1425, and for more than a century, Doune Castle was held by the Crown. It finally passed to the Morays.
Doune was later used as a hunting seat by James II and a dower house for Mary of Gueldres, Margaret of Denmark, and Margaret Tudor, the consorts of James II,III,IV.
In 1570, Doune was being held for the exiled Mary, Queen of Scots. Montrose occupied Doune in 1645; in 1689, the government of William III garrisoned the castle against covenanters. Finally, the castle was seized by the Jacobites in 1745 and used as a prison. The castle was roofless by 1800 but restored later in the century.
Doune is perhaps best known as the castle in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. The caretaker told us that every year, hundreds of fans come to the castle.
Doune Castle lies between a tributary burn and the Teith River, and has probably been the site of a castle since the Romans built a fort nearby to control this waterway. The surrounding earthworks are earlier, but apart from minor repairs, the stonework is all 1390 - 1420. When we arrived, they were repointing the walls for the first time in the history of the castle.
The tower itself is irregularly shaped. The upper levels were secure private residences, and the Lord's Hall was a tremendous vaulted room. The fireplace at one end is unusual.
Doune is shaped like an irregular pentagon. On the west, a building breaks the angle between two of the sides. The front of the castle is a thick-walled rectangular block. The east is a gatehouse tower, which is an impressive 95' tall and probably was taller at one time in it's history. The entrance passes through the rectangle at a slant, and is protected by arrow loops. It had a portcullis at one time.
The kitchen of Doune is equally impressive. The fireplace is the full width of the lobby. There is no opening to the cellars, which are only reached from the courtyard. This is unusual, and must have made storage difficult? However, in the middle of the courtyard is a deep 60' well, usually containing 10' of water.
Links to Doune Castle Websites:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/doune/dounecastle/index.html
http://www.phouka.com/travel/castles/doune/doune.html
http://www.perthshire-scotland.co.uk/castles-doune.htm
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail?propertyID=PL_092 |
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Monty Python Day
Historic Scotland invites you to join us at the magnificent Doune Castle - a key location for the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Capacity limited to 500 tickets. |
6 - 8 th July
Dundee Guitar Festival. |
9 - 14 th July
Deep Fried Film Festival. |
11 - 14 th July
Hebridean Celtic Festival. |
12 - 14 th July
Barclays Open Golf Championship. |
12 - 15 th July
Glasgow River Festival. |
20 - 21 th July
The Wickerman Festival. |
21 - 22 th July
Inverness Highland Games. |
26.07. - 02.09.
Edinburgh Art Festival. |
28 th July
Proms at the Palace. |
28 th July
Barclays Open Golf Championship. |
| And don't forget to visit: |
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