Dundas Castle

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Dundas Castle, a mansion in Dalmeny parish, Linlithgowshire, on the north-eastern extremity of a low basaltic- ridge called Dundas Hill, 1¾ mile SSW of Queensferry. The estate was held by a family of its own name from 1124 or thereabouts till 1875, when it was purchased by the trustees of the late James Russel, Esq.; it comprises 2082 acres, valued at £4724 per annum. The castle, partly of high antiquity, was partly rebuilt by the late James Dundas, Esq. of Dundas (1793-1881); and, with its thick walls and its vaulted chambers, is one of the finest and best-preserved baronial fortalices in Scotland. It sustained a siege in 1449, and on 24 July 1651 received a visit from Oliver Cromwell. Dundas Hill, extending ¾ mile from SE to NW, presents to the SW a precipitous columnar front about 70 feet high, attains an elevation of 380 feet above sea-level, and terminates abruptly in a bold wooded bluff.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer