The Places of Clan Duncan

Let’s start with the original Duncan castle – Lundie! Unfortunately, we don’t have any photos of the castle as it’s long been replaced by a larger, more modern estate called Camperdown, but more on that in a bit. Lundie is a small territory in Angus, Scotland, and is most well known today not for it’s castle, but for its kirkyard. The Kirk was restored in 1847, but make no mistake, the foundation on which it sits is ancient and, therefore, …mysterious... Perhaps the most famous parts of the Kirkyard are the Abraham and Isaac stone and the burial site of Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan. If you’ve been keeping up with us this month, you’ll know all about the Viscount (and spoiler alert, he definitely has something to do with the next noteworthy place on our list). The Abraham and Isaac stone tells the biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac – check out the photo below

So, the first thing you need to know is that Camperdown goes by many names – Camperdown Park, Camperdown House, Camperdown Country Park… did you catch all that? It’s actually a public park in the Camperdown area of Dundee, comprising the former grounds of Camperdown House, a 19th-century mansion, which once belonged to the Duncan clan. Before this, the Camperdown estate was known as Lundie, as we mentioned before, and was bought by Alexander Duncan in 1682. From the 16th to the 19th century, members of the clan served as Provost of Dundee and in other military positions, eventually resulting in a peerage as Viscount Duncan. In the 19th century, Robert, 2nd Viscount Duncan, commissioned the house to be rebuilt in the Greek Revival style and renamed the estate Camperdown after his father’s victory in, you guessed it, the Battle of Camperdown. Camperdown is actually the largest Greek Revival house still standing in Scotland! Quite majestic, if we do say so ourselves.

Clan Duncan was historically connected to Loch Rannoch, a freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, with the clan having once inhabited the surrounding lands. This is an ancient loch which was actually part of the native Caledonian Forest. As such, it is part of the Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area, which has been identified for protection against potentially harmful development. Over the centuries, the loch and islands within have been the site of much historical intrigue. One of our favourite stories is of Mary, Queen of Scots and how she actually had what must have been an intimidating fortress located on an island in the loch demolished. This might seem pretty dramatic, but rumour has it that the site was somehow a threat to her crown. Fast forward to today and you’ll find fishing and other activities on the beautiful loch. We don’t know about you, but we’d love to just be in the presence of this absolutely stunning Scottish location. The Rannoch and Tummel Tourist Association oversees tourism in the area and has all the info you need for your next trip.

James Duncan of the 19th century is responsible for the connection between Clan Duncan and Jordanstone. Originally from Alyth, Angus, James left Scotland for Bolivia, South America, shortly after finishing his education, where he acquired his wealth trading along the Pacific Coast. He eventually used this wealth to purchase the Jordanstone Estate and the Duncans remained the owners of the estate until 2003. Over the years, the Duncan family adored the house as their escape to the country and took great care to keep the house updated – even employing famed Scottish architect, Sir Robert Lorimer, for additions to the house.

As manor houses go in Scotland, this one has kept its beautiful historic charm, while practicing some stellar upkeep. The modern day estate actually includes the original stables and coach house, but they’ve been converted to a garage for 13 cars – certainly a contemporary upgrade. My personal favourite, you’ll also find a restored Victorian glasshouse and walled garden. Don’t you just wonder what romantic history could’ve taken place in that garden?

Last but not least, we have the Alyth Parish Church. Just before, we mentioned that James Duncan was a wealthy man from Alyth and as you might have guessed, he has something to do with this place too! There has been a church in and around the present day Alyth Parish Church since the 6th century. Luckily for history enthusiasts visiting the parish, there are lots of historical structures from the Alyth churches of the past still standing – such as a Pictish standing stone and the stone arches that are a remnant of the 14th century when Robert the Bruce was said to have worshiped there. There’s one iconic part of the current church building and this is where James Duncan comes in. In 1908 the year, he commissioned Henry Holiday to design the remarkable stained glass window which depicts “The Man of Sorrows in Anticipation and Realisation”. Today, this particular window is known as the Duncan of Jordanstone Memorial Window. This is definitely on my list for my next trip to Scotland!