In the 14th century, the Douglas family were granted land in Nithsdale by King Robert the Bruce. In the early 17th century, their stronghold was largely rebuilt by the 1st Earl of Queensberry, possibly to designs by William Bruce.

The Earl’s grandson, William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry, remodelled the Castle between 1670 and 1690.

THE GARDENS

The present series of terraces were laid out in 1738 by David Low, gardener to the 3rd Duke of Queensberry. His father, the 2nd Duke was a leading supporter of the Act of Union.

In 1720s, Daniel Defoe visited Drumlanrig on his tour of Great Britain. Critical of the Castle’s setting, he wrote: ‘Drumlanrig, like Chatsworth in Darbyshire, is like a fine Picture in a dirty Grotto, or like an Equestrian Statue set up in a Barn; ’tis environ’d with Mountains, and that of the wildest and most hideous Aspect in all the South of Scotland’.

However he was impressed by how the Castle ‘…stands on the Summit of a rising Ground, which is beautifully laid out in Slopes and Terraces. At the Extent of the Gardens are Pavilions and Banquetinghouses, exactly answering to one another; and the Greens, Espalier and Hedges, are in great Perfection.’

Defoe concluded: ‘to see a Palace so glorious, Gardens so fine, and every Thing so truly magnificent, and all in a wild, mountainous Country, the like we had not seen before’.

John Roque’s engraving of the Castle depicts the building surrounded by formal gardens and patte d’oie with several avenues radiating out from the centre. On the central axis is a cascade. Although not mentioned by Defoe, this could be the feature that two ‘Dutchmen’ created for the 1st Duke. There’s also a bowling green to the east of the Castle, a Nursery for growing plants while the wider gardens are heavily wooded. Beyond the bowling green is a curious geometric design shaped like a star – sadly, it’s not included in the key – and beyond a saltire? The flag of Scotland used by the Jacobites – was the 3rd Duke a supporter?

Thomas Pennant visited Drumlanrig on his Tour of Scotland in 1772 and described how the gardens ‘are most expensively cut out of rock’. Was he referring to the cascade?

The 4th Duke, or ‘Old Q’ as he was known, inherited the estate when both of the 3rd Duke’s sons pre-deceased him. A notorious rake and gambler, Old Q neglected the gardens and by the time of his death in 1810, had spent much of the fortune.

The terraces on the east and west side of the Castle were restored at the beginning of the 19th century. Several garden designers were commissioned to produce designs for the garden including an elaborate design by Sir Charles Barry – can be seen RIBA – although none of the designs were executed.

Throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the gardens were considered some of the best in Britain, with numerous articles appearing in magazines.

However, most of the terraces were removed during World War II with the land used to grow potatoes. Later, the area was laid down to grass which gave subsequent generations, a great opportunity to redesign the gardens.