House of Dun

A beautiful Georgian House, only 3 miles west of Montrose, 'Dun House' as it was often called, was built in the early 18th century for David Erskine, Lord Dun, a judge of the Scottish Court of Session. Designed by William Adam, it was modelled closely on the Château d'Issy near Paris. Its connecting principal rooms are characteristic of Adam's country house planning, combining comfort and convenience.  A bright and cheerful home with superb plasterwork and elegant furnishings. The Estate has fabulous Victorian walled gardens overlooking Montrose Basin, as well as Lady Augusta Walk, adventure playground, terraced gardens, woodland dog walk and farm land.

What To See and Do
Please call 0844 493 2144 if you would like more information regarding Nature Conservation at the property.

Joseph Enzer Plasterwork

The house features superb plasterwork by Joseph Enzer, forming the chief glory of the interior of Dun. Enzer is also noted for his work at Arniston House in Midlothian and Yester House in East Lothian. The allegorical programme is complex and invites overt and cryptic Jacobite interpretations – a kind of Jacobite Da Vinci Code.

Royal Connections

Lady Augusta Kennedy-Erskine was the daughter of King William IV and the beautiful actress Mrs Dorothy Jordan, and the House of Dun contains many royal mementos.

Gun and Rod Collection

The 19th Laird of Dun was a very keen sportsman, and two rooms have been assembled to illustrate the all-too-often unacknowledged importance that field sports played in the life of a country house. The gun room boasts a fine punt gun by Westley Richards and a seven-barrelled rifle by Samuel Nock amongst others in this fine collection.

Angus Handloom Weavers

The south carriage-house has been converted and leased to Mr Ian Dale, the proprietor of Angus Handloom Weavers and the last handloom linen weaver working in Britain. This trade, once so extensive on the east coast of England and Scotland, has now been replaced by machine looms. The workshop produces and sells a wide and attractive range of linens of traditional design, which Mr Dale also supplies to customers all over the world.
Contact: Mr Ian Dale, (01674) 810255

Miniature Model Theatre

The former Stillroom houses ‘Mr Riach’s Performing Theatre of Arts’, presented to the Trust in 1988 by Mr Timothy Brown of Gargunnock. Begun in the 1830s by Mr Brown’s great-grandfather, this miniature theatre provides a view of family entertainment in the days before gramophone, radio or television.

The Legend of the Sword in the Stone

Long ago, a good and loyal knight returned home to Angus from the Crusades. On his return, however, he learned to his horror that a fellow knight had cruelly deceived his wife into believing that he was dead and had married her, claiming this to be her husband's dying wish. The good knight and his dishonourable friend took up their swords, and at the crucial moment, when our hero seemed sure to lose his life, his true love took his sword and with it killed his enemy. The sword passed through the villain's body and lodged itself into a fir tree where it remained as a reminder of a time when justice was seen to be ‘Dun’. Feel free to test your knightly strength and see if you can dislodge the sword from the sculpture commemorating this famous local legend.

Ancestral Tourism
Recent archives found in the House contain family trees dating back to 1260, which have yet to be determined as authentic.

Fishing - River South Esk – salmon/sea-trout beat

These salmon and sea-trout fishings are available on the left and right banks of the River South Esk at Bridge of Dun. Marker posts divide the beat into six sections. The pools are known as ‘Viaduct’, ‘Thornbush’, ‘Midstream Flats’, ‘Hurl Pots’ and ‘March Pool’ . Spring tides can reach roughly halfway up the beat, which is approximately three-quarters of a mile long. The river is 25–35 metres wide, largely on a gravel bed, and much of it can be fished by wading. Two croys are positioned near to the eastern extremity on the north bank. A ghillie patrols the Trust’s Dun beat. Bailiffs from the South Esk District Salmon Fishery Board also visit the river from time to time.

• Salmon fishing season runs from 16 February to 31 October. Please contact the property for further details.