Hi
You will find that the costume museum at Shambellie closed several years ago. However, there is an archive of Stewart of Shambellie papers in the Ewart Library Archives in Dumfries. They are quite extensive and worth examining.
Ian McClumpha
Really glad we went and were shown around when we did. A bit here about what has happened since the 2013 closure.
http://shambelliehouse.org/history-shambellie-houseYes, that Ewart Library Archives, at Dumfries, holds quite an interesting collection. I was interested in the history and the sad demise of Kenmure Castle, New Galloway, when a scrap metal dealer had his Office there.
Scrap Metal Dealer Purchasing the Castle + Lead on the Kenmure Castle Roof - should have = Alarm Bells Ringing!
The County Authority and Scottish Government failed to secure the building by a Listing Order. The scrap metal dealer had given an assurance he wouldn't demolish Kenmure Castle, so the Council did nothing to protect by Listing. The dealer didn't demolish the Castle. However the dealer, appeared to allow the stripping of the lead off the roof, water got in and the timbers went rotten and a once fine Castle House building, is now in ruin. Which must stand either upon, or near the site of the ancient original building.
When the Local Authority realised what was happening, they decided not to List the surviving intact part, as they feared they might have to make good the lead already removed from the roof. It seems there were two failed opportunities to List, originally and then failing to list the part where the roof was untouched.
We visited quite a few times, but it looked too dangerous to venture inside, due to older underground parts and the possibility of falling masonry. Very sad.
The old archives had the Sasines Register entries. The Ewart Library had some old 20th Century Sale Particulars, the Rate Roll for Kells, references in the Newspapers and the County Council Minutes, so I was able to trace the demise in a number of records and trace all the County Council Minutes, backward and forward.
Mark