Dunnottar House

[ikennedy]

Dunnottar House is very well known to Kennedy historians, and both the house and the Allardyce family are discussed in Michael Moss's book 'The magnificent castle of Culzean and the Kennedy family'. Sadly Lord William was a terrible gambler and left the estate burdened with debt and when Eleanor too died the family were forced to sell it off.

Iain Kennedy
www.kennedydna.com

[liverpool annie]

Looks two families had it  !! 

ALLARDICE OF NEW DUNNOTTAR

ALEXANDER ALLARDICE Esq. Of New Dunnottar, Mearns, made his fortune abroad and on his return to his native country he purchased the estate of Dunnottar. He left an only daughter and heiress, Eleanor Allardice who married, 1st May 1814, the Hon Archibald Lord Kennedy (died Earl of Cassilis 12th August 1832) and by her (who died 23rd November 1832) he left issue nine sons and one daughter. The Countess of Cassilis lived to see her patrimonial estate alienated to General Nathaniel Forbes of Auchenrach.

ARMS - Argent, a fesse wavy, gules between the three boars' heads couped, sable.

CREST - A demi-savage, a-frontee, wreathed, holding in his dexter hand a scimiter, proper. MOTTO -In defence of the distressed.

CHIEF SEAT - was Dunnottar House, a fine mansion closely embowered amid finely wooded and extensive grounds and gardens about a quarter of a mile west of Stonehaven.

http://www.allerdice.net/Documents/Allardice%20History%20Cowie1.htm

[Lass]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the latest information, every snippet is welcome.  Googling for Allardice and Dunnottar, I've come up with the following link: http://www.rootschat.com/links/04bv/

This suggests that the house was known as Kirkhill (if I'm reading it correctly) but I'm still frustrated by being unable to find any images.    Do you know of where I might find one Iain, being familiar with the history?

Lass x


edit: link shrunk!

[Lass]

Apologies all, no idea how to shorten that link 

Lass x

[liverpool annie]

Try this !!

http://www.rootschat.com/links/

Annie 

[Lass]

Thank you Annie, worked a treat! 

Lass x

[Isles]

Hallo again Lass.
While searching for a  website showing a photo or drawing of Dunnottar House I came across this which shows that someone is building or has built a house on the site of the original house.  No luck with a photo or drawing 

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/planning/apps/detail.asp?ref_no=APP/2007/4853

Isles.

[Lass]

Hi again Isles 

Thanks for that link, it's interesting to see that the planning app is to put a conservatory on an existing property.  I'm going to take a look and see if this is the site of the original house, or if perhaps it's slightly different and simply named Dunnottar House.  I have to say, from the planning diagram, it does look like it's the original site.  I just can't believe that there are no pictures or drawings out there in the land of the web (!) especially since the gardens particularly seem to have been held in high regard.  Grrrr!

Lass x

[ikennedy]

There is a picture of it in Moss's book but its not a very interesting one I'm afraid!

Iain Kennedy