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Inveraray Castle | |
County |
Argyll and Bute | |
How to get there |
19 miles north-east of Lochgiphead, off A83 | |
History
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When Sir Neil Campbell
gave his support to Robert the Bruce in 1296 the fortunes of the Campbell
clan were established. In the period following the family prospered
and played a important part in Scotland's history.
In 1648 their stronghold, Inveraray, was created a royal burgh. However, nothing remains of the original 15th century castle or the town that clustered around it. The Campbells became earls and then dukes of Argyll and in 1743 the 3rd duke employed Roger Morris to build a splendid new castle. The old town was demolished and another built further away from the new residence. The castle was one of the first to be built in the Gothic Revival style. The structure was sturdy with a central square tower and round towers at each corner. The castle's conical towers were added after a fire in 1877. Both the architect and the 3rd earl died before the completion of the castle and the 5th duke engaged John Adam and Robert Mylne to finish the work. It was John Adam who built the elegant Aray bridge carrying the road between the castle and the banks of Loch Fyne. The exterior of the castle gives no hint of the lavish splendour of the interior designed in the 1770s by Robert Mylne. There are a series of state rooms with splendid wall paintings and intricate plasterwork. The magnificent decor provides a backdrop for the castle's treasures including collections of tapestries, portraits, armoury and European and Oriental porcelain |
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