There has been a building on the site of the present house since at least 1590 when the site was marked as Dunens on Roy’s map of Scotland. By 1801 a double-fronted manse-style house or lodge is shown, and this building relates quite closely in form to the smaller house which is presently under-going renovation. By the late 1860s the Ordnance Survey produce the most accurate and detailed map on which the present shape of the castle is visible: it is essentially two buildings linked by a two-storey utility space, the original house having been elaborated by the Edinburgh-based architect Andrew Kerr, into a residence suitable for the Procurator Fiscal of Scotland.
Even in its present sorry state, the castle, approached from the north via Dunans bridge, offers an impressive and romantic spectacle. The franco-baronial style, mixed with elements of the more austere west coast vernacular, offers a massive and overwhelming presence, set upon its own ledge above the Chaol Ghleann ravine. First-time visitors often pause involuntarily as they drive onto the bridge, for in its setting Dunans Castle is a breath-taking vista.
To support the restoration of the castle via our titles or through the Dunans Rising tartan, please click here.
As Laird or Lady of Dunans Castle you will gain access to the Lairds’ website, where details of the restoration and progress towards it will be posted. You’ll be able to subscribe to the Lairds’ newsletter, and receive access to exclusive offers for Dunans Castle memorabilia, including the right to use the Lairds of Dunans Castle insignia.
Hi I. Want to buy a ladyship for my sisters 30th. I know I can do this through gift Republic. But Iv purchased other things through them (adopt a donkey an penguin) but Iv not had any communication from either so I wondered can I buy this directly from yourselves? My sister is married an has a daughter would I need to buy them titles too or can it just be my sister?
Many thanks for your help an advice in advance
Amy Dodd
Dear Amy, Yes, of course you can – all our decorative titles are at scottishlaird.co.uk, Thanks, Charles
Hi, my name is Lord Parker (plot N11010E9) i have just married to Lady Gille (plot N15116E1) would it be possible to have a new deed sent wirh her name as Lady sheena Heather Parker we woud be very please if it was…..thankyou
Dear Rolf,
Thank you for your correspondence. We do have a facility on our website to redraw a deed. If you visit http://www.scottishlaird.co.uk and select the ‘Redraw a Deed’ option then you will be able to order a new entitlement deed from us with the updated name details. Thank you and we hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
i was at your tour on friday and had a fantastic time thanx you again you said to get in touch with you about the news letter
I have written the Lord Lyon King of Arms and he does not recommend these so-called lairdships. You cannot use the title and he does not recommend their use. If you wish to make a donation to these people, it is your right. However, laird only means landlord and is not a real title. You would be better off to go to college and earn a degree. Now, that is a title worth something.
Dear Henry,
Thank you for your correspondence. The titles that we offer are decorative in nature and the reason that we sell them is to raise funds for the restoration of Dunans Castle. The Castle is a B listed structure that was very badly damaged by fire back in 2001. As it is B listed then there is no grant funding available to us and so we are using the land that we have on the estate to raise the initial stages of the money. We estimate that the total cost of the restoration will be between 5-7 million. We do advise customers that the titles are decorative and have no standing in law. We also offer tours of the estate where the Lords and Ladies can come and learn more about the site and the Scottish Laird project. I can assure you that this project is not a scam and we would kindly request that you do not post any further messages on our website suggesting that it is. If you would like to learn more about our project then you can contact me directly through help@scottishlaird.com or visit our Facebook page. Thank you for your understanding and I hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
I wanted to buy this for my dad – hes Polish and lives in Germany. I read on a website that you needed to live in Scotland, is that correct?
Hello, I have a lordship and I was wondering if I can renew my title it on my passport?
Many thanks, Shay
I think people are not understanding that you are not “buying a title”. My mother just purchased me my little square foot of land. She purchased this for me because I am very passionate about historic building preservation. Everything I will receive from her donation is clever and cute, but really, I am glad she made a contribution to the castle on my behalf. It looks beautiful, and perhaps one day I will be able to use my free tour, but I live very far away! Thank you for taking on this massive preservation effort.
Dear Yvonne,
Thank you for contacting us. There is no restriction on who can have one of our titles and so we would be happy to send one to your father. The easiest way to arrange this is to visit our website at http://www.scottishlaird.co.uk to view the full range of titles that we offer. We also have a partnership with Groupon and so you can receive the River package at a reduced cost, as long as Groupon are running the promotion at that time. If we can be of any further assistance then please email us directly at help@scottishlaird.com. Thank you and we hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
Dear Shay,
Thank you for contacting us. We do know that may of our Lords and Ladies have used the deed of entitlement to change details on their bank/credit cards and even their driving licence, however, as the titles are decorative, it is not possible to change a passport at the present time. Please also note that it is up to the relevant authority whether or not they will allow you to make the changes and it is not something that we can guarantee for you.
Thank you for your understanding and we hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
Dear Cassandra,
Thank you so much for your very kind correspondence. The vast majority of our Lords and Ladies do appreciate that what they are really doing is to help us restore Dunans Castle. We do have a small number who take the titles much more seriously, however, we are always very happy to explain how the titles and the restoration project works.
We do provide tours of the estate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between April and October. If you are able to join us for a tour then please contact me through help@scottishlaird.com and I will be happy to assist you further. Thank you and I hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
We wondering how do i get the email that i says i can get from inside the pack (plot number: 1004N13215E9)
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your correspondence. I notice that you have purchased your title through a company called Gift Republic. Gift Republic act as agents on our behalf and so, although the entitlement is the same, they will produce the documents from their side and send them directly to their customers. When you register for the title then it is done through their system and so those registration details will not work on the Lairds and Ladies site.
To access your Laird of Dunans email address, you will firstly have to register on our site at lairdsandladies.scottishlaird.com. When registering, please use the code ‘castlex1’ as this will mean that the first year of subscription is free of charge. You will be asked to complete payment details when registering. The reason we do this is so that the Lairds and Ladies who would like to make regular contributions to the restoration project can do so quickly and easily. Please note that you are under no obligation to make any payments after the first year of subscription has expired and you can simply cancel the payment arrangement at that time. Cancelling the arrangement will not affect your ability to use the site or the email address.
Once you have registered then please log in to the site and then select ‘Lairds & Ladies’, followed by ‘Dunans’ and then ‘Email for Lords’. You will then be able to set up your email account.
Thank you for your understanding and we hope to hear from you again very soon.
Colin Laird
I want to buy a decorative title of Lord for my brother- I was just wondering if with this title would he legally be able to put the title on his passport?
Thanks
Saw this in a USA gift cataglog. Want to get it for my daughter but if I do will she ACTUALLY own that square foot of property? Will there be taxes due after that? If I order it from your site how do I pay since you use pounds and we the dollar?
Thanks for your help.
Judy Self
Hi,
Can you advise if I purchase a title would I become Lord dean or would it be Mr Lord Dean on an official document such as a passport or driving licence?
Thanks
Hello, can someone please let me know if I bought a title can i use it on my bank cards and passport ect. I like the idea but need some advice
Thank you
Mr p may
What financial responsibilities come with owning the plot of land? For example are there any taxes or up keep charges.
Hi
I am interested in purchasing this for my partner’s Christmas this year and was wondering how long it takes for the relevant paperwork to be dispatched so that I have something to give to him in black and white on Christmas morning?
We recently stayed in Comlongon Castle in Clarencefield and he loved it so I am eager to have this in time if possible?
Many thanks and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Kim
After reading previous posts I am even more keen to buy one of your decretive titles. I think this is a fabulous way to raise funds to keep a beautiful building alive.
Hello,
I was given a lovely Christmas gift of becoming Lady Broon of Chaol Ghleann. I look forward to visiting my land at Dunans Castle and surrounding grounds later in the year.
Thank you for my gift hope to see you all soon xx
Hello Lairds and ladies of Dunans Castle, I just ordered my deed from the Gift Republic and gladly await it’s arrival. I have scottish ancestry on my mother’s side, my grandmother was a Bohannon. Although this is not a title of peerage or its equivalent. I am glad that I could connect with my ancestors in at least one small way. Good luck with the restoration of the castle, you have my support.
Hello! My darling daughter brought my a small portion of your lovely Scottish Estate for Mother’s Day this year. I would love to come for a tour and will probably be staying in the area from 5 – 7 July this year if that would be convenient. Thanks!
Firstly, I am incredibly impressed by what is being done here. It shows true innovation. My Clan are fortunate enough to know that our family seat is extremely safe in the hands of The National Trust for Scotland, who operate a working holiday scheme called Thistle Camps, with which I am registered.
Secondly, I am sorely disappointed by some of the comments above. It seems to me that some people do not understand the true spirit of what is going on here. Colin has done very well to repeatedly make things clear and yet there is both lack of understanding, and snobbery.
As a former Planning Lawyer, I know my way around a Title Deed. This is ‘Decorative’ and no one is saying otherwise. I would confirm to a previous commenter that that I worked bloody hard to get some parts of my name, both intellectually and in various shops in Glasgow. Others, I was born with. What is my exact title? That’s currently a matter for the Lord Lyon. But I am going to start using both of the Dundas titles immediately, and nothing else. Partly because I know my Postie really well and I can’t wait to see whether he snaps and says something. I will look forward to Amazon deliveries even more than I used to. There’s fun in this as a gift. I see if as a gift more often than a self-indulgence. My heir will be getting the teddy for his second birthday next month. And also because hopefully people might ask about the Castle.
As for what we may or not call ourselves, let me settle that right now. Under Scots Law you can call yourself what ever you like. You could raise a civil case or stand for Parliament under the name of Britney Spears or Micky Mouse. But you’ll never get a change to that on your passport.
I might choose to style myself as ‘of X’. I lived in X from 15 to 20ish, and attended the local comprehensive school, where I obtained ‘5 Straight A’s. There was some job-related to-ing and fro-ing and I still often stay for a night or more. I now live in an adjacent district, and write from my rented flat in a listed building, where it is freezing in April. My Gran’s flat in X, is, according to estate agents, in a ‘tradition sandstone tenement’. My family have occupied it since it was built by the Local Authority. I have, destitute, claimed state benefits whilst living in what is effectively the current family seat. Titles and wealth do not necessarily go hand in hand. Especially in Scotland.
At least one lady (small l) above understood that she had been gifted a small plot of land. I suggest that interested parties read up on square foot gardening and native plants and ask if there is scope to actually put something in your soil. Heredity landowners own land, not people. They know how to farm their land, it’s in their blood. What will fail, what will flourish, what experiments are worth undertaking. Look at what Prince Charles of Hanover has done at Highgrove. He was gardening organically before anyone even knew what that meant.
In my humble opinion, this is not about your passport, it’s about land conservation. And built heritage, namely the castle.
Has anyone else actually bought the book?
With kind regards,
Laura
(That will generally do.)
Hello:
I received a Become a Laird or Lady gift box as a Christmas gift. I registered it and received my deed and proof of title on 3 Jan 2016. My registration number is LAIRDU3A8GFEDN. The deed has been lost in a move. Is there any way it can be replaced?
Sincerely,
Caitlin Brown
Dear Caitlin,
Thank you for your correspondence. I am sorry to hear that the entitlement deed you received has been misplaced. I notice that you have received your title through a company called Gift Republic. Gift Republic act as agents on our behalf and, although the entitlement is the same, they will produce the documents from their side and send them directly to their customers. Unfortunately, we do not get access to their systems and so I would kindly request that you contact info@giftrepublic.com for further assistance at this time, quoting the registration number you received, LAIRDU3A8GFEDN.
Thank you for your understanding and I hope that you are able to get a new entitlement deed very soon.
Colin Laird