Castledown
Well-known member
I'd wanted to see Dunalastair ever since I discovered it in 'Scotland's Endangered Houses' (pretty much my bible). Finally made it there in August '08 and wow was I impressed. It's just like something out of a fairytale, complete with Rapunzel-esque tower.
History from 'Scotland's Endangered Houses':
The present house, also known as Mount Alexander, was erected in 1852 around the core of an older building for General Sir John Macdonald, by the Perth architectural firm of Andrew Heiton and Son. Dunalastair was requisitioned during the war and latterly used as a school for Polish refugees, who set fire to the dining room. It was vacated in 1952 and rapidly became a roofless shell. It was suggested Dunalastair should be sold to the Japanese and shipped over there for reconstruction like Milton-Lochart, luckily it still stands in its wooded surroundings amidst the wilderness of Rannoch Moor.
A footpath through the woods on the estate leads you to Dunalastair which sits on a raised site overlooking its once well-kept terraces. It was very overgrown and somewhat obscured by trees unfortunately, but the shell of the building seemed quite sound to me. I was really impressed with the architecture and setting, it would have been an amazing place to live when it was habitable.
The approach:
Balcony on the side elevation:
What can be seen of the front elevation:
Main Doorway with Coat of Arms:
Totally wrecked corridor:
Inside the great tower:
Looking towards the front door from the entrance hall:
One of the corner towers:
Total dereliction inside:
Side elevation:
The tower:
History from 'Scotland's Endangered Houses':
The present house, also known as Mount Alexander, was erected in 1852 around the core of an older building for General Sir John Macdonald, by the Perth architectural firm of Andrew Heiton and Son. Dunalastair was requisitioned during the war and latterly used as a school for Polish refugees, who set fire to the dining room. It was vacated in 1952 and rapidly became a roofless shell. It was suggested Dunalastair should be sold to the Japanese and shipped over there for reconstruction like Milton-Lochart, luckily it still stands in its wooded surroundings amidst the wilderness of Rannoch Moor.
A footpath through the woods on the estate leads you to Dunalastair which sits on a raised site overlooking its once well-kept terraces. It was very overgrown and somewhat obscured by trees unfortunately, but the shell of the building seemed quite sound to me. I was really impressed with the architecture and setting, it would have been an amazing place to live when it was habitable.
The approach:
Balcony on the side elevation:
What can be seen of the front elevation:
Main Doorway with Coat of Arms:
Totally wrecked corridor:
Inside the great tower:
Looking towards the front door from the entrance hall:
One of the corner towers:
Total dereliction inside:
Side elevation:
The tower:
Sal
