Barnbougle Castle

After yesterday’s visit to the Chapel Royal at Holyrood in Edinburgh, our stereoscopic tour of Scotland continues in the company of photographer James Edward Ellam (1857-1920).

Today’s location is Barnbougle Castle, a 13th century structure rebuilt in the 1880s by the 5th Earl of Rosebery, a Prime Minster of the United Kingdom (1894-1895).

“Barnbougle Castle” by J.E. Ellam. © Author’s collection.

Rosebery wanted Barnbougle to be a retreat for study and contemplation, hence it boasted six libraries, a single bedroom and a barrel-vaulted Banqueting Hall where he practised his parliamentary speeches.

Verso of “Barnbougle Castle” by J.E. Ellam. © Author’s collection.

The caption in James’s distinctive handwriting adds that Barnbougle is “one of Lord Rosebery’s houses in Dalmeny Park.”

Overlooking the Firth of Forth, the castle occupies a coastal location which James places in the immediate foreground of his stereo.

With his camera placed at ground level, Barnbougle looms in the background, appearing even more formidable and grand.

Though it remained untouched after Rosebery’s death in 1929, Barnbougle has recently undergone a major renovation and is a popular wedding venue.

James’s stereo captures the castle in its heyday in the mid-1890s.    

Tomorrow: “Stirling Old Bridge.”

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3 responses to “Barnbougle Castle”

  1. John Macvean Avatar

    Hi Pressphotoman,
    My name is John Macvean, I just wanted to say congrats on the blog, it is fascinating. I also wanted to say a huge thank you for sharing the stereograph of Barnbougle Castle by J.E. Ellam from your collection. What a gift to see that.
    I just recently discovered that a 1st Cousin of mine, 3x removed, (Dr Richard Macvean Nicholson) drowned near the castle in a boating accident back in Jan 1910. His body was found the day after he went missing on the shoreline 600 meters from the castle. Reports at the time also stated that Lord Rosebery’s Houskeeper saw him in a flimsy boat he and a colleague had hired to go duck shooting, from a window in the castle. To see the castle and the shoreline is just amazing.
    I write a family history blog for my family, and I wonder if you would allow me to share your photo of the castle in my blog post about my cousin. I of course would reference it back to you and your site and credit it as being a J. E. Ellam photo.
    Kind Regards
    John Macvean
    Forster, New South Wales,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Pressphotoman Avatar

      Hi John.

      Thanks for your comment.
      Glad you enjoyed the blog and that you found Ellam’s stereo of Barnbougle Castle.
      Please do use it in your blogpost about your cousin (that’s quite a story) with the appropriate credit and site link as you suggest.
      David

      Liked by 1 person

      1. John Macvean Avatar

        Thanks very much David. Cheers John

        Liked by 1 person

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