Scots Corner - Buchanan Castle

Scotland is famous for its castles and old mansions. Unfortunately not all of these historical buildings are in good repair.

This is Buchanan Castle (a mansion) on the outskirts of Drymen, Stirlingshire. "Tis a shame that such a pretty place has become so neglected. The roof was removed in the 1950's to avoid paying local taxes.
The original building burned down in 1852 and a new one was built by the 4th Duke of Montrose in 1854 on a different part of the estate. It was sold in 1925 after the death of the 5th Duke. During part of the 30's it was used as a hotel and for a while during WWII was used as a hospital.
The black and white photo is from about 1890.
When I still lived in the area I visited the grounds and areas of the building that were considered "safe". It was an interested place to explore and it saddened me to see the neglect of what had once been such a vibrant place.
Having said all that there is an up side. A golf course was suggested in 1935, designed in 1936, and then built on the site of the old mansion. Some of the surviving walls were incorporated into the clubhouse. My great grandfather was a member of the golf club and lived "down the street" from the mansion.