The Castle

Restoration

Sir Fitzroy Maclean, born in 1835, was brought up largely in Gibralter and Malta, where his father was serving with his regiment.

Family history says Sir Charles took his son and daughters on a holiday to Scotland in the 1870s and, from then on, Sir Fitzroy was determined to purchase and restore the castle. In 1911 he finally achieved his aim and bought the ruined castle and 300 acres from Mrs Guthrie, the widow of Mr Murray Guthrie, who had inherited the estate from an uncle. She also changed the name of her home, built in 1850, from Duart to Torosay.

Several architects produced drawings and plans for Sir Fitzroy and the ones chosen were those of Sir John Burnett, an eminent architect from Glasgow. Before the restoration could begin the castle had to be excavated and several small items, such as snuffing scissors and wine bottles were found. Most of these objects were apparently left by the soldiers who had been billeted at Duart.

Though some original features were sadly lost, on the whole the restoration was very sympathetic to the original building, and an Edwardian house, complete with all the offices considered necessary, was placed with great care into the ruins of the castle.

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