Cally Palace
Encyclopedia
Cally Palace, formerly known as Cally House, is an 18th-century country house in Dumfries & Galloway, in the south west of Scotland
. The house is now a four star
country house hotel and golf resort. It is located 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 mi) south of Gatehouse of Fleet
.
and of the 9th Earl of Eglinton
. Murray inherited the land on the death, in 1751, of his father, who had consulted William Adam about a new house at Cally in the 1740s, although nothing had then been done. While travelling in Rome in the mid 1750s, James Murray met the young architect Robert Mylne
, who prepared the first plans while still abroad. The building was complete by 1763, and over 1000 acres (404.7 ha) of grounds were laid out with orchards and pleasure gardens, as well as hothouses and deer parks.
Murray later served as MP for the constituency
of Wigtownshire
from 1762 to 1768, as well as serving as Receiver General
for Scotland in 1783. His grandson, Alexander Murray, made alterations to the house, including the portico
by John Buonarotti Papworth
. Further alterations were made in the 1850s, and the grounds were landscaped by William Dewar.
In the later 19th century and early 20th century, the house was let out, and the last tenant was the Maharaja of Jind
who lived there between 1930 and 1932.
Elizabeth Murray Usher, who inherited Cally in 1924, sold the house and grounds to the Forestry Commission
in 1933. The house and 100 acres (40.5 ha) was sold on and converted into a hotel, which opened in 1934. It was used as a residential school for evacuees from Glasgow during the Second World War, reopening in the later 1940s. The hotel has been owned by Trust House Forte and North West Hotels Ltd, and is now part of the McMillan Hotels group. The Forestry Commission planted around 525 acres (212.5 ha) of the estate.
, the national listing of significant gardens. The estate is also within the Gatehouse of Fleet conservation area
and the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The house is now a four star
Star (classification)
Stars are often used as symbols for classification purposes. They are used by reviewers for ranking things such as movies, TV shows, restaurants, and hotels. For example, one to five stars is commonly employed to categorize hotels.-Restaurant ratings:...
country house hotel and golf resort. It is located 1.2 kilometre (0.745647283979768 mi) south of Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse of Fleet is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, which has existed since the mid-18th century, although the area has been inhabited since much earlier...
.
History
Cally House was commissioned by James Murray of Broughton, a grandson of the 5th Earl of GallowayEarl of Galloway
Earl of Galloway is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1623 for Alexander Stewart, 1st Lord Garlies, with remainder to his heirs male bearing the name and arms of Stewart. He had already been created Lord Garlies in the Peerage of Scotland in 1607, with remainder to the heirs...
and of the 9th Earl of Eglinton
Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton
Alexander Seton Montgomerie was the ninth Earl of Eglinton in the Peerage of Scotland.Although from a traditionally Roman Catholic family, Eglinton became one of the first firmly Presbyterian nobles. During the English Civil War he was colonel of horse in the army supporting the English...
. Murray inherited the land on the death, in 1751, of his father, who had consulted William Adam about a new house at Cally in the 1740s, although nothing had then been done. While travelling in Rome in the mid 1750s, James Murray met the young architect Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne was a Scottish architect and civil engineer, particularly remembered for his design for Blackfriars Bridge in London. Born and raised in Edinburgh, he travelled to Europe as a young man, studying architecture in Rome under Piranesi...
, who prepared the first plans while still abroad. The building was complete by 1763, and over 1000 acres (404.7 ha) of grounds were laid out with orchards and pleasure gardens, as well as hothouses and deer parks.
Murray later served as MP for the constituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigtownshire, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was represented by one Member of Parliament....
from 1762 to 1768, as well as serving as Receiver General
Receiver General
A Receiver General is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. Receiver General is an alternative title for a Treasurer.-See also:...
for Scotland in 1783. His grandson, Alexander Murray, made alterations to the house, including the portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
by John Buonarotti Papworth
John Buonarotti Papworth
John Buonarotti Papworth was a prolific architect, artist and a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects....
. Further alterations were made in the 1850s, and the grounds were landscaped by William Dewar.
In the later 19th century and early 20th century, the house was let out, and the last tenant was the Maharaja of Jind
Jind
Jind is a town in Jind District, Harayana state, India.It is one of the oldest districts of Harayana. It is one of the first Sikh Kingdoms. It lies in central Haryana and is the fourth district of the Jat belt .The city is beautiful...
who lived there between 1930 and 1932.
Elizabeth Murray Usher, who inherited Cally in 1924, sold the house and grounds to the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
in 1933. The house and 100 acres (40.5 ha) was sold on and converted into a hotel, which opened in 1934. It was used as a residential school for evacuees from Glasgow during the Second World War, reopening in the later 1940s. The hotel has been owned by Trust House Forte and North West Hotels Ltd, and is now part of the McMillan Hotels group. The Forestry Commission planted around 525 acres (212.5 ha) of the estate.
The house and grounds
The house is of significant architectural value, and is protected as a category A listed building. The grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in ScotlandInventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland is a listing of gardens and designed landscapes of national artistic and/or historical significance, in Scotland. The Inventory was originally compiled in 1987, although it is a continually evolving list...
, the national listing of significant gardens. The estate is also within the Gatehouse of Fleet conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
and the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area
National Scenic Area is a designation for areas of natural beauty used by more than one nation.* National Scenic Area * National Scenic Area * National scenic areas in Taiwan* National Scenic Area...
.
External links
- CALLY HOUSE (1942) (archive film about the wartime evacuation school at Cally House - from the National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE)