Torosay castle
Encyclopedia
Craignure
Craignure is a village and the main ferry port on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.The village is located around Craignure Bay, on Mull's east coast. It has a population of roughly 200 people....
on the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, in the Scottish Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
.
David Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
for John Campbell of Possil (see Carter-Campbell of Possil) in the Scottish Baronial style
Scottish baronial style
The Scottish Baronial style is part of the Gothic Revival architecture style, using stylistic elements and forms from castles, tower houses and mansions of the Gothic architecture period in Scotland, such as Craigievar Castle and Newark Castle, Port Glasgow. The revival style was popular from the...
, and completed in 1858. Torosay is surrounded by 12 acres (4.9 ha) of spectacular gardens including formal terraces laid out at the turn of the 20th century and attributed to Sir Robert Lorimer
Robert Lorimer
Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer was a prolific Scottish architect noted for his restoration work on historic houses and castles, and for promotion of the Arts and Crafts style.-Early life:...
. While remaining a family home, the castle and gardens are open to the public, being linked to the Craignure ferry terminal by the Isle of Mull Railway
Isle of Mull Railway
The Isle of Mull Railway is a gauge line, long, which ran from the ferry terminal at Craignure to Torosay Castle, on the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. Originally it was known as the Mull and West Highland Railway. The line opened in 1983 and closed in October 2010. A limited...
.
The garden's Statue Walk is made up of 19 statues in the style of Italian sculptor Antonio Bonazza
Antonio Bonazza
Antonio Bonazza was an Italian sculptor of the Rococo.Antonio was the son of Giovanni Bonazza, a prominent sculptor active in Padua , and member of a large family of sculptors. He may have been influenced by Orazio Marinali of Vicenza...
. The statues were acquired by then-owner Walter Murray Guthrie from a derelict garden near Milan and shipped to Scotland for next to nothing as ballast in a cargo ship.
John Campbell of Possil sold the castle and the estate to Arburthnot Charles Guthrie, a wealthy London businessman, in 1865. It served as his "getaway" and must have been ideal for that purpose, as the castle has over 60 rooms and is surrounded by an estate of over 12 acre (0.04856232 km²). The current owner is now the sixth generation of the Guthrie family to live in the castle. Following the sale of Guthrie Castle
Guthrie Castle
Guthrie Castle is a castle and country house in Angus, Scotland. It is located in the village of Guthrie, east of Forfar, and north-east of Dundee. The castle dates back to the 15th century, although much of the present building is of 19th century origin...
out of the Guthrie family, Torosay is now generally acknowledged as the seat for Clan Guthrie
Clan Guthrie
-Origins of the name:Although the surname Guthrie has several independent origins, the surname borne by the clan is almost certainly derives from the barony of the same name near Forfar...
. However, it may not be so for much longer as the Torosay Estate was recently put up for sale, at offers over £2,800,000.
The novelist Angela du Maurier
Angela du Maurier
Angela du Maurier was a novelist who had eleven books published in total, including two volumes of autobiography, It's Only the Sister and Old Maids Remember....
, older sister of Dame Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
, is said to have spent some time residing at Torosay after her close companion Olive Guthrie (Great Grandmother of the present owner) was left a widow by the death of her husband Walter.Other visitors during the 1930s included Winston Churchill and the King of Greece.
Champagne find
In July 2008 the then oldest bottle of Veuve ClicquotVeuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe...
champagne was discovered inside a sideboard
Sideboard
A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding...
in Torosay Castle. The 1893 bottle was in mint condition. It is believed to have been locked inside the dark sideboard since at least 1897. The champagne is now on display at the Veuve Clicquot visitor centre in Reims, France, and regarded as "priceless".