Camperdown House

A cold day with bright spells.

Church this morning for the first Sunday of the New Year. We were encouraged to believe that God would do something new this year and to look out for it. Pastor had asked me to read the poem which I had written for the New Year (see my Jan Ist Blip) and it seemed to be very appropriate.

Afterwards, we had a drive through Camperdown Country Park and I saw that the large House was now able to be seen - the last time we were there it had hoardings all round the front.

The stately home is one of Dundee's glories. Situated 4 miles north-west of the city centre, it has been described as "at the very highest rank of Scottish country houses."

The House was erected by Admiral Duncan's son and heir, Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Duncan of Camperdown. It was constructed between 1824 to 1828 to designs by a leading Edinburgh architect, William Burn (1789-1870). Burn's finest design for a neo-classical mansion, it was built in a beautiful lemon white sandstone from Cullalo on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. The magnificent hexastyle (6 columns wide) Ionic portico on the short east side of the house is a perfect expression of the "Greek Revival" spirit.

There are plans to bring it back to some of its former glory, but as ever, money has to be found.

I trust that those of you have to go back to work this week will not find it too hard after all the festivities.