The Restoration of Dumfries House and Its Impact
Dumfries House was saved from sale and the dissolution of its contents in 2007 by the dramatic intervention of HRH Prince Charles. His particular concern was the priceless collection of Chippindale furniture and other items in the house but the entire 2000 acres estate was also purchased and became a property of the Prince’s Foundation, thus opening many opportunities for development and innovation. Since that time, the house and estate have become a major visitor attraction, offering diverse facilities and creating new employment in an area that had suffered since coal mining ended.
Pig Pens at Dumfries House
Farming, Skills Training, and Education at Dumfries Estate
Home Farm occupies 900 acres of the estate and is run as a commercial enterprise with cattle and sheep production as the main activities. The MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre was built close by and officially opened by the King in September 2023. In addition to excellent teaching rooms, it has a ‘training byre’ that enables the safe handling of farm animals. SRUC staff provided advice to architect Keith Ross on the design of this facility.
This is one of several centres on the estate dedicated to teaching and learning skills, both traditional and contemporary. These include horticulture, based in the five-acre walled garden, and cooking/hospitality based in the house, all contributing to a better understanding of the food chain from ‘farm to fork’. As expected, the farm is run on organic principles but because of its limited scale, it is difficult to maintain product identity through the supply chain and capitalize fully on its provenance. This is under active consideration.
The education activities of the Centre are targeted mostly at primary through to S2 level pupils who come on day visits from schools across the west and central belt of Scotland. The purpose is to introduce them (and teachers) to the realities of farming as a rewarding life, hopefully igniting interest and understanding that they will carry forward in new career paths. There are also residential facilities for stays of up to one week.
Chicken House at Dumfries House
Our Visit: A Guided Tour of the Estate and Its Philosophy
Alex Reynolds our host for the day
Our visit was hosted throughout by Alex Reynolds, who was appointed as Farming and Rural Skills Curriculum Manager in April 2024. After a brief introduction to the Centre, he escorted us through the animal housing area where we saw Aberdeen Angus, White Shorthorn, and Vaynol cattle. We then continued through the Valentin’s Training Farm where rare breeds of turkey, duck, and chickens can be easily viewed at close quarters by visiting groups. We were honored to see the famous Tamworth sow (Hilda), although sadly, she ignored us. Buildings here and elsewhere on the estate display a harmonious vernacular style and were constructed by groups of trainees who thus gained new skills.
After lunch, Alex gave a presentation about the King’s Foundation, which now has its headquarters at Dumfries House. He again emphasized some guiding principles of the educational activities undertaken by the Foundation, notably – the importance of skills-based learning, the role of ‘nature as a classroom’, and ‘respecting the past, building the future’. Alex kindly shared a copy of his presentation, which is available on the Scotia Club website. Further information is available on the excellent websites of Dumfries House and the King’s Foundation.
Conclusion of the Visit
For further reading on Dumfies house and our visit we are glad to share with you this report from Prof. Lorna Dawson at the Hutton Insitute.
The visit attracted 17 members who enjoyed a bright sunny day immersed in the philosophy and practice of the MacRobert Centre and the wider estate. Special thanks go to Alex for hosting us and to Bill Dingwall who proposed and facilitated the visit.
Report written for Scotia Agricultural Club by Mick Turner
