Ruskin Lane Consulting Autumn 2013 | Page 28

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Dalmoak House
The Brandy Castle of West Dunbartonshire

eyond a gate and lodge house,
and hidden from view by large
trees, is a large stone house,
fairly imposing in itself, yet
concealing a greater treasure.
This category A listed building, between
Dumbarton and Renton in West
Dunbartonshire, was built in 1866-69. The
listing text says it was for James Aitken,
but I understand it was by John his father,
possibly as a wedding present for his son
and his new wife. Monograms for them
are found throughout the house. My
source also corrects the spelling as ‘Aiken’.
James was known as a local brewer, but
the father also sold wine and spirits and
the nickname of Brandy Castle was
applied by the local community.
It was to change hands and, during the
Second World War, the Royal Air Force
used it as a local headquarters. At the end
of the war it accommodated homeless
families and later even cattle, becoming
rather derelict. But in the late 1960s, it
was restored by a new owner. Then in
1989, it became a nursing home, the role
that it has today.
The official listing describes it as “2storey, 5-bay, broad U-plan castellated
Tudor gothic mansion. Battered base
course with gunloop details; hoodmoulds;
crenellated parapet on billetted corbelling;
chamfered reveals; curved corners;
corbelled bartizans; rope moulding, 2storey, 5-bay, broad U-plan castellated
Tudor gothic mansion. Battered base

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course with gunloop details; hoodmoulds;
crenellated parapet on billetted corbelling;
chamfered reveals; curved corners;
corbelled bartizans; rope moulding”.
Listing descriptions can be quite a
mouthful, but it continues telling us that
the interior has “scagliola Corinthian
columns; coffered ceiling, modillioned
cornice; heavy decorative cornice, paired
brackets. Wooden Imperial stair”. The
stable building behind it has stepped
gables incorporating a doocot and it, as
well as the gate lodge, walled garden and
west gatepiers are listed separately.
The ceiling and hearths of the main
rooms are grand, but it is the stained glass
windows that are its real treasure. The
three round arched panels depict mythical
characters. The central one is of the Red
Hand of Ulster, indicating John Aiken's
origins. On each side stand legendary
figures in medieval armour, somewhat
menacing, somewhat theatrical. All of this
is set off within richly designed borders,
floral, geometric and architectural. As
elsewhere, the family initials appear in the
design. The detail is extraordinary.
The fine work is attributed to William
and James Kier. Michael Donnelly in his
book describes the firm of David Kier
(1802-64), their father, as perhaps the
most important of Glasgow's early stained
glass producers. Known collectively for
their extensive work on Glasgow
Cathedral, they were induced to install
Bavarian glass instead of British, with a

THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND

I

AUTUMN 2013

All images are © Jeremy Watson

Jeremy Watson, Chairman of the Strathclyde Group of the AHSS, has been investigating
hidden built heritage in West Dunbartonshire. Here he presents some of his findings.

resultant influence of a more pictorial and
detailed style on local stained glass design.
Perhaps the windows here express that
influence and prove what can be done
locally instead of importing stained glass.
This Dalmoak House window is also
thought to be the largest in a private
house in Scotland. The pictorial and
decorative detailing is outstanding and it
seems as if all the family members have
been represented in the entwining
monograms.
References:
• Michael Donnelly, Glasgow's Stained Glass,
(1981). Glasgow Museums and Galleries.
Reprinted 1985 by Smith Brothers (Kilmarnock)
Ltd.
• Listed building text
www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/
sc-45600-renton-dalmoak-house-cardross

And many thanks to “Lairich Rig” for comments
and references
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2773622