It was over ten years ago now that Riddlers, Disco Kitten and I made the epic drive in Disco's little KA to Craig Dunain. At the time it was said to be "The Cane Hill of Scotland".
Sadly, other than seeing the hall we were foiled by this man.
This years trip was on the back of a trip to Ben Nevis. The day after battling with horizontal snow and epic wind I drove up to see if we could attempt to see at least something of Craig Dunain before it is totally converted.
Before we reached the hospital we spotted this place, which was the Superintendent's house. It is a beautiful grand house, which has had very little modernization over the years despite an obvious change of use in more recent times.
It pretty much ticked every box for me... old wallpaper, nice plasterwork, tiled floors as well as period light fittings, switches and lead plumbing.
The sheer size of the house, coupled with servant pushes in most of the main rooms makes you think what a high position being in charge of an asylum must have been!
Servant bell push
THAT wallpaper!
View attachment 680889
We eventually ventured on to the hospital itself but I got distracted by a pile of soil behind some herras fencing which was glistening with broken pottery. I literally walked round the herras, and started rummaging. Just when it was bearing fruit a very angry little security leprechaun magically appeared from nowhere. Things got very heated very quickly and our angry little man began to say "I'm calling the police, this is dangerous, come out or I'LL COME AND GET YOU OUT!!"
At this point I figured we had seen all we were going to at Craig Dunain that day. Perhaps it will still be there when I am 40 and I can have another try....
Sadly, other than seeing the hall we were foiled by this man.
This years trip was on the back of a trip to Ben Nevis. The day after battling with horizontal snow and epic wind I drove up to see if we could attempt to see at least something of Craig Dunain before it is totally converted.
Before we reached the hospital we spotted this place, which was the Superintendent's house. It is a beautiful grand house, which has had very little modernization over the years despite an obvious change of use in more recent times.
It pretty much ticked every box for me... old wallpaper, nice plasterwork, tiled floors as well as period light fittings, switches and lead plumbing.
The sheer size of the house, coupled with servant pushes in most of the main rooms makes you think what a high position being in charge of an asylum must have been!
Servant bell push
THAT wallpaper!
View attachment 680889
We eventually ventured on to the hospital itself but I got distracted by a pile of soil behind some herras fencing which was glistening with broken pottery. I literally walked round the herras, and started rummaging. Just when it was bearing fruit a very angry little security leprechaun magically appeared from nowhere. Things got very heated very quickly and our angry little man began to say "I'm calling the police, this is dangerous, come out or I'LL COME AND GET YOU OUT!!"
At this point I figured we had seen all we were going to at Craig Dunain that day. Perhaps it will still be there when I am 40 and I can have another try....
