Information AboutHamilton Palace |
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Hamilton Palace, the former seat of the Dukes Of Hamilton , was first built in 1695 and stood until its demolition in 1921 . It was located to the northeast of Hamilton in central Scotland . The palace is widely acknowledged as having been one of the grandest houses in Scotland. THE PALACE Built on the site of a 13th Century Tower House , the south front of Hamilton Palace was erected in 1695 by architect James Smith for William, 3rd Duke of Hamilton and his wife Duchess Anne. The North Front was completed 1842 by architect David Hamilton for Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton. The north front was 265 feet (81 m) long and 60 feet (18 m) high, adorned with a Corinthian portico of monolithic columns 25 feet (7.6 m) high. The state-rooms, which included stucco-work, were by Smith and William Adam . These held much fine furniture and by the mid-19th century housed the best collection of paintings in Scotland, including works by Peter Paul Rubens , Titian , Anthony Van Dyck , and other masters. Hamilton Palace stood at the centre of extensive parklands which, as the main axis, had a great north-south tree-lined avenue over three miles (5 km) in length. The layout was later developed, most notably by William Adam, who introduced Châtelherault hunting lodge into the south avenue in the High Parks where it commanded a broad vista northwards across the Low Parks. HAMILTON MAUSOLEUM In line with his grandiose enlargement of Hamilton Palace, Alexander, 10th Duke Of Hamilton , replaced his family burial vault which stood close to the east quarter of the palace in the aisle of the old and dilapidated collegiate church. Now the solitary remaining testament to the colossal scale and grandeur of the buildings which once stood in Hamilton Low Parks, Hamilton Palace Mausoleum is a remarkable, Roman-style domed structure of panelled masonry. Standing to an overall height of about 123 feet (37 m), it occupies a site some 650 feet (200 m) north of the site of Hamilton Palace. Begun after 1848, the building was evidently not fully completed until about 1857, five years after the death of the 10th Duke. The Duke's coffin was later removed after subsidence affected the mausoleum. DECLINE AND DEMOLITION The demise of Hamilton Palace was the result of various factors: large and ostentatious houses had fallen from fashion; the cost of upkeep was prohibitive; and nearby Coal Mine s resulted in dangerous Subsidence as the Coal beneath was removed. The decline began in the 1882 when art was sold off to raise funds by William, The 12th Duke , and continued when Alfred, The 13th Duke lent his home for use as a naval hospital during World War I . By the time it was returned in 1919, the fate of the house was sealed and following a massive sale of contents and fittings, it was demolished in 1921. The site of the Palace is now occupied by the Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds. Most of the Palace grounds were incorporated into Strathclyde Country Park. Some of the fittings, and photographs of the interior, can be viewed in the Low Parks Museum in Hamilton. EXTERNAL LINKS
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