Dalswinton Estate - A History

Roman Times

Way back as far as Roman times, Dalswinton was on the map as one of the most northern Roman Encampments set up to protect a crossing on the River Nith. When the River is very low, you can still see the stonework of the ford situated just below The Policeman’s Pool. The Camp Headquarters were located at Bankhead Farm and, again, in a very dry period the outline of the ditches and walls becomes apparent.

The Border Reivers

Due to its close proximity to the border, Dalswinton served as an important stronghold during the times of various marauding characters. The most notable of these was the powerful Red Comyn, who lived here in the C13. He owned extensive land stretching from Dalswinton and was related to Robert the Bruce, who eventually murdered him in the famous incident in Greyfriars Church in Dumfries.

After his death, the lands passed to the Stewart family and and then, in 1650, to the Duke of Queensberry. The Estate was eventually purchased by Patrick Miller in the late C18 and it was he who created most of what you still see today.

Patrick Miller in the late C18

Patrick Miller was a successful industrialist from Edinburgh, who had made considerable money and who bought Dalswinton unseen in 1785. On his first visit, he was dismayed to find the place :“in the most miserable state of exhaustion and all the tenants in poverty”. Infact, we read on that he was: “so much disgusted that for eight or ten days, (he) then meant never to return to this country”. Luckily, for all of us, he did return and set about creating more or less what you still see now: the impressive main house, with the beautiful stable block situated below it and the walled garden; the village; the farms with the enclosed fields; all the cottages which were to house the farm workers and, finally, the loch. It was, perhaps, this for which he is most renowned, as it was on here that the first steamboat in Britain made its maiden voyage.

The Dalswinton Steamboat — 14th November 1788

Patrick Miller had always been interested in Naval Architecture and when he was approached by his children’s tutor, James Taylor to “try out the power of steam”, he obviously couldn’t resist the challenge and offered to sponsor William Symington, who was responsible for the providing the steam engine.

This was fitted into a vessel which had originally been built in 1785 as a “pleasure boat”. It measured 25’ x 7’, had twin hulls and two paddle wheels, which were turned by hand. The steam engine was connected to the wheels with ratchets and chains, launched onto the loch and however inefficiently it moved, the outcome was deemed successful, the vessel was definitely “put in motion by a steam engine” and the experiment “answered all Mr Miller’s expectations.”

The life size replica of the boat, recently restored, now sits by the Loch.

Dalswinton Today

Sadly Mr Miller’s son lost the family fortunes and after changing hands a couple of times Mr David Landale bought the Estate in 1919, having made his fortunes in Hong Kong trading with Jardine Matheson. It is his descendants who still live here and are actively involved in its management and evolution.