April 17, 2019 by David Gill

Dirleton Castle: guidebooks

Dirleton Castle © David Gill

J.S. Richardson prepared the first guidebook for Dirleton Castle 1934. A second edition appeared in 1950, and this continued as a blue guide into the 1970s. This consisted of a histroy: Lands of the Barony; the De Vaux Family; the castle during the Wars of Independence; the Halyburtons; the Ruthvens; the raid of Ruthven; the Gowrie Conspiracy; Ruthven building; furnishings and gardens; the Dirleton witches; Cromwell and the Moss-troopers. This was followed by a description. A foldout plan and sections were placed inside the back cover.

1934 (2nd ed. 1950; 7th impress. 1973)

Chris Tabraham revised Richardson’s guidebook in 1982. A new guidebook, by Tabraham, was published in 1995. This consists of two main sections: Guided Tour and History.

1995 (rev. ed. 2007)

April 17, 2019April 16, 2019 by David Gill

Leading Visitor Attractions 2018: National Trust

Waddesdon Manor © David Gill

The figures for Leading Visitor Attractions in 2018 have been published. The top National Trust sites are:

Giants Causeway [35]: 1,011,473 [+2.7%]
Clumber Park [59]: 657,443 [+4%]
Carrick-a-Rede [72]: 491,947 [+13%]
Attingham Park [73]: 484,581 [+4%]
Cliveden [74]: 483,754 [-1%]
Waddesdon Manor [77]: 466,158 [-0.86%]
Belton House [83]: 422,682 [-5%]
Stourhead [86]: 393,779 [+3%]
Fountains Abbey Estate [88]: 388,500 [-8%]
Calke Abbey [90]: 384,561 [-1%]
Mottisfont [92]: 376,043 [+3%]
Anglesey Abbey [93]: 370,506 [-5%]
Nymans Garden [99]: 354,502 [+4%]
Kingston Lacy [101]: 353,653 [+9%]
St Michael’s Mount [103]: 347,773 [-1%]
Polesden Lacey [104]: 347,149 [-2%]
Dunham Massey [110]: 310,093 [+7%]
Sheffield Park [111]: 306,692 [+8%]
Wimpole Estate [113]: 304,191 [-12%]
Tyntesfield [116]: 301,765 [-3%]
Hardwick Hall [119]: 285,379 [+2%]
Lanhydrock [120]: 273,149 [+4%]
Killerton [121]: 267,383 [+7%]
Bodnant Garden [125]: 254,227 [+1%]
Ickworth [126]: 254,073 [-7%]
Dyrham Park [127]: 251,631 [0%]
Chartwell [128]: 246,336 [+3%]
Quarry Bank [130]: 240,277 [-5%]
Corfe Castle [131]: 237,992 [-4%]
Wallington [132]: 236,825 [+1%]
Cragside Estate [133]: 236,672 [+3%]
Mount Stewart [137]: 226,577 [+4%]
Baddesley Clinton [140]: 221,703 [+1%]
Trelissick [141]: 214,034 [+7%]
Saltram [146]: 209,755 [+7%]
Stowe [147]: 208,644 [-1%]
Charlecote Park [148]: 208,289 [-5%]
Dunster Castle [150]: 204,625 [-2%]
Speke Hall [151]: 204,134 [+6%]
Shugborough Estate [152]: 203,652 [+27%]
Packwood House [153]: 202,114 [-8%]

Stowe © David Gill

April 16, 2019 by David Gill

ZSL Penguin Pool: Sir Ove Arup

Penguin Pool, ZSL © David Gill

The civil engineer Sir Ove Arup (1895–1988) was born on the 16 April [ODNB]. The penguin pool at ZSL is one of his notable works for forms part of the architectural heritage of the zoological gardens.

April 16, 2019 by David Gill

Leading Visitor Attractions 2018: English Heritage

IMG_3143-Edit

The figures for Leading Visitor Attractions in 2018 have been published. The top English Heritage sites are:

Stonehenge [20]: 1,555,868 [-1.7%]. 2017: 1,582,532 [+14.5%]
Dover Castle [95]: 365,462 [-3.8%]. 2017: 379,740 [+13.9%]
Osborne [112]: 304,927 [-1.3%]. 2017: 308,861 [+16.1%]
Tintagel Castle [135]: 230,584 [-6.3%]. 2017: 246,039 [+7.1%]
Carlisle Castle [158]: 177,247 [+285.4%]
Audley End House and Gardens [160]: 170,042 [-5.1%]. 2017: 179,167 [+8.1%]
Clifford’s Tower, York [163]: 154,701 [+0.4%]. 2017: 154,135 [+5.1%]
Whitby Abbey [165]: 147,566 [-11.3%]. 2017: 166,362 [+9.6%]
Kenwood [171]: 131,126 [-8.6%]. 2017: 143,490 [+6.8%]
Wrest Park [172]: 128,980 [-5.9%]. 2017: 137,131 [+10.3%]
Carisbrooke Castle [174]: 125,664 [-0.7%]. 2017: 126,584 [-0.3%]
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield [176]: 123,870 [+0.5%]. 2017: 123,220 [-10.6%]
Eltham Palace and Gardens [180]: 110,034 [+0.5%]. 2017: 109,501 [+12.5%]
Kenilworth Castle [181]: 110,012 [-6.8%]. 2017: 118,090 [+9.3%]
Housesteads Roman Fort [182]: 109,675 [+0.9%]. 2017: 108,660 [+6.5%]
Walmer Castle and Gardens [184]: 103,905 [-4.7%]. 2017: 109,005 [+18.8%]

Overall English Heritage seems to have been attracting fewer visitors during 2018.

Eltham Palace © David Gill

April 16, 2019April 17, 2019 by David Gill

Leading Visitor Attractions 2018: National Trust for Scotland

Broughton House © David Gill

The details of the Leading Visitor Attractions for 2018 are now available. The National Trust for Scotland locations are:

Glenfinnan [89]: 385,352 [-2.8%]. 2017: 396,448 [+57.8%]
Culzean Castle & Country Park [91]: 382,608 [+56.2%]. 2017: 244,930 [+11.6%]
Burns Birthplace Museum [122]: 266,36 [+62.1%]. 2017: 164,316 [+1.2%]
Brodie Castle [124]: 256,666 [+21.8%]
Glencoe [142]: 213,343 [+29.1%]
Culloden [143]: 213,343 [+10.9%]. 2017: 180,875 [+27.6%]
Crathes Castle [173]: 127,695 [+4.8%]. 2017: 121,841 [+23.7%]
Threave Castle [186]: 96,357 [+1.5%]
Inverewe Gardens [192]: 80,913 [-57.8%]. 2017: 191,951 [+109.6%]
Newhailes [199] 68,360 [+1168.7%]
Pollok House [205]: 57,172 [+5.1%]
Fyvie Castle [207]: 56,158 [-0.2%]
Drum Castle [208]: 50,421 [+8.3%]. 2017: 46,574 [-3%]
Falkland Palace [211]: 46,475 [-8.4%]. 2017: 50,726 [+15.1%]
Bannockburn [212]: 45,208 [-18.3%]. 2017: 55,347 [+7.9%]
Pitmedden Garden [213]: 41,694 [-3.1%]. 2017: 43,045 [+17.9%]
Brodick Castle & Country Park [216]: 39,708 [-10.4%]. 2017: 44,361 [-38.1%]
Georgian House [222]: 33,450 [-11.3%]
Ben Lawers Visitor Centre [229]: 24,728 [-12.3%]
Culross Palace [230]: 24,445 [+52.6%]
Craigievar Castle [232]: 19,702 [+15.6%]
Leith Hall [233]: 19,332 [-1.8%]
Tenement House [237]: 17,053 [-5.3%]
Kellie Castle [238]: 17,003 [+5.8%]
Broughton House & Garden [239]: 16,843 [+8.2%]
Greenbank Garden [240]: 16,327 [+2.4%]
Hill House [243]: 12,150 [-57.4%]. 2017: 28,518 [+6.2%]
Geilston Garden [244]: 12,110 [+17%]
Gladstones Land [245]: 11,670 [-3.2%]. 2017: 12,061 [-44.7%]

There is wider coverage of NTS in the ALVA figures for 2018. Bannockburn’s visitor numbers are a surprise given the increase in HES numbers for Stirling Castle.