Dudhope Castle, Medieval tower house in Dundee, Scotland
Dudhope Castle is a category A listed stone castle in Dundee, Scotland, built on a hillside with an L-shaped floor plan, several stories, and thick walls. The building stands inside Dudhope Park, surrounded by open green space and recreational areas.
The Scrymgeour family built the original structure in the late 13th century after William Wallace appointed them as Hereditary Constables of Dundee. The building served military purposes for centuries before it was saved from demolition in the mid-20th century.
The castle is now part of Abertay University, and its old rooms serve as offices for staff and students who pass through them every day. The building sits inside a public park, so visitors can walk around the outside freely without entering a campus.
The castle is reached on foot through Dudhope Park, but the terrain is hilly and some paths near the building are steep. Wear sturdy shoes, as the ground around the structure can be uneven in places.
For a long period the castle was one of the oldest surviving structures in Scotland to remain in municipal ownership, meaning it belonged to the city rather than to a private noble family. This civic ownership is what eventually allowed it to be handed over to a university for educational use.
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