Dunecht House, Category A listed stately home in Echt, Scotland.
Dunecht House is a stone-built stately home in Aberdeenshire with symmetrical facades and an Italianate tower that anchors the main structure. The residence contains a grand ballroom, chapel, and observatory, with 24 bedrooms distributed throughout its rooms and corridors.
The house was built in 1820 by architect John Smith in Grecian style, replacing an earlier mansion from 1705. The Earl of Crawford later remodeled it between 1855 and 1859, adding the distinctive Italianate tower that became a defining feature.
The residence reflects the tastes of 19th-century Scottish gentry through its decorated rooms and formal reception spaces. These areas reveal how the family entertained and maintained its social standing within the local nobility.
The estate covers large grounds with woodland and farming areas, so allow time for exploration and wear comfortable walking shoes. The location near Westhill offers good access, and the open landscape means visitors can move freely across much of the property.
In the 1880s, the body of the 25th Earl of Crawford was stolen from the burial vault and later discovered near a gravel pit in a baffling incident. This unusual event remains one of the most peculiar occurrences in the house's records.
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