Hamilton Palace by Toodle-oo (Alex McPherson and Julien Caine, Aberdeen, Scotland) скачать в хорошем качестве

Hamilton Palace by Toodle-oo (Alex McPherson and Julien Caine, Aberdeen, Scotland)

Most people, driving south from Glasgow, are completely unaware that a vast palace would have dominated the landscape at Hamilton. It was the larger than Buckingham Palace. Hamilton Palace was built during the 17th and 18th centuries by the Dukes of Hamilton. My Great Grandfather was employed as a hedger and gardener at the Palace, and my Grandfather (Douglas Ferguson) was a coal miner at Ferniegair Colliery, Hamilton whose workings most likely caused the subsidence at the Duke’s hunting lodge and stables (still standing) at Chatelherault Country Park. The 12th Duke’s great interests were racehorses, gambling and sailing. He disliked Hamilton Palace and instead stayed at Brodick Castle on Arran. He got hugely into debt (of around £200 million in today’s money) mainly through gambling and buying racehorses, and had to sell off the Hamilton Palace art collection and libraries, but still was deeply in debt. In 1889, the Duke leased out the mineral rights to allow coal mining under the Palace. By the time of the 13th Duke, Hamilton Palace had long ceased being a residence and was extremely costly to maintain. In 1915 it was being used as accommodation for soldiers and sailors injured in WWI. In 1919 t was decided it should be demolished, and this took place between 1921 and 1932. The site is now occupied by an Asda supermarket. However the Duke’s hunting lodge and stables at Chatelherault Country Park) have been beautifully restored, though the sloping floors (caused by subsidence) are very noticeable. Alex McPherson December 2024