Old Photograph Duns Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Duns Castle by Duns in the Borders of Scotland. The oldest part of this Scottish castle, the massive Norman Keep or Pele Tower, dates from 1320. The earlier house was transformed into a Gothic castle, from 1818 to 1822, by architect James Gillespie Graham. It is owned by the Laird, Alexander Hay of Duns and Drumelzier, a retired accountant. He and his wife, Aline, live at the castle. Alexander Hay, killed at the Battle of Waterloo, reputedly haunts the castle. James Gillespie Graham was born in Dunblane on 11 June 1776, the son of Malcolm Gillespie, a solicitor. He was christened as James Gillespie. Graham designed principally country houses and churches. In 1815 he married Margaret Ann Graham, daughter of a wealthy landowner, William Graham of Orchill in Perthshire. Together they had two daughters. In 1825, on the death of his wife's father, the couple inherited his large country estate, and James thereafter became known as James Gillespie Graham. His wife died in 1826, and he married again, to Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Major John Campbell of the 76th Regiment of Foot. He designed and built a house at 34 Albany Street in Edinburgh's New Town for himself and his wife and lived there from 1817 to 1833. He died in Edinburgh on 11 March 1855 after a four year illness


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