Threave Gardens

One of the National Trust for Scotland’s most visited attractions, Threave Estate, Castle Douglas, covers 1,600 acres. The first image above shows the Patio Garden. 

Another view of the Patio Garden. Threave Estate was originally developed by William Gordon who bought the estate in 1867.

A Scottish thistle.

The Walled Garden. Prior to buying the estate, William Gordon had been living in a property called Ellerslie in Wallasey on the Wirral, which he had bought in 1858 for £5,250. Eleven years later Gordon, then living at the Threave Estate, disposed of the house and both pieces of land that came with it, for £5,000. The new owner was Charles Barber Greaves-Banning, Postmaster of Liverpool. 

Japanese Lantern, 

Threave House was occupied by William Gordon, a Liverpool businessman, and built between 1871 to 1873. The house was given to the National Trust for Scotland in 1948 by Major Alan Francis Gordon DSO MC who was formerly in the Irish Guards. A substantial bequest from the Major was also received by the Church on his death in November 1957, age 65, and the money was used for the building on the Memorial Hall, St. Ninian's, Castle Douglas.

Another view of Threave House.

A carved stone.

The pool with a sculpture of an Otter. 

A general view of the garden. The garden extends over 64 acres of the estate and is listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designated Landscapes in Scotland, a listing that is maintained by Historic Scotland.  

The Secret Garden.

Butterflies on the Buddliea.

The Sunken Garden.

Sculpture in the Sunken Garden.

And another.  

Japanese lantern. 

Fir cones. 

Sculpture in the garden.

The Woodland Garden. 

One more view of the Woodland Garden. 

Seat with a cat!

Belties!

(Thanks to our Roving Scotland Correspondent for all of the above images).