About Jordanstone
Find out about the history of Jordanstone Estate
The Story of Jordanstone
Our luxury cottages welcomed their first guest in 2017, but the estate has been hosting guests since 1882
1760
Admiral John Knight, a naval officer from Dundee, was awarded the home and surrounding land for services to the crown. After serving in both the French and American Revolutions, John was offered a position as a tutor to the young Prince William IV.
He subsequently Captained the ship that brought Caroline of Brunswick to London to marry King George IV. A resolute atheist, he refused to be buried on hallowed ground and is buried in a mausoleum on Jordanstone Estate.
He subsequently Captained the ship that brought Caroline of Brunswick to London to marry King George IV. A resolute atheist, he refused to be buried on hallowed ground and is buried in a mausoleum on Jordanstone Estate.
1892
Jordanstone Estate is purchased by James Archibald Duncan, a local man who had successfully traded sandbags from the Americas to the continent and built a considerable fortune along the way. Sir James Duncan was a keen lover of art and co-education and created the Duncans of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, which he also gifted with a sum of £60,000- which equates to approximately £10,000,000 today.
1893
Sir James Duncan had the house expanded to include the East Wing, with a snooker room and formal dining facilities. He died without issue in 1911, leaving the house to his then twelve-year old nephew, Sir James Alexander Lawson Duncan.
1913
Sir James Alexander Lawson Duncan hired the architect Sir Robert Lorrimer to remodel the estate, building the Factor’s Lodge in 1913 and extending the home further through the addition of the Ballroom, Library and Master’s Suite.
1974
Sir James Duncan sadly passed in 1974, leaving the home to his wife, Lady Duncan. Lady Duncan’s own claim to fame was as the voice of Larry the Lamb, hero of the classic 1950’s children’s radio series, Toytown.
She outlived the Baronet, and remained in residence at Jordanstone until she passed away in 2004.
She outlived the Baronet, and remained in residence at Jordanstone until she passed away in 2004.
2004
The home was sold in 2004 to the restoration architect Marcus Dean, who lovingly restored the beauty of Jordanstone estate.
2006
A surprising royal link: The Middletons rented Jordanstone House for a family Christmas celebration, which Kate Middleton attended. At the time, her relationship with Prince William was reportedly strained, as he had cancelled their holiday plans due to Royal family commitments. Of course, and Kate would later go on to marry William in 2011.
2017
In 2019, Marcus Dean put the estate up for sale. It was purchased by its current owner, Nathan Dornbrook, the Baron of Alyth. The Baron has refurbished the estate outbuildings and made several of them available for short term let.
