Stunning pictures show how nature has reclaimed derelict castle once home to the head of Tennent’s brewing empire
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Nature has reclaimed a derelict castle once home to the head of Tennent’s brewery – as stunning pictures reveal how trees, nettles and bracken now engulf the estate.
Dunalastair House in the Perthshire town of Pitlochry, Scotland, was built in 1859 by a local architect – but nearly 100 years later the once-majestic building fell into disuse.
Following a bout of vandalism in the 1960s opportunists stole the lead from the roof and the castle began to quickly fall into a state of decay.
It was a markedly different sight to the home as it was sold to Hugh Tennent in 1881 – the great-great grandson of the Wellpark Brewery founder – now known as Tennent’s Brewery, which produces the best-selling beer in Scotland.
Come the mid-20th century, deer fences were being erected around the property to keep out trespassers. Today, however, the imposing structure has been protected from view by something else entirely: mother nature.
Aerial images taken this summer show how trees of many shades of green and shrubbery have infiltrated nearly every empty room in the castle.
Parts of the structure lie broken while bits of grass can even be seen poking out of the windows.
The view of the front of the castle shows how it has even been obscured in parts by the overgrown bracken which hides it from outsiders.
The view of the front of the castle shows how it has even been obscured in parts by the overgrown bracken which hides the castle from outsiders
The abandoned Dunalastair House in Perthshire is now surrounded by nettles and bracken. It is around 18 miles from the town of Pitlochry
Trees – in various shades of green – have infiltrated the building as are beginning to fill up every single room in the castle
An aerial view also shows bits of broken castle as the once-majestic abode has now succumbed to nature
The castle was once a target for vandals and trespassers but nature seems to have now done a good job of keeping people out naturally
Shrubs can even be seen poking through the windows in a sign that no part of the building has been spared by mother nature
Plants are growing on the top of the castle ever since opportunists stole the lead roof from its top – kickstarting its process of decay
A sign reads: ‘Danger: Strictly no climbing into the ruins.’ It comes as the castle was previously a target for vandals in the 1960s
A birds eye view shows the full extent of the damage as trees of many different shades of green have taken over the structure entirely
The facade of the castle is still standing amid the ruins – as the building now appears to be more tree than it is brick and mortar
Dunalastair House lies in picturesque surroundings in the southern Highlands and was constructed by local architect Andrew Heiton. It was originally the home of General Sir John Macdonald, who commanded land forces in Scotland.
In 1881, Sir John’s son Alastair sold the property to Hugh Tennent and he owned the mansion for just nine years, until he passed away aged just 27.
During the Second World War, the home served as a school for the children of Polish refugees – but suffered a devastating fire which destroyed a valuable painting by John Everett Millais.
It fell into disuse by 1952, and its contents were sold at auction two years later.
The abandoned mansion became a popular target for vandals in the 1960s.
Many proposals to restore the mansion have been made, but none have succeeded due to the cost and the extent of the repairs needed.
