Doune

Doune Castle seen from the arch bridge over the River Teith. The town of Doune is situated to the left, out of the shot.

Doune (Gaelic: An Dùn, 'the fort') is a burgh in the district of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. Doune's postal address places the town in Perthshire, although geographically it lies within the District of Stirling, and administratively Doune is under the control of Stirling Council. Doune is assigned Falkirk postcodes starting 'FK'.

History

The town is dominated by Doune Castle, built in the late-14th century. Architecturally it is a mixture of fortress and manor house.

Doune was also famous for its manufacture of pistols, but this eventually ceased due to the competition of manufacturers in, for example, Birmingham where production was cheaper. Today, these pistols are collected and can be found in major museums, including the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Allegedly a Doune pistol fired the first shot of the American War of Independence.^[1]

Land east of Doune was owned by the Stirling of Keir family (who still own a lot of the land around Keir House, but sold the house itself), and the current owner of the Keir Estates is the politician, Archie Stirling. One member of the family, SAS founder David Stirling, is memorialised at a monument on the Keir land near Doune known as the "Hill o' Rou".

Photograph and reconstruction drawing of the bread oven, Doune, Roman Fort

Archaeology

The remains of a Roman fort were excavated by Headland Archaeology.^[2] Three ditches and the base of a rampart were investigated comprising part of the defense works. Set into the back of the rampart five circular stone bread ovens were located. Running behind the ovens a gravel track was interpreted as the intervallum way (one of the internal roads of the fort). The foundations of a building that it is thought served as the fort’s hospital were also uncovered. Fragments of samian ware and amphorae were recovered dating to the Flavian period and the first Roman incursion into Scotland (from AD 79 to mid AD 80s).

Other information

Doune Speed Hillclimb is the most prestigious hillclimb course in Scotland, and hosts a round of the British Hill Climb Championship each year.

The town used to be served by Doune railway station.

A few scenes from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail were filmed at Doune Castle.

References

1. ^ "Doune Pistol Factory". Callander Enterprise. http://www.incallander.co.uk/cal-todo.htm#Doune%20Pistol%20Factory. Retrieved 18 April 2010. 
2. ^ Moloney, C. (1999) 'Doune Primary School, Doune (Kilmadock Parish), Roman Fort, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland p. 87

External links

• Gazetteer for Doune
• grid reference NN735015
• Doune Roman fort

Coordinates: 56°11′24″N 4°03′11″W / 56.19°N 4.053°W / 56.19; -4.053