Tuesday 26 January 2021

Skulferatu #16 - Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh

 

Lying on the outskirts of Edinburgh, as you head North towards South Queensferry and Fife, sits Cammo Estate.  This was once a private estate, but was bequeathed to the National Trust and then given to Edinburgh Council.  It is now maintained by the council as a wilderness park.

 

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/buildings/35546507
Cammo House circa 1900

 

The remains of Cammo House, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
The remains of Cammo House

 

In the estate there are the remains of Cammo House.  This was built in 1693 for John Menzies and at that time had fourteen bedrooms, four public rooms, a smoking room, a billiards room, bathrooms, a kitchen, a wash-house, a laundry, cellars, larders, pantries and servants' accommodation.  A surrounding park and landscaped garden were then laid out around the house. 

 

The house went through several owners before being bought by the Clark family.  In 1909 David Bennet Clark divorced his wife Margaret Maitland-Tennent and she and her son Percival kept the house.  However, shortly after the divorce Margaret dismissed the staff and moved into a caravan with her son.  The house was left, still full of valuable paintings and antiques.  Over the years it was completely neglected and was broken into on numerous occasions.  During the break-ins it was vandalised and damaged, with various valuables also being stolen.  In 1955 Margaret died and the house was left to Percival.  He lived as a recluse with a pack of around thirty dogs, which were given a free run of the house.  On his death in 1975, the house and the estate were left to the National Trust.  In 1977 most of the house was destroyed by fire and the remains were later pulled down, leaving only the door frame and lower wall.  In 1980 the house and the estate were given to Edinburgh Council by the National Trust.

 

Cammo House is thought to have been the inspiration for ‘The House of Shaws’ in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped.

 

On the estate there is also the very picturesque Cammo Tower.  This is a 19th Century Water Tower built to supply water to Cammo House.

 

A view of Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
A view of Cammo Tower


Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
Cammo Tower


A view of Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
A view of Cammo Tower

 

On my wanders around the estate, I left a Skulferatu in the wall of Cammo Tower with a view of the nearby hill.

 

Skulferatu #16 at Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
Skulferatu #16

 

Skulferatu #16 at Cammo Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project
Skulferatu #16 in wall of Cammo Tower


Google Map
Google Map showing location of Skulferatu

 

The coordinates for the location of the Skulferatu are:

 

Latitude 55.954275

Longitude -3.321390