18th-century Inverary Castle in Argyll makes a statement not only with its prominent position on Loch Fyne but with the powerful decorative message it portrays as the ancestral seat of Clan Campbell. Over the centuries, the castle’s interior decoration has been shaped by clan wars (1300 medieval weapons alone decorate the 21m high hall), by devastating fires and a marriage in the 1950s between the 11th Duke of Argyll and heiress Margaret Duchess of Argyll that infamously ended in scandal.
History of Inverary Castle
There has been a castle on the site since 1400 but was rebuilt in 1746. The architectural design is based on an initial sketch by Sir John Vanbrugh but carried out after his death with designs by architects Roger Morris and *William Adam. The architectural style has since been described as a modern, baroque, Palladian and Gothic-style.
Both Morris and Adam died before the castle was finished. Adam’s sons, James and the eventually more famous Robert, brought the castle to completion, 43 years after the first stone was laid.
The castle we see today was born out of a fire in 1877, which resulted in the addition of the third floor and conical roofs on the corner towers.
One of the four corner turrets at Inverary Castle, designed in a revival gothic/scots baronial style of architecture. Photo: Charis White
Margaret Duchess of Argyll (married to the 11th Duke) made many positive changes to the infrastructure and decoration of the castle. She was also behind the decision to open up the castle to the public for the first time in 1953.
Sadly, in 1975, the castle was subject to yet another fire on the top floor which spread to the roof and the servants quarters in the attic. The fire is said to have been caused by faulty electrics in a cupboard. It caused extensive damage, most of which was water damage to ceilings and the tapestries (now restored) on the ground floor.
So much hard graft has gone on since 1975 to renovate the castle and the work continues with the 13th Duke of Argyll Torquhil and his wife Eleanor Duchess of Argyll who continue with the responsibility of its upkeep.
Inverary Castle as seen from the gardens in May 2025. Photo: Charis White
Capturing the castle
I am so struck by the curation and decorative storytelling of Inverary Castle with its armoury hall and contrasting feminine rooms with Adam painted ceilings, French furniture and tapestries.
I am also reminded how many Scottish castles were decorated in the 1970s and 1980s with sympathetic pastel shades that not only worked well with heritage furniture and paintings but added an often needed uplifting contrast to what can sometimes be short winter days and heavy weather in The Highlands.
Portrait of the 12th Duke of Argyll (1937 – 2001) by Andrew Festing in the hall of Inverary Castle. He was father to the current 13th Duke of Argyll Torquhil Ian Campbell. Security provided by flamboyantly adorned suit of armour. Photo: Charis White
Developed in keeping with architect Sir John Vanbrugh’s original sketch from 1720 and using a similar concept which he used for a 1300 piece collection of armoury at Inveraray Castle. The well top-lit dramatic Armoury Hall soars to 21 metres in height. Photo: Charis White
Quirky styling alongside an 18th century chair and classical bust that brings upstairs/downstairs storytelling to life. Bust of the 6th Duke of Argyll by Samuel Joseph of Edinburgh. Photo: Charis White
The state dining room with Waterford Crystal chandelier, c1830 is still used for occasions by the Campbell family and was hand-painted by French artists Girard and Guinand, and completed in 1784. The delicate tapestry dining chairs with gilding by Dupasquier and original Beauvais tapestry upholstery were commissioned by the 5th Duke on one of his visits to France in the 1780s. The 20-seat dining table, by Gillow of Lancaster dates from about 1800, the outstanding ormolu-mounted sideboards are from the late 18th century. The mirrors either end of the room elongate the room with optical illusion. Photo: Charis White
Copeland plate decorated with image of Inverary Castle, 1894 alongside beautiful shell design Barr Worcester porcelain cabinet cup, cover and stand circa 1890. Photo: Charis White
Handsome piece of crystal with thistle motif on the sideboard in the state dining room at Inverary Castle. Photo: Charis White
One of three c1830 Waterford crystal chandeliers in the Tapestry drawing room with. The Beauvais tapestries were designed for this room in the 1780s. The ceiling was designed by Robert Adam, son of architect William Adam and painted by French artist Girard. Photo: Charis White
There are several look-throughs on the top floor at Inverary Castle. A top line of arched windows floods the space with light. Photo: Charis White
Such a beautiful Anglo/Indian? desk with classical Greek key rail in the Victorian Room sitting on a Persian rug at Inverary Castle (these rugs are often a key element in heritage Scottish interiors) at Inverary Castle. Photo: Charis White
Oil painting of a Campbell clan soldier at Inverary Castle. Photo: Charis White
Campbell tartan needlepoint covered Victorian nursing chair matching the Ancient Campbell tartan vallance and curtains of the four-poster bed in the MacArthur bedroom, Inverary Castle. Photo: Charis White
The elaborately carved four-poster bed dressed with Ancient Campbell tartan in the MacArthur Bedroom is said to have been previously owned by the MacArthurs of Loch Awe. The castle says “Legend has it that a young Irish harpist was murdered by the Duke of Montrose’s men in 1644. The bed was moved to the present castle from the old Inverara Ty Castle and the boy’s ghost was so attached to the bed it travelled with it. When a member of the family is about to die, it is said that harp music is heard coming from the room.” Photo: Charis White
18th-century? coach most excellently upcycled into bedroom storage in the 1st floor Victorian Room at Inverary Castle, presented by the Duke of Sutherland to the 8th Duke of Argyll. I have seen another example of how coaches were saved as decoration with one used as a decorative wall panel at NT Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire. Photo: Charis White
A previous Duchess of Argyll’s bespoke tartan outfit. Photo: Charis White
Watercolour in display cabinet for the oil painting of Margaret Duchess of Argyll 1913 – 1993 (wife of the 11th Duke of Argyll) by the artist Sir James Gunn for the oil painting now in a private collection. The dress looks like an incredible chartreuse tulle. Sadly many images online of Margaret are licensed so I can’t share here but they show her in some exquisite couture. The story of her marriage is told in A Very British Scandal starring Claire Foy and was interested to read this page on art dealer Philip Mould’s picture archive. Photo: Charis White
Basement kitchen at Inverary Castle, Argyll. The original kitchen at Inveraray Castle was last used by the current Duke’s grandmother, Duchess Louise in the 1950s. The kitchen is unique with seven fireplaces for different methods of cooking, two stewing stoves, two baking ovens, a hot plate, boiling stove and a roasting fire with working spit which would have originally been operated by a fan in the chimney. Photo: Charis White
Inverary Castle, Argyll, May 2025. Photo: Charis White
*Scottish architect William Adam 1689 – 1748
It is exciting to hear that William Adam’s own 18th-century house ‘Mavisbank’ just south of Edinburgh has secured funding to be saved by The Landmark Trust and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. This aerial view and original drawing of ‘Mavisbank’ shows the house in an almost ruinous state but you can also see the Adam family trademark design of classical symmetry in this house. William Adam is buried in Greyfriars kirkyard in Edinburgh.
Image of Mavisbank by Scottish architect William Adam (1689-1748) from @simon.thurley
Original drawing of Scottish architect William Adam’s house ‘Mavisbank’. William Adam was father to Robert Adam.
Styling Box
Styling Box is my interior design service that offers bespoke designs and samples all wrapped in a beautiful and useful Styling Box. The perfect gift for you, for friends and family. Please get in touch if I can help you with a bespoke interior design.
Styling Box by Charis White. Styling and Photo: Charis White
Styling Box has prepared some samples in the spirit of Inverary Castle’s decoration. This colour palette is also inspired by the hues of the Scottish Cairngorm stone, yellow coastal lichen as well as Ancient Campbell tartan. A gorgeous linen print by Perthshire based Inchyra settles nicely amongst a new collection of neutral weave plains and stripes from Ian Mankin.
Decorating scheme in the spirit of Inverary Castle at Styling Box by Charis White. Top left: Coppice Plain Marine Blue 100% linen fabric, Ridge Stripe Permian Red 100% linen fabric; Bottom left (folded): Coppice Plain Clay 100% linen fabric; Hedgerow Herringbone Chanterelle 100% linen fabric; Coppice Plain Wheat Field 100% linen fabric; Bottom right: Hedgerow Herringbone Truffle 100% linen fabric, all NEW from Ian Mankin; Top Right: this Lewis & Wood wallpaper is no longer available but try Rothero Check by Joules at Wallpaper Direct; Plum Stripe Old Oak linen by Inchyra. Babouche paint swatch, Farrow and Ball. Styling and photo: Charis White
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading this. If you haven’t noticed already, there’s a bit of a Scottish highland theme on the blog this summer. The next post will be whisking you across the Cairngorms for a tour of Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire. Perfect for keeping you cool in a heatwave!
