An 1831 engraving of the House
Earlier Houses: There was at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.
Built / Designed For: Charles Douglas, 6th Marquess of Queensberry
House & Family History: Kinmount is a 19th century Greek Revival house built for the Douglas family, marquesses of Queensberry. In 1896 John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry (1844–1900), sold Kinmount to Edward Brook, a wealthy English industrialist who had purchased the adjacent Hoddom Castle Estate in the 1870s. The 9th Marquess (see "Images" section) was the man who initiated the Marquess of Queensberry Rules that formed the basis of modern boxing, and, more infamously, as the person who brought down Oscar Wilde for gross indecency (sodomy) for having an affair with his son, Lord Alfred Douglas. Kinmount was used as a hospital during both World Wars and is today managed as a leisure estate.
Architect: Robert Smirke
Date: 1813-20Architect: Barbour & Bowie
Date: 1890sJohn Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. VI, 1823. Scotland, 1830.
Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
Author: Sayer, Michael
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
ISBN: 0859551970
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Category A
Park Listed: Listed
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Charles Douglas, 6th Marquess of Queensberry, 1820-37; John Douglas, 7th Marquess of Queensberry, 1837-56; Archibald William Douglas, 8th Marquess of Queensberry, 1856-58; John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, 1858-96; Douglas family from here 1633 until 1896. Edward Brook, late 19th century; Brook family here until 1982.
Current Ownership Type: Corporation
Primary Current Ownership Use: Holiday Rental
Ownership Details: Owned by Kinmount Leisure Ltd., which rents out holiday accommodation with access to outdoor sports. Kinmount Leisure is owned by a Brook family trust.
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 01461-700-486
Website: http://www.kinmountleisure.co.uk
Historic Houses Member: No