By Democrat reporter
Dumbarton’s MSP has called for greater investment in the town’s historic castle.
Dame Jackie Baillie asked the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, in the Holyrood chamber on Thursday.
She pressed him on whether the Scottish Government considered Dumbarton Castle an important cultural asset.
The Dumbarton-based Labour politician also queried why the site received much less money than sites such as Stirling and Edinburgh castles.
She told MSPs: “Dumbarton Castle doesn’t receive even a tenth of the money going to Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle.
“Scaffolding has been up for years and the castle is sometimes closed for no apparent reason. Its collection is scattered to other castles across Scotland.
“The castle’s importance in Scottish history is not in any doubt – home to Kings and Queens, including James the 4th of Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots – the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland.”
She added: “There is not a single mention of Dumbarton Castle in the Historic Environment Scotland Annual Report for 23/24, so what will the Cabinet Secretary do to ensure that Dumbarton Castle is restored to its former glory.”
Dame Jackie invited Mr Robertson to come to Dumbarton Castle on a visit.
Mr Robertson advised that Historic Environment Scotland, which oversees Scotland’s cultural and historical assets, has been allocated more than £74 million in the Scottish Government’s 2025/26 budget.
He also confirmed that he would be willing to take up the Labour politician’s invitation to visit Dumbarton Castle.
Dame Jackie Baillie, the French Prison at Dumbarton Castle and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson.
Dame Jackie also used a recent event staged by Historic Environment Scotland in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the need for greater investment in the castle.
The MSP outlined the disappointment of visitors who call at Dumbarton’s historic rock, only to find scaffolding in place and the castle closed.
She said the castle is integral to plans to regenerate the town – which includes West Dunbartonshire Council’s controversial £7.2 million project to transform Glencairn House into a library and museum – and could play a pivotal role in housing some of Dumbarton’s collection of artefacts.
Dame Jackie: “Dumbarton Castle is an important cultural and historical asset – both for Dumbarton and for the nation.
“Angus Robertson confirmed that the Scottish Government is aware of that, so it is now up to the Scottish Government to put its money where its mouth is and invest in the Rock.
“Currently, Dumbarton Castle receives less than a tenth of the funding allocated to Edinburgh Castle and its counterpart in Stirling.
“That needs to change, it is important that sites such as Dumbarton – which are often overlooked – receive the same support.”
During the debate at Holyrood, Angus Robertson told Dame Jackie: “The Scottish Government recognises Dumbarton Castle’s historical significance and its protection as a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Areas Act 1979.
“We are proud that Historic Environment Scotland are the public body that investigates, cares for and promotes Scotland’s historic environment, continues to look after the many important cultural assets in its care like Dumbarton Castle and this is why we’ve allocated more than £74 million pounds in the budget for 2025/26, for the invaluable ongoing work undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland.”
Dame Jackie replied: “Dumbarton Castle doesn’t receive even a tenth of the money going to Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle, scaffolding has been up for years and the castle is sometimes closed for no apparent reason.
“Its collection is scattered to other castles across Scotland. Its importance in Scottish history is not in any doubt – home to Kings and Queens, including James the 4th of Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots – the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland.”
“Yet, there is not a single mention of Dumbarton Castle in the Historic Environment Scotland annual report for 23/24, so what will the Cabinet Secretary do to ensure that Dumbarton Castle is restored to its former glory and I wonder, Presiding Officer, whether I could invite him to come on a visit.
Angus Robertson told MSPs: “Well, firstly, Jackie Baillie, is correct to highlight the importance of Dumbarton Castle – and for those interested, I can commend the excellent book ‘Vanished Kingdoms’ by Norman Davis, who dedicates a whole chapter to the Kingdom of the Rock Alclude – I’m happy to take up the invitation to the visit but given the importance of the invaluable work undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland, in relation to Dumbarton Castle and literally, hundreds of sites around the whole of the country, I hope that Jackie Baillie will vote for the budget early next year.”