A Royal Rescue: Dumfries House

Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland is a forgotten Georgian gem, designed by Adam and furnished by Chippendale and others with stupendous interiors, fabulous contents, and gardens. It was acquired for the nation by a last-minute intervention by the then Charles, HRH The Prince of Wales. The story of its controversial rescue is both fascinating and entertaining.

Matthew Williams

Specialising in Victorian houses and design, Matthew's lectures and study days are lively, informative and amusing. With 30 years’ experience as Curator of one of Britain's finest Gothic Revival castles, Matthew is an experienced lecturer, writer and broadcaster. He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2019.
He trained as an art and architectural historian before undertaking postgraduate Museum Studies and lectures widely on the subject of design, and is especially interested in that of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
A recognised expert in the work of the designer William Burges, he was the Curator of Cardiff Castle in south Wales for many years and has published widely in art and architectural journals.