Collection MS 344 - The Scrimgeour Clan Association Archive (Scrymgeour)

The Scrimgeour Clan association was formed in 1971 with the intention, as identified in the Clan constitution, as amongst other things, of 'the cultivation and preservation of records and traditions bearing on the history of the Clan' and the protection of the lands and property associated with the Clan particularly to secure the suitable use of Dudhope Castle as a permanent token of the Clan's centuries of common history with the city of Dundee.'

The Clan itself has a long history going back to 1107, when Sir Alexander Carron was first granted the name of 'Skirmisher' (meaning 'hardy fighter', although it has been suggested that it could be from 'escimeur' French for 'swordsman') along with the hereditary title of Royal Standard (or Banner) Bearer. Under William Wallace's guardianship of the realm this was added to with the gift of lands in Angus and the bestowing of the Constableship of the castle of Dundee. During the Seventeenth Century the then Clan Chief was made Viscount of Dudhope, and after the Restoration the Earldom of Dundee was granted to the then Viscount, only for the line to appear to run out upon his death. This was later to be proved incorrect when Henry James Scrymgeour-Wedderburn petitioned Parliament in the 1970s for the restoration of the title and successfully brought the Earldom back into Scrimgeour hands.

Unfortunately he was not successful in winning back the lands associated with the title, but the Clan Association are strongly committed to maintaining links with their former properties, with a major aim being the restoration of Dudhope Castle (built by the Scrymgeour family in the 13th Century) and the establishment of a dedicated Scrymgeour room within the Castle for the use of the Clan Association.

The castle has changed hands many times, being initially the seat of the Scrymgeours, it was passed to the Maitlands, prior to being sold to John Graham of Claverhouse ('Bonnie Dundee') and then passed to the Douglas family. From then on the castle had a number of uses, being acquired by the local council in 1854, from recreational to being used as an army barracks, before eventually being acquired by the University of Abertay,
See also http://www.scrimgeourclan.org.uk/