Seat of The Chief
Hamilton Palace in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, had been the family's seat from 1695. Built by Duchess Anne, and her husband William Douglas, 3rd Duke of Hamilton, it had the distinction of being the largest non-royal residence in Europe, reaching its greatest extent under the 10th and the 11th dukes in the mid nineteenth century.
Excessive subsidence of the palace caused by the family's mines led to its condemnation and demolition in 1921. The 13th Duke then moved to Dungavel House, near Strathaven. This was where deputy-führer Rudolf Hess aimed to reach during his doomed peace mission to see the Douglas, 14th Duke of Hamilton in 1941.
In 1947, Dungavel was sold to the coal board, and then on to the government, who turned it into an open prison. Currently, it is the site of a controversial holding centre for asylum-seekers.
The family moved to Lennoxlove House in East Lothian, which remains the residence of the current Duke.
Read more about this topic: Clan Hamilton
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