| Braemar Castle | |
|---|---|
| Braemar,Aberdeenshire, Scotland | |
 Braemar Castle | |
| Site information | |
| Website | https://www.braemarcastle.co.uk |
| Location | |
  Braemar Castle | |
| Coordinates | 57°00′53″N3°23′29″W / 57.0147°N 3.3914°W /57.0147; -3.3914 |
Braemar Castle is situated near the village ofBraemar inAberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a possession of the chief ofClan Farquharson and is leased to a local charitable foundation. It is open to the public.
From theLate Middle Ages, the castle was a stronghold of theEarls of Mar.[1] The present Braemar Castle was constructed in 1628 byJohn Erskine, Earl of Mar, as a hunting lodge and to counter the rising power of the Farquharsons,[2] replacing an older building, which was the successor of nearbyKindrochit Castle, which dates from the 11th centuryAD. The siting of Kindrochit Castle was based upon the strategic location of this site relative to historic crossings of theGrampianMounth.[3]
An important garrison after the1745 Jacobite rising, Braemar Castle had been attacked and burned byJohn Farquharson, theBlack Colonel ofInverey during theJacobite rising of 1689, to prevent it being used as a garrison by Government troops. In 1716 the castle was forfeited to the Crown following the Earl of Mar's leadership of the1715 Jacobite rising.[4] The castle and lands were purchased byJohn Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld but the building was left inruins until 1748 when it was leased to the government at a fee of £14 per year, now to serve as agarrison forHanoverian troops. From 1760 to 1806 the estate was used largely for commercial woodland, but on a massive scale, with James Farquharson of Invercauld planting 16 million fir trees and 2 millionlarch during this period.[5]
Rebuilding started under the command ofJohn Adam, Master Mason to theBoard of Ordnance.[2]
In 1831 the military garrison was withdrawn and the castle returned to the Farquharson clan. Restoration to provide a family home began under the 12th Laird of Invercauld who entertainedQueen Victoria there when she attended theBraemar Gatherings in the grounds of the castle. In 1800 Braemar Castle was documented to have itsmoat intact.[6]
It has also featured in the video to Andy Stewart's "A Scottish Soldier".
Since 2006 the castle has been leased to the local community. It is run on behalf of the community by local charity, Braemar Community Ltd and staffed by local volunteers, and an ambitious restoration programme has been started. It reopened to the public in 2008.[7]
The building is a five-storeyL-plancastle with a star-shapedcurtain wall of six sharp-angled salients, and with three storey angleturrets. The central tower enfolds a round stair tower and is built ofgranite covered withharl. The main entrance retains an original ironyett, and many of the windows are protected by heavy iron grilles.
On the ground floor are stone-vaulted rooms which contained the guardroom, ammunition store and original kitchen. These are built out into the salients of the outer wall, and in Victorian times a second kitchen was added adjoining the staff rooms. In the floor of a passage, an iron grill provided access to theLaird's Pit, a dark hole used as a dungeon.
On each of the upper floors a large room and a small room occupied the two arms of the tower. On the first floor are theDining Room andMorning Room, whilst on the floor above is theLaird's Day Room, entered by a curved door. Opposite is theRose Room, and between the two is a small bathroom installed in 1901. In the main wing at this level is theDrawing Room, containing graffiti incised on the window shutters by government troops. The words"John Chestnut, Sergeant, 1797" can be clearly seen. On the third floor is theFour Poster Bedroom, whilst on the fourth floor lie theLadies Guest Bedroom,Gentlemans Guest Bedroom and thePrincipal Bedroom. These upper floors were used by the Farquharson family in the latter years of their visits.[2]
Settlements and places of interest inMarr, Aberdeenshire | ||
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