Balhousie Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Balhousie Castle

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Established	As a museum in 2009
Location	Perth, Scotland
Type	Regimental museum

Balhousie Castle is a historic building in Perth, Scotland. It is located on Hay Street, a short distance from the old medieval town. The castle was built in the 17th century.

History of Balhousie Castle

Early Years of the Castle

Balhousie Castle was built in 1631. However, some people believe that parts of the castle might be much older. Its history could go back another 300 years before the 1600s.

For a long time, the castle was the home of the Earls of Kinnoull. An Earl is a noble title, like a lord. The castle was part of a large estate. This estate had walls, other buildings, and even orchards. It was built on a raised area that looked over a grassy field called the North Inch.

Restoration and New Style

In the early 1800s, the castle started to fall apart. It was not being looked after properly. So, between 1862 and 1864, the castle was almost completely rebuilt. This was done by an architect named David Smart.

He rebuilt it in a style called Scottish Baronial. This style makes buildings look like old Scottish castles. Today, only small parts of the original stone walls on the east side remain.

Home of The Black Watch Museum

In January 2009, the people who manage the Black Watch regiment bought Balhousie Castle. The Black Watch is a famous Scottish army regiment. The castle then became the main office and museum for the regiment.

The museum shows the long history of The Black Watch. It covers their story from 1739 right up to today. In September 2009, a special fundraising effort began. It was called The Black Watch Heritage Appeal. This appeal raised over £3.2 million. This money helped to make Balhousie Castle a permanent home for the museum and its historical records.

Inside the castle, you can see a famous painting called No Surrender. It was painted by Frank Feller (1848–1908). The painting shows what happened after a battle called the Battle of Magersfontein. This battle took place on December 11, 1899, during the Second Boer War.

Gallery

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  The entrance to the castle, viewed through the main gate

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  A close-up of the castle's entrance

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  The castle's turrets

See also

• List of listed buildings in Perth, Scotland