Balmanno Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balmanno Castle |
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| United Kingdom | |
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Balmanno Castle
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| Coordinates | 56°19′29″N 3°23′06″W / 56.3247°N 3.3850°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Good |
| Site history | |
| Built | between 1570 and 1580 |
| Materials | Stone |
Balmanno Castle is a cool old tower house found in a small village called Dron, in Perthshire, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, between 1570 and 1580. This castle is special because it has a moat, which is a ditch filled with water around it. Part of the moat still has water today!
The castle was built for a man named George Auchinleck. He bought the land and then had this amazing house constructed. Today, Balmanno Castle has been updated and is in great shape. It is considered a very important historic building, known as a Category A listed building. The gardens around it are also famous and are part of the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
History of Balmanno Castle
Building the Castle
Balmanno Castle was first built around 1570. It was designed as an "L-plan" tower house. This means the building looks like the letter 'L' from above. George Auchinleck was the person who had it built. He wanted a strong and impressive home for his family.
Modern Changes and Restoration
Many years later, in 1915, a famous Scottish architect named Sir Robert Lorimer worked on the castle. He did a huge restoration project for William Millar, who owned ships in Glasgow. Mr. Millar wanted Balmanno Castle as his summer home.
Sir Robert Lorimer was very careful and did an amazing job. He added new parts to the outside of the castle. These additions created a courtyard, which is an open space surrounded by buildings. He also made sure the inside of the castle looked fantastic. He even used ideas from another famous Scottish palace, Holyrood Palace.
Lorimer didn't just fix the castle; he also furnished it completely. He designed some furniture himself and bought other pieces from all over the country. This made the castle feel very grand and complete.
After World War II, Balmanno Castle was sold. Since the 1950s, the Hon. James Michael Edward Bruce and his wife, Jean Coats, have lived there. Their family still lives in this historic castle today.
