Blackcraig Castle facts for kids
Blackcraig Castle is a beautiful old mansion in Perthshire, Scotland. It's near the towns of Ballintuim and Blairgowrie. The castle sits by the River Ardle. It was built in 1856. A famous Scottish artist and architect, Patrick Allan Fraser, designed it. Blackcraig Castle is known for its amazing Baronial style. It has been carefully fixed up recently. This makes it one of the best examples of this type of building in Scotland.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Early Beginnings
Before Blackcraig Castle was built, there was an older building. This was a tower house from the 1500s. It was likely owned by the Maxwell family. They owned the land around 1550.
Patrick Allan Fraser's Vision
In 1847, a man named Patrick Allan Fraser bought the Blackcraig estate. He was an artist and architect. He started to change the old tower house. In 1851, he added a hunting lodge next to it. He also built a bridgehouse and a gatehouse. The original tower house was three stories tall. Its walls were made of old stone. You can still see the difference between the old parts and the new parts. Patrick Allan Fraser kept working on Blackcraig Castle. He continued to add to it until the 1880s.
Later Years and Today
After Patrick Allan Fraser passed away in 1890, the castle became part of the Hospitalfield Arts Trust. Later, it was sold. For some years, it was used as a guest house. The current owners started fixing up Blackcraig Castle in 2013. They want to bring it back to its original beauty. They have also created two holiday apartments inside. These apartments are available to rent. The castle and its grounds are private. However, there are plans to open them for special events in the future.
The Blackcraig Bridgehouse
The Blackcraig bridgehouse is a special part of the estate. Patrick Allan Fraser also added it in the 1800s. It took him over 40 years to finish. This bridgehouse is a great example of its kind. It crosses the River Ardle near the castle.
