Castle Menzies facts for kids
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_968718.jpg)
Castle Menzies is a historic castle in Scotland. It was the main home for the chiefs of Clan Menzies and the Menzies Baronets for over 500 years. You can find it near the village of Weem, close to Aberfeldy in the Highlands of Perthshire. It's also near where an older castle, Weem Castle, used to stand before it was destroyed around 1502.
History of Castle Menzies
This castle was built in the 1500s. It's a special type of castle called a Z-plan castle, which means it has a main rectangular building with towers at opposite corners. Because of its location, it played a part in the exciting and sometimes difficult history of the Highlands.
Above the first entrance, there's a special stone called a marriage stone. James Menzies put it there in 1371 to celebrate his marriage to Barbara Stewart.
In 1598, a dramatic event happened when John Dow MacWilliam broke into the castle. He was trying to free a prisoner named Donald Menzies from the castle's dungeons.
A famous historical figure, Bonnie Prince Charlie, stayed at the castle for two nights in 1746. He was on his way to the important battle of Culloden.
In 1840, a completely new part was added to the castle. It was designed by William Burn and built using stone from the same quarry.
From 1855 to 1858, Duleep Singh, who was the last maharajah (ruler) of the Sikh Empire, lived at Castle Menzies. He had been sent away from his home in Punjab in 1854. He lived there under the care of Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login, who rented the castle for him.
Sir Robert Menzies, who was the 7th Baronet, took over the estate in 1844. On April 21, 1878, a fire started in the castle's roof. A person passing by saw it and quickly raised the alarm. Sir Robert and Lady Menzies were not home, but they came back right away. Local people worked hard to control the fire, and by the time a fire engine arrived, it was almost out.
Sir Neil Menzies, the 8th Baronet, became the owner in 1903. He passed away in 1910 without any children to inherit the castle. In 1913, everything inside the house was sold at an auction. The next year, important historical papers were sold. One letter from Mary Queen of Scots, dated 1566, sold for a lot of money.
The castle and its large estate of 11,600 acres were finally sold in 1918. They were bought by Francis Willey, who later became Baron Barnby. After he passed away, his wife put the estate up for sale again in 1930.
Menzies Clan Society and Restoration
The Menzies Clan Society started working to restore the castle after 1957. They removed a very old and damaged part of the castle from the 1700s. However, a large ballroom from the Victorian era was kept.
Castle Menzies is a great example of how castles changed over time. It shows a mix of old, strong fortresses and newer, less defensible homes. The castle walls are made of rough stones, but the corners, towers, and window frames are made of beautifully carved blue stone. This strong stone was also used for the nearby Old Kirk of Weem, a church built by the Menzies family.
In 1971, the castle was officially recognized as a Category A listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. The castle grounds were also added to the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland in 1987.
Serious restoration work began in 1972. A big project costing £40,000 was started, with some money coming from a grant. This work took almost 10 years and allowed the castle to open its doors to visitors.
Later, in 1991, another grant of £135,900 helped with the final part of the restoration. This project cost £230,000 and focused on the Victorian west wing and creating the ballroom, now called "The Dewar Room."
The Menzies Charitable Trust was set up in 1994. Its job is to take care of the castle, its walled garden, and St Cuthbert's Old Kirk of Weem.
In front of the castle, there is a historic lifting stone. It's known as The Chieftains Stone or Menzies Stone. People can try to lift it! It weighs 115 kilograms (about 253 pounds). Even though it's not the heaviest lifting stone, its very round and smooth shape makes it a real challenge for strong people to lift.
See also
- Restoration of castles in Scotland
