The castle
that one sees today is basically a neo-baronial mansion of 1862, designed by David Smart
and built for the Earl of Kinnoull. The entrance is located in the re-entrant tower, over
which are hay armorial panels.
If one walks to the east
façade, which overlooks the North Inch, one can make out the original castle, the
stonework not being so fine. Here one can see the turnpike stair, the thickness causing a
projection in the wall, corbelled out at first floor level. The ancient castle of
Balhousie was owned by the Eviots, but in 1625 was acquired by Francis Hay.
The army acquired the castle
after World War II and since 1962 has been the headquarters and regimental museum of the
Black Watch. There are seven museum rooms open to the public, crammed with all sorts of
memorabilia, medals, pictures and uniforms. |
