Balhousie Castle

Perth, United Kingdom

Balhousie Castle was built in 1631, although its origins are believed to go back a further three hundred years. It originally served as the seat of the Earls of Kinnoull, and stood within a walled enclosure containing subsidiary buildings, orchards etc., on a terrace overlooking the North Inch. After falling into neglect in the early 19th century, the Castle was 'restored' (in fact, virtually rebuilt), and extensively remodelled on a larger scale between 1862 and 1864 in the Scottish Baronial style by the architect David Smart. No original features survive except for parts of the original rubble walls on the east side.

The Regimental Trustees of the Black Watch bought Balhousie Castle in January 2009 and it became the Regimental Headquarters and Museum of the regiment. The museum displays the history of the regiment from 1739 to the present. The Black Watch Heritage Appeal was launched in September 2009 allowing the regiment to raise in excess of £3.2 million to develop Balhousie Castle to provide a permanent home for the museum and archive of The Black Watch.

The castle contains No Surrender, a painting by Frank Feller (1848 – 1908), showing the aftermath of the Battle of Magersfontein (11 December 1899) in the Second Boer War.

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Address

Hay St, Perth, United Kingdom
See all sites in Perth

Details

Founded: 1631
Category: Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


St John's Kirk (1 km)
Scone Abbey (2,2 km)
St Ninian's Cathedral (0,5 km)


St Giles' Cathedral (52,7 km)
Edinburgh Castle (52,7 km)
Edinburgh Old Town (52,7 km)
Greyfriars Kirk (53 km)
National Museum of Scotland (53 km)
Calton Hill (52,3 km)
National Monument of Scotland (52,3 km)
St Cuthbert's Church (52,5 km)
McManus Gallery (29,4 km)

User Reviews

Holly Musgrove (6 months ago)
Military museum with some interesting artefacts and quirky stories. The cafe has soy milk for drinks, but we didn't ask about food. Good way to spend a morning or afternoon (we went here in the morning and walked up Kinnoul Hill in the afternoon - a lovely day in all).
Richard Mailer (7 months ago)
Lovely cafe and shop. Social distancing measures are excellent and fantastic Black Watch Castle perspex screens! Oh, and the haggis roll was just great...
Danny Harrison (7 months ago)
Lovely set up, very interesting museum all together. Lovely cafe as well. Well worth a visit
lan Sturrock (9 months ago)
Was give a present for a breakfast and guided tour of this historic military tribute to the Black Watch. On entering the front door we were warmly greeted BY JIM. After being lead to our reserved table, the lovely lady told us our preorded breakfast was been prepared. Breakfast and cuppa was totally hot fresh and enjoyable. Thanks to the cook. After all wee top up of drinks, we were taken and introduced to Jim. Our tour guide. The tour was one of the best I have ever had. From the beginning to the end we had a fantastic insight to the Black Watch, Jim's knowledge was outstanding and given in a variety of different languages. The speed of the tour was perfect and totally informative and amazing. War is not a subject that suits all. But Jim's understanding of this subject and sense humanity was very much appreciated. This is a place that holds many stories and will take a few visits to complete to understand the importance and respect to all who have fallen. We left this place with a better understanding and sence of pride to those who gave their lives. Thank you all for the the dedication and time to allow us the name Black Watch.
Denise Watson (9 months ago)
Had a catch up with friends. Absolutely lovely meals and drinks. Service is superb even had the chef bringing our coffees out! Staff are very good, nothing is any bother for them. We will be back!
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Heraclea Lyncestis

Heraclea Lyncestis was an ancient Greek city in Macedon, ruled later by the Romans. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the middle of the 4th century BC. The city was named in honor of the mythological hero Heracles. The name Lynkestis originates from the name of the ancient kingdom, conquered by Philip, where the city was built.

Heraclea was a strategically important town during the Hellenistic period, as it was at the edge of Macedon"s border with Epirus to the west and Paeonia to the north, until the middle of the 2nd century BC, when the Romans conquered Macedon and destroyed its political power. The main Roman road in the area, Via Egnatia went through Heraclea, and Heraclea was an important stop. The prosperity of the city was maintained mainly due to this road.

The Roman emperor Hadrian built a theatre in the center of the town, on a hill, when many buildings in the Roman province of Macedonia were being restored. It began being used during the reign of Antoninus Pius. Inside the theatre there were three animal cages and in the western part a tunnel. The theatre went out of use during the late 4th century AD, when gladiator fights in the Roman Empire were banned, due to the spread of Christianity, the formulation of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the abandonment of, what was then perceived as, pagan rituals and entertainment.

Late Antiquity and Byzantine periods

In the early Byzantine period (4th to 6th centuries AD) Heraclea was an important episcopal centre. A small and a great basilica, the bishop"s residence, and a funerary basilica and the necropolis are some of the remains of this period. Three naves in the Great Basilica are covered with mosaics of very rich floral and figurative iconography; these well preserved mosaics are often regarded as fine examples of the early Christian art period.

The city was sacked by Ostrogoth/Visigoth forces, commanded by Theodoric the Great in 472 AD and again in 479 AD. It was restored in the late 5th and early 6th century. When an earthquake struck in 518 AD, the inhabitants of Heraclea gradually abandoned the city. Subsequently, at the eve of the 7th century, the Dragovites, a Slavic tribe pushed down from the north by the Avars, settled in the area. The last coin issue dates from ca. 585, which suggests that the city was finally captured by the Slavs. As result, in place of the deserted city theatre several huts were built.

The Episcopacy Residence was excavated between 1970 and 1975. The western part was discovered first and the southern side is near the town wall. The luxury rooms are located in the eastern part. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th rooms all have mosaic floors. Between the 3rd and 4th rooms there is a hole that led to the eastern entrance of the residence. The hole was purposefully created between the 4th and 6th century.

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