Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle | |
---|---|
Prince Albert | |
Other designers | John Thomas (Sculptor) |
Main contractor | M Stuart |
Website | |
www | |
Listed Building – Category A | |
Official name | Balmoral Castle with Parterre and Terrace Walls |
Designated | 12 March 2010 |
Reference no. | LB51460[1] |
Official name | Balmoral Castle |
Designated | 1 July 1987 |
Reference no. | GDL00045[2] |
Balmoral Castle (/bælˈmɒrəl/) is a large estate house in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and a residence of the British royal family. It is near the village of Crathie, 9 miles (14 km) west of Ballater and 50 miles (80 km) west of Aberdeen.
The estate and its original castle were bought from the
The castle is an example of
The Balmoral Estate has been added to by successive members of the royal family, and now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares). It is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, sheep and ponies.
Etymology
Balmoral is pronounced
History
King
In 1662, the estate passed to Charles Farquharson of
Royal acquisition
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first visited Scotland in 1842, five years after she acceded to the throne and two years after their marriage. During this first visit they stayed at
Sir Robert Gordon died in 1847 and his lease on Balmoral reverted to Lord Aberdeen. In February 1848 an arrangement was made that Prince Albert would acquire the remaining part of the lease on Balmoral, together with its furniture and staff, without having seen the property first.[12]: 5
The royal couple arrived for their first visit on 8 September 1848.[13] Victoria found the house "small but pretty",[14] and recorded in her diary that: "All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils".[9] The surrounding hilly landscape reminded them of Thuringia, Albert's homeland in Germany.[12]: 5
The house was soon confirmed to be too small, and in 1848, John and William Smith were commissioned to design new offices, cottages, and other ancillary buildings.[15] Improvements to the woodlands, gardens and estate buildings were also being made, with the assistance of the landscape gardener James Beattie, and possibly the painter James Giles.[2]
Major additions to the old house were considered in 1849,
The sale was completed in June 1852, the price being £32,000 (equivalent to £3,700,000 in 2021) and Prince Albert formally took possession that autumn.[2][12]: 8 [18] The neighbouring estate of Birkhall was bought at the same time, and the lease on Abergeldie Castle secured as well. To mark the occasion, the Purchase Cairn was erected in the hills overlooking the castle, the first of many cairns on the estate.[19]
Construction of the new house
Space was needed for the growing family of Victoria and Albert, for additional staff, and for accommodation for visiting friends and official visitors such as cabinet members. Thus extension of the existing structure would not provide enough space, and a larger house needed to be built. In early 1852, this was commissioned from William Smith.[18] The son of John Smith (who designed the 1830 alterations of the original castle), William Smith, was the city architect of Aberdeen from 1852. On learning of the commission, William Burn sought an interview with the prince, apparently to complain that Smith previously had plagiarised his work, however, Burn was unsuccessful in depriving Smith of the appointment.[20] William Smith's designs were amended by Prince Albert, who took a close interest in details such as turrets and windows.[21]
Construction began in mid-1853, on a site some 100 yards (90 metres) northwest of the original building that was considered to have a better vista.
The new house was completed in 1856, and the old castle was later demolished.[2] By autumn 1857, a new bridge across the Dee, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel linking Crathie and Balmoral was finished.[12]: 11
Balmoral Castle is built from
However, the purchase of a Scottish estate by Victoria and Albert and their adoption of a Scottish architectural style were influential for the ongoing revival of
Victoria and Albert at Balmoral
Even before the completion of the new house, the pattern of the life of the royal couple in the Highlands was soon established. Victoria took long walks of up to four hours daily and Albert spent many days hunting deer and game. In 1849, diarist Charles Greville described their life at Balmoral as resembling that of gentry rather than royalty.[29] Victoria began a policy of commissioning artists to record Balmoral, its surroundings, and its staff. Over the years, numerous painters were employed at Balmoral, including Edwin and Charles Landseer, and Carl Haag.[30]
During the 1850s, new plantations were established near the house and exotic
Following Albert's death, Victoria spent increasing periods at Balmoral, staying for as long as four months a year during early summer and autumn.[clarification needed] She placed numerous mementos of Albert on display.[32]
Few further changes were made to the grounds, with the exception of some alterations to mountain paths, the erection of various cairns and monuments, and the addition of some cottages (Karim Cottage and Baile na Coille) built for senior staff.[2][12]: 18 It was during this period that Victoria began to depend on her servant, John Brown. He was a local ghillie from Crathie, who became one of her closest companions during her long mourning.[12]: 23
In 1887, Balmoral Castle was the birthplace of Victoria Eugenie, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was born to Princess Beatrice, the fifth daughter of Victoria and Albert. Victoria Eugenie became queen of Spain when she married King Alfonso XIII in 1906.[33]
In September 1896, Victoria welcomed Emperor
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Balmoral (c. 1890–1900)
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Memorial cairn for Prince Albert, Balmoral Estate
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Queen Victoria's Business Room at Balmoral
After Victoria
After Victoria's death, the royal family continued to use Balmoral during annual autumn visits. George V had substantial improvements made during the 1910s and 1920s, including formal gardens to the south of the castle.[2]
During the
In the 1950s, Prince Philip added herbaceous borders and a water garden. During the 1980s, new staff buildings were built close to the castle.[2]
Death of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen
Architecture
Though called a castle, Balmoral's primary function is that of a country house.
Ownership
Balmoral is private property and, unlike the monarch's
Elizabeth II inherited the Balmoral estate from her father, and then after her death, ownership passed to her eldest son King Charles III, but the estate is managed by trustees under Deeds of Nomination and Appointment.[44]
Estate
Extent and operation
Balmoral Estate is within the
The estate extends to Loch Muick in the southeast where an old boat house and the Royal Bothy (hunting lodge) now named Glas-allt-Shiel, built by Victoria, are located.[49]
The working estate includes grouse moors, forestry, and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, and ponies.[12]: 38–47 It also offers access to the public for fishing (paid) and hiking during certain seasons.[12]: 36–37
Approximately 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of the estate are covered by trees, with almost 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) used for forestry that yields nearly 10,000 tonnes of wood per year. Ballochbuie Forest, one of the largest remaining areas of old Caledonian pine growth in Scotland, consists of approximately 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares). It is managed with only minimal or no intervention.[12]: 48, 51 The principal mammal on the estate is the red deer with a population of 2,000 to 2,500 head.[12]: 44
The areas of Lochnagar and Ballochbuie were designated in 1998 by the
The royal family employs approximately 50 full-time and 50–100 part-time staff to maintain the working estate.[53]
There are approximately 150 buildings on the estate,[12]: 35 including Birkhall, formerly home to Elizabeth the Queen Mother.[54] Craigowan Lodge is regularly used by the family and friends of the royal family and has also been used while Balmoral Castle was being prepared for a royal visit.[55] Six smaller buildings on the estate are let as holiday cottages.[56]
Public access to gardens and castle grounds
In 1931, the gardens and castle grounds were opened to the public for the first time. They are now open daily between April and the end of July, after which royal family members arrive at the castle for their annual stay.[55] The ballroom was the only room in the castle that could be viewed by the public until 2024.[57] In April 2024, it was announced that during a month-long summer tour programme the public would be able to view the interior and several rooms used by members of the royal family.[58]
Craigowan Lodge
Craigowan Lodge is a seven-bedroom[59] stone house approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from the main castle in Balmoral.[60] More rustic than the castle, the lodge was often used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana when they visited. In May 1981 Charles and Diana posed for a photo at the lodge before their July 1981 wedding.[61]
In the obituary of Prince Michael Andreevich of Russia in 2008, it was noted that his family spent most of World War II at Craigowan Lodge.[62]
The lodge has been in the news periodically since 2005 because Elizabeth II and Prince Philip often spent the first few days of their summer holiday there.[59] During the summer, the castle is a lucrative source of income from tourists. Sometimes, the Queen arrived at Balmoral before the tourist season was over.[55]
In popular culture
Parts of the films Mrs Brown (1997) and The Queen (2006) were based on events at Balmoral. In both films, substitute locations were used: Blairquhan Castle in The Queen and Duns Castle in Mrs Brown.[63][64] In the Netflix series The Crown, Ardverikie House was used as a stand-in.[65] In the sci-fi film The Day After Tomorrow (2004), three helicopters of the Royal Air Force crash in Scotland during an attempt to evacuate the Royal Family from Balmoral Castle.[66]
An illustration of the castle features on the reverse of £100 notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.[67]
See also
- Ardverikie House, often used as a stand-in for Balmoral Castle in film
- Crathie Kirk
- List of British royal residences
- Scottish castles
- Alatskivi Castle, an Estonian castle influenced by the Balmoral Castle style
References
Citations
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle With Parterre and Terrace Walls (Category A Listed Building) (LB51460)". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle (GDL00045)". Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth II has died". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Watson, Adam (1984). The place names of Upper Deeside. Aberdeen University Press. p. 18.
- ISBN 978-0191078941.
- ^ MacBain, Alexander (1922). Place names Highlands & Islands of Scotland. E. Mackay. p. 156.
- ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003). "Ainmean-Àite/Placenames" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire". www.whichcastle.com. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-904445-88-3.
- ^ Millar, pp. 23, 31
- ^ Millar, p. 39
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q MacLean, Charles. Balmoral Highland Estate. Balmoral Castle and Estate.
- ^ Millar, pp. 40–41
- ^ Millar, p. 41
- ^ a b Millar, p. 55
- ^ Bellhouse, David (2000). "E.T. Bellhouse and Co. Engineers and Iron Founders" (PDF). David Bellhouse and Sons, Manchester. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b Millar, p. 59
- ^ a b Millar, p. 56
- ^ "Crieff dykers build Jubilee cairn for the Queen". The Daily Record. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ "William Smith II". Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840–1980. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Millar, p. 57
- ^ Millar, pp. 56–57
- ^ Millar, p. 58
- ISBN 0-7157-2091-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-7486-0849-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-7091-4497-0.
- ISBN 978-0-14-102769-2.
- ISBN 978-0-7126-9893-1.
- ^ Millar, p. 44
- ^ "Balmoral to mark bicentenary of the birth of Queen Victoria". Royal Central. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Millar, p. 102
- ^ Millar 1985, p. 101
- ^ "Ena, princess of Battenberg (1887-1969)". National Records of Scotland. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "Queen Victoria's final visit to Balmoral marked the beginning of the end for the monarch". Press and Journal. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Jones, Tony; Brady, Jon (21 July 2022). "Queen arrives in Scotland for annual summer holiday at Balmoral". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ Andersson, Jasmine "Queen to appoint new prime minister at Balmoral" BBC News (August 30, 2022) (Accessed 2 September 2022)
- ^ Walker, Peter "New PM will meet Queen at Balmoral before taking over at No 10" The Guardian (Aug. 31, 2022) (Accessed 2 September 2022)
- ^ Foster, Max and Lauren Said-Moorhouse "Queen won't return to London to appoint new British PM, for first time in her reign" CNN (Aug. 31, 2022)
- ^ Bautista, Ashley (12 September 2022). "Queen Elizabeth II is the first British monarch to die in Scotland since James V in 1542". The Focus. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Davies, Caroline "Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, dies aged 96" The Guardian (Sept. 8, 2022) (Accessed 8 September 2022)
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-62365-543-3.
- ISBN 978-0-313-31850-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1841589077.
- ^ "Sandringham House: History". The official website of The British Monarchy. The Royal Household. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Conservation". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 1101076.
- ^ "The Queen buys grouse moor near Balmoral." The Times, London, 6 January 1978: p. 3.
- ISBN 0-907521-39-8.
- ^ "Lochnagar SPA: Standard Data Form" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Ballolchbuie SPA: Standard Data Form" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Ballolchbuie SAC: Site Details". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ "Employment". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Birkhall". The Prince of Wales official website. Household of HRH The Prince of Wales. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b c Frost, Katie (7 August 2018). "Inside Balmoral, the Queen's Scottish retreat". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Current Availability". Balmoral Estates. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "2011 Admission Charges". Balmoral Estate. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Ward, Victoria (2 April 2024). "King Charles to open Balmoral to the public for the first time". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ a b Michael MacLeod. "Royals in Scotland: Palaces, paparazzi and garden parties". STV News. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Princess Diana's Life In Photos: Famous Pictures Of The Royal". Today. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "Michael Andreevich Romanoff: a member of the Russian imperial family". The Times. London. 11 October 2008.
- Internet Movie Database. Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "Filming locations for Mrs Brown". IMDb. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Leadbeater, Chris (8 December 2017). "8 spectacular filming locations from The Crown to visit as season 2 returns". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Never mind the weather overkill: scientists praise Hollywood's global warning". The Guardian. 11 May 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ "Current Banknotes: Royal Bank of Scotland". The Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers. Archived from the original on 3 October 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
General and cited references
- Millar, Delia (1985). Queen Victoria's Life in the Scottish Highlands: Depicted by Her Watercolour Artists. London: Philip Wilson. ISBN 0-85667-194-0.