Braemar Castle. Braemar Castle is situated near the village of Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is a possession of the chief of Clan Farquharson and is leased to a local charitable foundation. It is open to the public. History[edit] From the Late Middle Ages the castle was a stronghold of the Earls of Mar .[1] The present Braemar Castle was constructed in 1628 by John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar as a hunting lodge and to counter the rising power of the Farquharsons,[2] replacing an older building, which was the successor of nearby Kindrochit Castle, which dates from as the 11th century AD. In 1831 the military garrison was withdrawn and the castle returned to the Farquharson clan. Since 2006 the castle has been leased to the local community. The building[edit] On the ground floor are stone-vaulted rooms which contained the guardroom, ammunition store and original kitchen. On each of the upper floors a large room and a small room occupied the two arms of the tower.
Contents[edit] Ghosts[edit] Braemar Castle Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland. Braemar Castle stands on a bluff rising above the south side of the River Dee, two thirds of a mile north east of the centre of Braemar. In basic form it is an L-plan tower house with a large round stair tower in the inner angle of the the "L", and it is adorned by bartizans, stepped-out from the corners of the basic structure at the level of the top two floors. The tower house dates back to 1628 and it is surrounded by a star-shaped perimeter wall pierced by musket loops added when the castle was rebuilt and used as a base for government troops from 1748. As a result, Braemar Castle can be seen as one of a pair formed with Corgarff Castle, equipped with a similar outer wall at about the same time and located just 12 miles as the crow flies across very mountainous country to the north east of Braemar. From the early 1800s Braemar Castle served as the ancestral home of the Farquharsons of Invercauld and until 2005 was open to visitors.
Braemar Castle - Braemar. A 17th century castle with a colourful past and an exciting future. Built by the Earl of Mar in 1628, it has been hunting lodge, fortress, garrison and family home. Set amid the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms National Park, the building boasts impressive castellated turrets and a star-shaped curtain wall and bottle-necked dungeon. The castle is an L-shaped tower house with an unusual right winding spiral stone staircase leading to three floors of furnished rooms. There is a grand dining room and gracious drawing room as well as Victorian bathrooms and delightful morning room.
With 12 rooms on show there is plenty to see and discover in this compact castle. Local volunteers guide visitors around the castle giving insights into the lives of the Farquharson family, the clan Chief, Captain Alwyne Farquharson, and the wealthy families who have used the castle as their ‘holiday cottage’. Overview of Braemar Castle. Braemar Castle - Preserving the Past for the Future. Braemar Castle - Invercauld Estate. The Castle is now in the care of the local community who are enthusiastically overseeing a major restoration of the building, subject to available funds and grant aids. Braemar Castle is an impressive fortress built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar on the site of an even older habitation.
Used by Hanoverian troops after the Jacobite Rising of 1745, later transformed by the Farquharsons of Invercauld into a residence of unusual charm. The L-plan castle of fairy-tale proportions with its remarkable star shaped defensive curtain wall, also has a central round tower with a spiral stair, barrel vaulted ceilings, massive iron “yett” and an underground prison. Braemar Castle on VisitCairngorms.com. Site Record for Braemar, Braemar Castle Mar CastlePhotographs Photographs. Braemar Castle, Aberdeen. Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire has the most famous and illustrious neighbors anyone in Scotland could want. The castle and Invercauld estate is next to Balmoral, the private residence of the British Royal Family. Owned by the Farquharson family, the Invercauld estate is run very much the way Balmoral is and the inspiration has given visitors a lovely property to see, experience and even stay during a vacation.
The castle with its turrets and star-shaped defensive wall is a distinctive landmark in the village of Braemar. The present castle was built in 1628 by the Earl of Mar on the site of an older structure. During his times it served as a fortified castle and also as a hunting tower. Braemar Castle has been the venue and witness to a lot of history over the centuries and has been in the possession of opposing factions.
In 1689, the castle was occupied by the government troops after an unsuccessful attempt to re-establish the Stuart monarchy against the ruling Dutch King William. Braemar Castle. Braemar Castle. Play our new game - Whack The Haggis!! Claim our Free Pens - we send 6 at a time. The history of Braemar Castle Scotland and its ghosts with facilities, events listing and photographs of this beautiful Royal Deeside Castle Braemar Castle is an L plan Tower House built by the Erskine Earls of Mar in 1628 to replace nearby Kindrochit Castle which was thought to have been destroyed by cannon because its inhabitants contracted the plague.
The Castle was built as a hunting lodge and as a safe guard against local clans such as the Gordons, Forbes and Farquharsons. Registration to the Aberdeen Race For Life is now open. In 1746 the Castle was refurbished and was used as a barracks having been leased to the Hanoverian Government by John Farquharson of Invercauld. The Redcoats were stationed there to keep the peace following the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. Hanoverian Troops left in 1797 and it was returned to a Castle residence by the Farquharsons of Invercauld. Visiting Braemar Castle Banchory Hotel. Royal Deeside, Scotland : Braemar Castle. The castle is based on an L-plan with a central circular staircase. After the purchase of Balmoral by Queen Victoria, the castle grounds were often used to host the Braemar Gathering. The castle itself was converted to a family home for the Farquharson family and later opened to the public.
Recently, however, it was closed but re-opened in May 2008 after the magnificent efforts of the local community. Now local volunteers guide you round the 12 fully furnished rooms and entertain with fascinating tales of the castle’s former occupants Braemar Castle is compact and informal castle offering a different experience and, since the re-opening it has enjoyed a steady stream of satisfied visitors from all over the world as well as many from Royal Deeside itself. Entry to all rooms in the castle is via the spiral stone staircase so, unfortunately, the castle is not accessible to those having difficulty with mobility. To find out more about Braemar castle visit the official website. Spectacular Scenery. Scottish News | Braemar Castle. Picture: ozwildlife Nine miles down the road from Balmoral, the Queen’s Highland retreat, sits the imposing Braemar Castle. Part of the Invercauld Estate, it was built in 1628 for the Earl of Mar. It has been a hunting lodge, garrison and the family home where the Chiefs of Clan Farquharson have lived for the past 200 years.
The history of the castle puts it right at the heart of Scotland’s past. The Highland clans were roused and the first Jacobite rebellion of 1715 began in the nearby village of Braemar. The uprising was unsuccessful and the Earl of Mar fled abroad. The Farquharsons, by now the owners of the castle, remodelled the property once the soldiers had left. Braemar was inhabited for the next 100 years, and gained notoriety as the place John Profumo ran to lick his wounds after the 1963 spy scandal. By now the house was seldom lived in, and in great need of expensive repairs, so the Farquharsons decided to sell the contents and building. Braemar Castle : Braemar Castle in Aberdeenshire was first built by the 18th Earl of Mar, John Erskine in 1628, using it as a hunting lodge and strong hold against the powerful neighbouring Farquharson family. The castle replaced the nearby Kindrochit Castle, which is said to have been built sometime in the 11th century.
In 1689, John Farquharson, the Black Colonel of Inverey, led an attack on Braemar Castle, leaving it burnt and damaged. John Erskine, 22nd Earl of Mar, was a noted Jacobite, particularly at the time of the 1715 Rebellion. Because of his role in the uprising, the castle was confiscated by the Crown. Braemar Castle and its lands were then bought by John Farquharson, 9th Laird of Invercauld, but the castle was left in ruins until 1748 when it was leased to the Government for £14 per annum, serving as a Hanoverian garrison. The garrison was eventually withdrawn, and in 1831 the castle was returned to the Farquharsons. Braemar Castle Jacobites living history pageant & fete - dSider.
Braemar Jacobite Day 2011. A great family day out at Braemar Castle this afternoon, this was only the second year this event has been organised and must say thanks to the local community efforts the day seemed to me a great success. Braemar Castle and the immediate grounds must be one of the best locations in Scotland to hold such an event made even better today by the fantanstic sunny weather. As well as the programme of events there were tours round the castle, in the castle grounds there were various stalls for both exhibiting and selling. After being partially involved with this years event organisers have invited us to take our tent along next year to show our display.
Additionally, although Braemar Castle is still owned by the Farquharsons of Invercauld the local community have taken on a 50 year lease of the property, but although it looks good from a distance and in the pics below the castle is in a state of much needed repairs. Report by James Singer. Braemar Jacobite Day 2011. The Braemar Buzzard. July 24 was a truly remarkavle example of David Cameron's Big Society with some 50 villagers helping in one way or another to make the day the resounding success it was. From car parkers and ticket sellers, to bakers and tailors, from singers and dancers to stall holders and artists, from castle guides and shop keepers to musicians and photographers, Braemar had them all.
Special thanks are due to our friends from Ballater, Tarland and Aboyne who also helped in various roles. Visitors to the village were very impressed by the high standard of the entertainment on offer, and the obvious community spirit permeating throughout. Download. Braemar Castle. An L-plan tower house beside the River Dee, built in 1628, then burned in the Jacobite Rising of 1689 and rebuilt. Centred on a round tower set within a curtain wall, and defended by an iron yett (a hinged portcullis). The interiors feature fine furniture, including pieces by Chippendale and Hepplewhite. HistoryBraemar is an almost perfect example of a Scottish fortified tower house. Built in 1628 for the Earl of Mar, the castle served a dual purpose. Mar's castle was a fairy-tale concoction of battlemented towers and turrets protected within a star-shaped curtain wall, not unlike the defenses of Corgarff, further west. 'towers and turrets', a Braemar speciality!
The Earls of Mar were active in government, a government dominated by Lowlanders, and this made Braemar a focal point for disaffected Highlanders. He called a gathering of Highland clan chiefs to Braemar, ostensibly for hunting and feasting, but in reality to plan a revolt agains the Hanoverian king. Braemar Castle, Braemar, AB35 5XR. Braemar Castle Summary Braemar Castle Description Like any other fortress Braemar has been through the mill. Built in 1628 it was ransacked, burned, allowed to decay, restored, until in 2007 with the hammer about to fall the local community, conscious of its value through the tourist market, leased the property for 50 years and now run it.
This is a bold move and worth watching. Otherwise it is much like any other historic pile, and has now been open for two years. Much is left to be done but it makes for interesting viewing and tuning in to the enthusiasm of the locals. Opening Times 2011 2nd April - 30th October: Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 4pm (Last admission 3.45pm) July and August: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 4pm (Last admission 3.45pm) Guided tours last 45 mins to 1 hourAdmission Prices 2011 Adult - £6:00 Concession - £5:00 Child (school age) - £3:00 Family (2 adults and up to 3 school age children) - £12.00 Your Reviews of Braemar Castle Heritage Groups.
Braemar Castle. The original tower of the Braemar Castle was erected by John Erskine, Earl of Mar, as a bulwark against the power of the neighbouring Farquharsons. In 1689 John Farquharson of Inverey burned it. Acquired in 1732 by John Farquharson, the castle was leased in 1748 for 99 years to the Government who restored and altered the tower (notably the star-shaped wall and tops of the turrets). They used it as a garrison for soldiers following the Jacobite rising. John Adam, elder son of William and brother of Robert, all notable Scots architects supervised the alterations. It was later converted to a private residence, and visited by Queen Victoria. From the entrance door one climbs to the dining room which has a few Jacobite relics. The drawing room has graffiti left by soldiers – Sergeant John Chestnut, 1797, and others. The morning room contains the world’s largest Cairngorm stone, weighing 52 pounds, and Canadian Indian objects. The vaulted kitchen has various relics including an early fridge.
Photo of Braemar Castle. By David Ross, Photographer / Editor Featuring our favourite photos from our travels throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. We got up before dawn and stayed out late to photograph the most historic sites and the most stunning scenery in Britain, just for you. Archived Images More images: Brent Knoll church roses >> Save this image as Desktop wallpaper for your computer - free! * Choose from these Common monitor resolutions: A note for Mac users RIGHT-CLICK on the image size you want to use, and select 'Save link As ...' In Windows XP choose Properties > Desktop > Browse and select the image you just downloaded.
Did you miss a daily image? * Free means free for your own personal use. Monitor resolution, or 'how can I tell what size image I need to use to fit my monitor? ' While we can't give instructions for every operating system, here's how to determine your monitor resolution in Windows XP and Mac OSX. Windows XP - right click anywhere on your desktop.
Image is © David Ross. Ghosts UK | Ghosts Braemar Castle | Haunted. Braemar Castle | Group has big plans for Braemar Castle. Rare gemstones set for Braemar Castle display - Heritage. Braemar Castle Makeover | The Scottish Castles Association. Braemar Castle.