Category Archives: Castles

When The Roadshow Comes To Town

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The Castle Tour – Episode 2

Let’s start with a wee gander.

Motto: “Courage Flourishes at a Wound”

Crathes Castle is a 16th century castle near Banchory that sits on land given to the Burnett of Leys family by King Robert the Bruce in 1323. It was held in that family for almost 400 years. Construction of the current tower house of Crathes Castle was begun in 1553.

This is a “harled” castle, which refers to an exterior building-surfacing technique when a pigment is embedded in the harled material, thus alleviating the need for repainting and results in a long-lasting weatherproof shield for a stone building.

The original timbered ceilings have all been restored.

The Laid’s Bedchamber

The Muses’ Room

The Scottish Renaissance painted ceiling in the Muses’ Room is truly amazing. Katherine Burnett’s coat of arms in the center of the ceiling indicates that is was Lady Katherine’s work room. The seven virtues would be better known today as the seven deadly sins.

Your Day In Court

The Court

The Laird, who had the power of “the Pit and the Gallows”, sat at this table with his scribe to his left. Prisoners were led in through a steel door hidden in the alcove on the far right. The accused would stand in front of the desk directly under the Coat of Arms which compelled them to speak nothing but the truth, although it was indicated to me that when you got this far your fate was pretty much sealed. After the verdict was read you were lead to either the pit, the dungeon, or to the gallows.

Grounds & Gardens

The grounds are truly amazing. A small army of committed gardeners work year round maintaining the separate walled gardens. Ancient topiary hedges of Irish yew, that date from 1702, are used to define the eight themed areas.

 

Scottish Humor

The guide in the Laid’s bedchamber showed us a small cupboard that served as the toilet. Of course, with no running water, it was essentially a bucket on the floor. He asked if there were any Englishmen present. A  young couple proudly said yes and then the guide explained that the English had invented the toilet seat, but the Scots had improved it. “Aye, we put a hole in the top”.

Have A Mint

Rohays Burnett

In the 1960’s Rohays Burnett was paid £1000 to appear in an ad for After Eight chocolate mints. The photograph was taken at Crathes Castle. The finished ad appeared in Reader’s Digest with the tagline “No girl should resist temptation”. The advertisement was pulled when the  headmistress of one of the country’s leading private girl’s schools complained that the ad was a bad influence on her girls and completely inappropriate coming from Rowntrees, a Quaker company.

Antique Roadshow Comes To Town

We made it to Crathes Castle just in time to take part in the Antique Roadshow. We feel very fortunate as this was the only show in Scotland this year. There were a lot of people but it never felt overcrowded.

Wendi’s finally at the front of the line.

Fiona Bruce looks on.

The appraisers couldn’t have been nicer and never rushed people along. If they come to your neighborhood be sure to go.

Side Note:

Wendi attempted to Photo Bomb the filming crew every chance she got, so when this episode airs be sure to watch for her 5 seconds of fame.

Wendi is ready.

In the Land of Lairds & Lords

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The Castle Tour – Episode 1

We thought it would be fun to see some castles in Scotland only to discover that this place is littered with them. Depending on how you define a castle, estimates can range in the thousands. According to self-styled Castle Hunter David Weinczok, it has to be able to defend itself, “Would a SWAT team have a hard time getting in?” For us it’s much simpler, they only have to meet two criteria, they have to look really cool and, most importantly, have furniture. That’s right furniture.

We have no interest in rubble. I’m certain some of you history buffs are aghast and that there are amazing stories about the people and events that occurred in some of these ruins, but we just don’t have the time and, lets be honest here, visually, a pile of rocks is, well, a pile of rocks.

So let’s take a look at a few places that you can still throw a coat of paint on.

Motto: “All My Hope Is In God”

Construction of the elaborate, five-story Z-plan castle was begun in 1575 by Michael Fraser, the 6th Laird of Fraser, and was completed in 1636.

The castle was passed down through the Lords Fraser and then to the Mackenzie family who took the name Mackenzie Fraser. In 1897 the last male Fraser of the direct line, Frederick Mackenzie Fraser, died childless.

In 1921 his widow, Theodora, sold the castle due to the lack of a suitable heir and mounting financial difficulties.

 

 

The Dining Room table could be configured to accommodate most any number of guests.

Some of the last 16th century Jacobean carved woodwork in the country.

Through this cupboard is a grating that lets you listen to conversations in the Great Hall below. It’s called the Laird’s Lug(Ear).

This little hole let the Laird keep an eye on activities in the Great Room below.

The Peacock Room

The wallpaper in the Peacock Parlour is a rare survivor of the 19th century. Pineapples were considered hugely prestigious then.

Hot water was carried up three stories to fill this Oxford Tub. You were turned towards the fire with your feet hanging out.

The concept of the Frog Mug is that the surprise of seeing a frog at the bottom of your beer will cure what ails you.

Called the rich man’s disease, gout was caused by excessive meat, sugar and alcohol consumption.
These stools are for gentlemen to rest their swollen feet on.

Hunting was a huge activity. It seems they displayed and stuffed everything.

Even the dogs.

The View From Above

The key to any defense is seeing all around so nobody can sneak up on you. You need a good tower with a great view.

Tower Turret

Ghost Stories

One of the most haunted castles in Scotland, Fraser Castle is home to the ghost of a princess who was brutally murdered while asleep in the ‘Green Room’.

The Green Room

Her body was dragged down the stone stairs, leaving a trail of blood stains. Legend has it that as hard as the housekeepers tried, they could not scrub out the stains, and were forced to cover the steps in wood panelling, which remains today. She is said to still stalk the halls of the castle during the night. Over the years many residents have reported seeing her ghost throughout the castle.

 

Lady Drummond

Lady Marie Augusta Gabrielle Berenere Blanche Drummond, Frederick MacKenzie Fraser’s first wife, died of consumption in 1873. Sadly this marriage was not blessed with children and, apparently, her apparition has joined the murdered princess. Witnesses have seen the dear departed Lady Drummond in a long black gown stalking the staircases and castle grounds. Visitors and staff have also heard ghostly piano music, whispers in the empty hall and the sound of children laughing and singing, only to find that there were no children at the castle.

Side Notes

Some scenes in the 2006 film The Queen, starring Dame Helen Mirren, featured Castle Fraser as a backdrop.

 

 

 

For you fans of the Outlander series I should note that, although the gift shop is loaded with Outlander collectibles, none of the Tour Guides ever mentioned Jamie or Claire.