Ballindalloch Castle#Whisky
{{short description|Castle in Banffshire, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Ballindaloch Castle
|partof = Banffshire
|location = Near Ballindalloch, Banffshire, Scotland
|image = 270px
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|map_type = Scotland Moray
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Location in Moray, Scotland
|map_size = 270
|type = Castle
|coordinates = {{coord|57.4118|-3.3693|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = 16th century
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Ballindalloch Castle, known as the "pearl of the north", is a Scottish castle located in Ballindalloch, Banffshire, Scotland. It has been the family home of Macpherson-Grants since 1546.{{cite web |url=https://www.ballindallochcastle.co.uk |title=Welcome |website=Ballindalloch Castle |date= |accessdate=2021-12-24 |archive-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318234359/http://www.ballindallochcastle.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}
History
The first tower of the Z plan castle was built in 1546.
In 1590 the widow of the Grant of Ballindalloch married John Gordon, son Thomas Gordon of Cluny. John Grant, former Tutor of Ballindaloch, the administrator of the estate, killed one of John Grant's servants. This started a feud between the Earl of Huntly and the Earl of Moray. The Earl of Huntly went to Ballindalloch in November 1590 to arrest the Tutor. The Chief of Grant, John Grant of Freuchie promised to deliver the Tutor and his accomplices, accused of murder and other crimes, to Huntly Castle. However, Freuchie joined with the Tutor's men and the Earl of Moray, and came to Darnaway Castle, and there shot pistols at Huntly's officers and cannon from the castle, and killed John Gordon, brother of the Laird of Cluny.David Masson, Register of the Privy Council of Scotland: 1585-1592, vol. 4 (Edinburgh, 1881), p. 569-71.
After it was plundered and burned by James Graham, the first Marquess of Montrose, it was restored in 1645.
Extensions were added in 1770 by General James Grant of the American Wars of Independence (whose ghost is said to haunt the castle) and in 1850 by the architect Thomas MacKenzie. Further extensions carried out in 1878 were mostly demolished during modernisation enacted in 1965. It has been continuously occupied by Russell and Macpherson-Grant families throughout its existence.
The castle houses an important collection of 17th century Spanish paintings.
The castle grounds contain a 20th-century rock garden and a 17th-century dovecote. The rivers Spey and Avon flow through the grounds, offering excellent fishing. The famous Aberdeen Angus cattle herd resides in the castle estate.
Today, the castle is still occupied by the Macpherson-Grant family. It is open to tourists during the summer months and a number of workshops on its grounds are in active use.
Traditions
It is said that the original intention was to build at a better site defensively, but when building commenced whatever was built in the day was thrown down at night. Eventually the laird, annoyed by the problem, heard a mysterious voice saying "Build in the cow haughs, and you will meet with no interruptions." He did so, and there was no further problem with the building.{{cite book |last=Tranter |first=Nigel |date=1993 |title=Tales and Traditions of Scottish Castles |publisher=Neil Wilson Publishing |isbn=1-897784-13-9 |page=15}}
Whisky
With the assistance of a £1.2 million grant from the Scottish Government, the owners of the castle set up the Ballindalloch distillery on the estate farm.{{cite book |last=Maclean |first=Charles |title=Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky |date=2016 |publisher=Birlinn |isbn=978-1-78027-401-0 |location=Edinburgh |pages=86–87}} The distillery commenced production in September 2014.
Ghostlore
The dining room of Ballindalloch has associated ghostlore and is said to be haunted by a ghost known as The Green Lady. The green lady is a reoccurring character in Scottish ghostlore stories about castles.{{cite web |author= |date=7 May 2012 |title=Scotland's specters: Haunted castles, part 1 - Heritage |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scotland-s-specters-haunted-castles-part-1-1-2280035 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604220535/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/scotland-s-specters-haunted-castles-part-1-1-2280035 |archive-date=4 June 2012 |accessdate=2012-05-07 |location=Edinburgh |newspaper=The Scotsman}}
References
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External links
- [http://www.ballindallochcastle.co.uk/ The Ballindalloch Castle web site]
- [http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst3906.html Gazetteer for Scotland]
- [http://www.speysidesculpture.co.uk/ Ballindalloch sculptor]
- [http://www.burgenwelt.org/grossbritannien/balin/object.php Ballindalloch Castle on Burgenwelt.org] (German)
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Category:Category A listed buildings in Moray
Category:Listed castles in Scotland
Category:Historic house museums in Moray
Category:Country houses in Moray