Braemar Castle

Braemar Castle is a castle near Braemar in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland.

From the Late Middle Ages the castle was a stronghold of the Earls of Mar. [Francis Hindes Groome, "Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland", 1882] The first tower of Braemar Castle was constructed in 1628 by John Erskine, the 7th Earl of Mar to replace the older Kindrochit Castle, which was sited in this location as early as the 11th century AD. The siting of the original Kindrochit Castle was based upon the strategic location of this site relative to historic crossings of the Grampian Mounth. [ [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, "Elsick Mounth", Megalithic Portal, editor: Andy Burnham] ]

An important garrison during the Jacobite uprising, Braemar Castle was attacked and burned by John Farquharson, the "Black Colonel" of Inverey in 1689, killing John Erskine. In 1715 the castle was burned by royal troops and subsequently the estate was forfeit by the Earls of Mar. [Alex Inkson McConnochie, Alexander Inkson McConnochie, J G Murray, "The Royal Dee: A Description of the River from the Wells to the Sea", 1898, Jolly Publishers, Scotland, 161 pages] The castle was left in ruins until 1748 when it was leased to the government by Clan Farquharson of Invercauld, now to serve as a garrison for Hanoverian troops. In some rooms, extant graffiti left by the English soldiers can be seen.

In 1800 Braemar Castle was documented to have its moat intact. [John Leyden and James Sinton, "Journal of a Tour in the Highlands and Western Islands of Scotland in 1800", published 1903, W. Blackwood and sons, 318 pages]

In 1797 the castle was returned to the Farquharson clan and its restoration for use as clan seat begun. The 12th Laird of Invercauld entertained Queen Victoria there while she attended the Braemar Gathering.

It is an L-plan castle with a star-shaped curtain wall and three storey angle turrets. The main entrance to the castle retains an original iron yett.

Among the antiques on display within the castle are a Bronze Age sword, the world's largest cairngorm crystal, a rare specimen of blue topaz and a piece of tartan plaid once worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie.

Today, the castle is regarded as the ancestral home of the Farquharson clan, and is still owned and occupied by them. Areas of the main building including its dungeons are open to tourists all year round, and the castle chapel and dining room may be rented for weddings and small functions. Substantial restoration has been carried out as recently as 2007. [ [http://www.braemarcastle.co.uk/ The Braemar Castle web site] ]

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