Murthly Castle

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Murthly Castle

Murthly Castle is a former tower house that has gradually been expanded into a mansion . It is located near the Scottish village of Murthly in the Council Area Perth and Kinross . In 1971 the structure was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A. Together with the associated gardens, it also forms a category A monument ensemble. The gardens are also independently classified as Category A buildings; likewise the associated Roman Bridge and the Chapel of St Anthony the Eremite .

history

The nucleus was a small tower house with a square base with a side length of only 4.3 m, which was built in the course of the 16th century. Murthly Castle was probably expanded in the same century. William Steuart of Grandtully acquired the property in 1615 and it has been inherited by the family ever since. A large component was added between 1666 and 1677 and the building was further developed several times in the following years. The north wing was built around 1800. In 1818, permission was requested to demolish Murthly Castle, as a new building was planned. Its construction began in 1838, but was not yet completed by the end of the century. In 1950 the new building was demolished.

Roman Bridge

The Roman Bridge is on the western approach to Murthly Castle, approximately 1.3 km away. Together with the bridge over the Birnam Burn directly to the south, it forms a category B monument ensemble. The arched bridge spans the gorge of the small stream with six arches. It was created around the middle of the 19th century. The Roman Bridge is architecturally modeled on Roman aqueducts . Wide access roads, limited by parapets, taper towards the bridge. The masonry is rusticated . Bulges protrude above each arch gusset.

The unused bridge is heavily overgrown. In 2011 it was added to the register of endangered buildings in Scotland. Their condition is classified as poor, but with low risk. It is still considered sustainable.

Chapel of St Anthony the Eremite

Chapel of St Anthony the Eremite

The chapel is around 350 m north of the manor house. A predecessor building presumably from the 16th century existed at the site. The Chapel of St Anthony the Eremite, begun in 1846, is considered the earliest Catholic chapel built in Scotland after the Reformation . The Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham was responsible for the design in neo-Romanesque style . The older chapel adjoins the new building and has been converted into a mausoleum .

The interior is richly decorated by Alexander Christie . Gold, marble and elaborate woodwork dominate the picture. The latter was carried out by Charles Trotter from Edinburgh . The glass artist James Ballantine is responsible for the design of the leaded glass windows .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  4. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  5. ↑ Entry on Murthly Castle  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)
  6. ↑ Entry on buildingsatrisk.org.uk

Web links

Commons : Murthly Castle  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 56 ° 32 ′ 29.7 "  N , 3 ° 30 ′ 40.7"  W.