Balmanno Castle

Lying in the shadow of the Ochil Hills near the Perthshire hamlet of Dron and a mile (1.5 km) south of Bridge of Earn, is Balmanno Castle, a 16th Century L-plan tower house built c.1570 for George Auchinleck, shortly after the family had acquired the surrounding estate.

In 1915, a splendid restoration was undertaken by architect Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929) for William Millar, a Glasgow ship-owner, as his summer residence. Completion was delayed by the First World War, but like his previous restorations at Kellie and Earlshall Castles, Lorimer's work was of immense quality and undertaken with great care. Externally he added extra wings to form a courtyard. Lorimer allowed himself to dabble in the Gothic, while incorporating internal details from Holyrood Palace whose restoration was the work of Sir William Bruce (1630 - 1710). Lorimer also furnished the house in every detail, using items he had commissioned as well as commercial pieces purchased around the country. Sadly, much of this furniture was removed when the house was sold after World War II.

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