Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

BLAIR CASTLELB6074

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
05/10/1971
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Blair Atholl
NGR
NN 86577 66186
Coordinates
286577, 766186

Description

3-storey and basement harled with parts 4-storey and Cummings (or Comyn's Tower) 6-storey: 1 & 2-storey wings that on S. with tower; angle turrets. Building history: begun 1269, Cumming's tower perhaps partly of that date probably mainly 15th cent. , central part early

16th cent. with alterations and additions by early 17th cent. , S. end raised 1736, archt. John Douglas, but still incomplete in 1746. 2-storey S. E. wing 1743-5, James Winter, archt. Towers levelled to common wall head, angle turrets removed, S. end rebuilt and completed, James Winter, archt. , 1747-58. Notable interiors with rich plasterwork designed by Abraham Swan. S. E. wing damaged by fire 1814, repaired and clock tower built, archt. presumably Archibald Elliot.

Rebaronialised 1869-71 David Bryce architect, design of west front approximately based on original with Cumming's Tower widened by corbelling, entrance hall added on east side, that side being largely redesigned anew. Ballroom 1876-7, David Bryce, architect, interior

panelled 1899. Alterations and additions 1886, J. C. Walker, architect; alterations and additions 1904-5 by J. McIntyre Henry and alterations 1920-1 by Sir Robert Lorimer.

Statement of Special Interest

Plans:

Within Muniment Room of Blair Castle an important collection of drawings: viz. fine scheme of 1736 by Douglas for William Adamizing Blair; numerous schemes and proposals by Winter several more elaborate than the executed scheme. Fine unsigned series presumably by Swan for the interiors. Late 18th cent. scheme for recastellating it, perspective only, unsigned: and a poor scheme of 1840 for recastellating it by R. & R. Dickson.

Craftsmen 1747-58:- Plasterwork, 1 Thomas Clayton; woodwork, Abrahan Swan; chimneypieces, Thomas Carter; painted ceiling panels, Thomas Bardnell; painted wall panels, Charles Steuart.

References

Bibliography

O.S.A. II p.477

N.S.A. X pp.565, 568

Chrons. numerous refs. ils. and plans

Description of the Scenery of Dunkeld and Blair-in-Athole (1823 - also contains elaborate description of grounds).

Hussey, Lorimer p.XVI

Colvin, Dictionary of English Architects.

Salmond, Wade in Scotland (ils. of Frederick's drawings of Castle in 1736).

Country Life Nov. 11 1949.

Swan: Collection of Designs in Architecture (staircase and 2 Chinese Bridges, also project for timber bridge at Dunkeld)

Fleming: Scottish Country Houses.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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