Blair Castle. Exterior detail of armorial plaque in wall. Digital image of PT 468.

Description Blair Castle. Exterior detail of armorial plaque in wall. Digital image of PT 468.

Date 1962

Catalogue Number SC 767263

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of PT 468

Scope and Content Armorial panel, Blair Castle, Perth & Kinross This 19th-century full armorial panel above the main door shows the quartered (each quarter is counter-quartered) arms of the Dukes of Atholl. The central panel is divided up to show associated family crests of (from top left to bottom right) Atholl, Stewart, Murray, Stanley, the Isle of Man, Latham, Strange and Percy. The flanking 'supporters' are shown as a 'savage' with chained ankles, and a lion rampant wearing a collar with three stars. Above the shield is the Ducal coronet (small crown), a helmet, and a crest of a 'demi-savage' holding a sword and key. The family motto shown below the shield says 'FURTH FORTUNE AND FILL THE FETTERS', an order from James III to the 1st Earl of the new line commanding him to quell the insurrection of John MacDonald of the Isles. It translates as 'Go forth against your enemies, have good fortune, and return with hostages and booty'. The latter part of the motto being reflected in the chained savage 'supporter'. Blair Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Atholl, was begun in 1269, extended in the 15th and 16th centuries, and remodelled to resemble a Georgian mansion by architect James Winter in the mid-1700s. The south-east wing was built in 1743-5, and rebuilt to include a clock tower to designs by architect Archibald Elliot in 1814 after a fire. The castle was 're-baronialised' to designs by architect David Bryce in 1869-71, who also designed the ballroom (1826-7). It was modified again in 1886 (J C Walker), 1904-5 (J McIntyre Henry) and 1920-1 (Sir Robert Lorimer). Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/767263

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap