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View from east

E 15281 CN

Description View from east

Date 18/6/2001

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number E 15281 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 769252

Scope and Content Kennels, The Croft, Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire (now disused) This simple, single-storeyed building, constructed from the same light-coloured local granite as the castle, consists of three dog-houses, each opening into a large, railed yard surrounded by a low wall with an access gate. The roof is slated, and has plain skews, the flat, sloping stones along the edge of the roof above the gable-ends. Each house has one or more small openings for light and ventilation, and a door for access. The tall iron railings, topped by decorative finials with ball finials flanking the gates, are, like the doors, painted in 'Balmoral beige', a colour chosen by Prince Albert. This range of buildings was designed for Grant's own gun dogs. The dogs, usually Labradors, were highly trained to retrieve red grouse and other game birds shot by the keeper and his sons on the hills. They also accompanied him when he led the royal family on adventurous treks deep into isolated mountainous areas. The first photograph of Lochnagar taken by the distinguished photographer, George Washington Wilson, in 1855, shows John Grant (who led Wilson on the expedition) with several of his dogs. The kennels were entirely utilitarian, and probably included a rabbit larder and a boilhouse where the rabbits were boiled before being fed to the dogs. The Balmoral estate was bought in 1852 by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria at their own expense as a Highland retreat from the stresses of London life. Prince Albert initiated many improvements, including the building of a new holiday home, Balmoral Castle, in 1853-5, and put forward plans for a model estate with new houses and offices for estate workers and tenants. The Croft, a house built c.1855 for Queen Victoria's head keeper, John Grant, had several purpose-built outbuildings including an eagle house and a range of kennels for gun dogs. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/686509

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