View from east

Description View from east

Date 24/7/2001

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

Catalogue Number E 15464 CN

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 769261

Scope and Content Rhebreck, Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire, from the east This romantic, two-storeyed, picturesque cottage orné is constructed from the same light-coloured local granite as the castle. It has Tudor-style mullioned windows, and deeply projecting eaves, some of which are decorated with bargeboards and pendants. The dormer window has a swept roof, and the entrance porch is decorated with a set of stag's antlers, a popular Victorian trophy. The front door, set in a pointed-arch opening, is painted in 'Balmoral beige', a colour chosen by Prince Albert. The estate employed a large workforce, and the architecture of the house provided for the worker often reflected his social position in the hierarchy of staff. The grandest house was reserved for the factor, who employed the workforce and generally administered the estate. Less grand versions were allocated to the head keeper who also had an important role as the sporting activities at Balmoral revolved around the organisation of large stalking and shooting parties. Assistant keepers, gardeners and foresters had smaller and simpler houses, and stalkers and ghillies were content with cottages. 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. Rhebreck, one of the new houses built c.1855 for estate workers, was probably designed by William Smith, the architect who designed the castle. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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