Game larders, view from south west

Description Game larders, view from south west

Date 4/6/2001

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

Catalogue Number SC 768144

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of E 15516 CN

Scope and Content Game Larders, Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire These purpose-built game larders, constructed c.1852 from timber from the estate, were stores for the large quantities of venison and game birds shot on the estate. Windows, set all around the buildings, keep the interiors airy and cool, and guarantee a through draught: tall, louvred ventilation shafts in the roof allow the air to circulate. The larger building was a venison store where deer carcasses were hung from rails around the walls; the decorative smaller building, with its swept roof, was designed for hanging game birds such as pheasant and grouse. One of Prince Albert's passions was deer stalking. When staying at Balmoral, he went shooting every morning, and often embarked on two- or three-day hunting expeditions deep into the mountain country of the Cairngorms following the vast herds of red deer that roamed on the hills. The ghillie (shooting attendant) who accompanied him on these expeditions was John Brown, who was later to become Queen Victoria's personal attendant. Ghillies led the expeditions over difficult terrain, and pointed out the best stag to shoot. The number of antlers, weight and condition of each stag shot was entered in a game-book, and the carcasses recovered on the backs of sturdy Highland stalker ponies. The heads of deer shot by the prince were stuffed and mounted, and displayed on walls throughout the castle. The Balmoral estate was bought in 1852 by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria 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 the construction of new cottages for estate workers, new stables, new bridges, a model dairy and, to indulge his passion for shooting, a new venison store. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/768144

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap