View from west

Description View from west

Date 24/7/2001

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

Catalogue Number SC 769031

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of E 15669 CN

Scope and Content Cricket Pavilion, Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire This charming little wooden pavilion, dating from the early 20th century, is set on the cricket ground to the west of the castle. It is a simple, one-roomed construction, with a small extension at the rear, and a roof thatched with straw. Turves, laid greenside down along the roof ridge, help to prevent rainwater penetrating the thatch. Successive generations of royal families at Balmoral provided various sport and recreational facilities for their staff, servants and tenants within the grounds of the castle. These included cricket, curling and golf as well as more social activities such as dances and the servants' sports day. The most important dance was the annual ghillies' ball, a favourite occasion of Queen Victoria's and one that she attended regularly. 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. On Queen Victoria's death in 1901, the castle and estate passed to her successors, and Balmoral became a favourite holiday residence for successive generations of the royal family. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/769031

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap