Bamff House
Tower House (16th Century)
Site Name Bamff House
Classification Tower House (16th Century)
Canmore ID 31115
Site Number NO25SW 3
NGR NO 22172 51470
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/31115
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Alyth
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NO25SW 3.00 22172 51470
NO25SW 3.01 22205 50668 South Lodge
NO25SW 3.02 22135 51472 Sundial
NO25SW 3.03 21921 51374 Icehouse
(NO 2216 5147 ) Bamff {NAT}
OS 6" map (1901)
Bamff House dates from various periods, but the nucleus appears to be a fairly simple free-standing tower probably of the late 16th Century. There may well have been still older work to the W where the remains of a moat are thought to lie.
Sixteen century gunloops face west at basement level, with an arrowslit window to the S. Iron bars have formerly guarded all windows. The Ramsays have been established here since 1232.
N Tranter 1963
The 16th century tower occupies the SW corner of the present Bamff House (otherwise of 19th century date) which is still the home of the Ramsays. There is no trace of a moat.
Visited by OS (RD) 6 October 1970
NO25SW 3.00 22172 51470
NMRS REFERENCE
Bamff House.
ARCHITECT: William Burn (additions) Drawings in house 1843. Copied by NMRS 1985.
NMRS/ Simpson & Brown photographs
Box 5 album no 48
1984-5 many exterior views & details incl roof, some interior details
Box 5 album no 49
1986 lodge, and some more details of the house.
Box 11 album no 168
General views and details both inside and out.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE
Scottish Records Office:
Measurement of plaster; slater and wright work done at Bamff House & offices
1828 GD83/947
Comparison of estimates for Bamff Offices, plain ornamented battlements and gardener's house plain or ornamented battlements. Cheapest estimates amount to #655.5.
1826 GD83/943
Putting up sculpture in drawing room.
Building over an old well in store room.
Plumbing.
1845-46 GD83/707
Contract
Sir James Ramsay Thomas Reid-Mason
John McNicol, Factor William Carver Wrights
David McLaren
Additions, alteration and repairs to Mansion House at Bamff. Plans and specifications by William Burn, Architect in Edinburgh with alterations thereon by James Ballingal in Perth.
1844 GD83/961
Architect
Covers Quarrying Slater
Masonwork Plumber Furnisher
Carpenter Plaster
Glazier Bellhanger
Payments amounting to #3, 086.4.9 for alterations and repairs on the mansion house at Bamff.
Architect: David Bryce - paid #163.10.
1846 GD83/708
Receipted account for carpentry and glazing and other work by William Carver & Co. #871.14.8
1846 GD83/708
Alterations and additions. Thomas Reid, mason.
Account (receipt) Cost #715.5.1 1/2
It includes:-
Rebuilding of the North gable of West wing of old house.
To finish the ? as a turret. Construct another turret i the South-East angle of the old and new drawing room.
New kitchen court and offices.
Finish gables with crowsteps.
Putting/
Field Visit (14 March 1987)
At the SW corner of Bamff House (1828 and remodelled in 1844 by William Burn) there is a well-preserved late 16th-century tower-house. It is rectangular on plan and stands four storeys and an attic in height. Two horizontal gun-loops are incorporated at ground-floor level; the entrance-doorway has probably been on the NE and the stair most likely in the E angle. The basement, which is vaulted, is divided into two compartments and was originally served by a draw-well.
The Ramsays' have been in possession of Bamff since the reign of Alexander II (1214-49).
Visited by RCAHMS (IMS) 14 March 1987.
SRO GD 83/707; NMRS PTD/34; RCAHMS 1990
