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CHAS & SUSAN’S
EXCELLENT UK ADVENTURE

INSIDE CASTLE CRATHES!

As with our pages of Castle Fraser interior pix, these pix are scanned from the Scottish Trust information booklet about Castle Crathes. Anytime someone wants to come over and see ALL the pix and info in these booklets … JUST GIVE ME A CALL!!!

The High Hall, being the most important and most lived-in room,

The current furnishings are mostly Victorian.
has changed a lot over the years. Of the painted ceiling, only the areas in the soffits above window alcoves (and the chain mail display) have survived. A wooden floor was laid over the original stone floor … the fireplace was moved (and made smaller).
But, with its huge arched ceiling,
this is still an amazing room!

Above the fireplace is “Crathes’ greatest treasure:” The Horn of Leys.
Said to have been given by Robert the Bruce to the first Burnett of Leys,
as a symbol of his office as Royal Forester, the ivory horn dates from
1323!

The Long Gallery

runs the full length of the Castle’s top floor.
In bad weather, it was used for exercise!

Its rare oak-paneled ceiling is the
only one of its kind to survive in Scotland,
apart from those in the three royal palaces.

Most of the furniture displayed
(including the incredibly marquetry cabinette)
dates from 1685.

The Room of The Nine Nobles

shows the traditional decoration of any 16th century wealthy Baron. The designs had to follow the plank and beam formation of the ceiling (which was also the floor for the room above). Painted figures lie between the beams. Along the beams, TEXT is written.
These paintings were covered by lath and plaster at one time. In the 1870’s they were discovered and restored, retaining the original pictures and script, but using brighter colors and sharper lines.

The Muses’ Room

“Another of the superb painted ceilings
for which Crathes is justly famous.

This may well have been Katherine’s
work-room for there are a total of
sixteen female figures on the ceiling
to inspire her
– nine Muses and seven Virtues.

The tapestry dates from the late 19th century.
It reminds us that there were originally
tapestries and linen hangings covering the
walls beneath the painted friezes.”

The Green Lady’s Room
Since around 1750, THIS is
the room said to be HAUNTED.
(A story about a young girl being “misused”
by a male retainer … and descriptions of
a female ghost carrying a baby.)

Although they predate
the time the “haunting” stories began,
“the ceiling paintings are a mixture of
grotesque faces, weird designs ...”

In front of the grouping of children’s
chairs (seen in pic) is a fireplace.
The hearth stone was removed
during some alterations in about 1858.
In a small recess beneath it,
a child’s skeleton was discovered!

Hey! I’m not making this up!!!

The Laird’s Bedroom

Although the painted wooden ceiling
that once was here has been lost,
the elaborately carved oak
four-post bed is dated 1594.

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This COUNTER was started on September 25th, 2002.