Kinross-shire / Perthshire | 1624
Balvaird Castle stands three miles from Glenfarg, Perthshire. The area has been in occupation since the Neolithic period as demonstrated by the famous ‘Rocking Stone of Balvaird’, a mass of detached rock poised on a narrow base. It once rocked under very slight pressure but this motion was destroyed around 1650 by those who feared its supposed supernatural powers, as with many similar stones across Britain.
Bards were important in Gaelic society and were granted land by lords in return for their services. Balvaird is said to have been given by the king himself to a family of hereditary court bards.
In 1295 Balvaird first appears in the historical record as being held by the De Freslay family as part of the dominium of Fourgy, also known as Arngask. Around 1332 a De Freslay heiress married Sir Richard Barclay of Kippo taking with her the lands of Arngask, including Balvaird. Several Barclay men were members of the household of Robert, Duke of Albany, son of King Robert II and leading noble.
1896 OS map Perth and Clackmannan Sheet CXX.NE. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC-BY NLS)
Balvaird Castle from the south © 2009 Otter (CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
The family were early supporters of the Reformation and served the Crown loyally. Sir Andrew Murray was granted the Barony of Balvaird in 1624 and was succeeded by his uncle Sir David Murray of Gospitrie, Viscount Stormont and Lord Scone. Stormont had risen to be Captain of the Guard for King James VI, and during the mysterious Gowrie Conspiracy supposedly played a prominent role in saving the king’s life, for which he was granted Scone Palace, land and titles. He was succeeded by his cousin the Reverend Sir Andrew Murray.
View from Balvaird Castle © James Stringer (CC BY-NC 2.0)
His son, David, 2nd Lord Balvaird was also a firm adherent to the monarchy. In 1658 he succeeded his cousin as Viscount Stormont, and moved the main family seat from Balvaird to Scone Palace. He was succeeded by his son David, 5th Viscount Stormont, who with his Jacobite sympathies, almost ruined the family.
Unknown, David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield (Viscount Stormont), 1727 - 1796. | National Galleries of Scotland
Stormont’s eldest son inherited the lands and titles, leading a quiet life, while a younger son, William, was a judge who has been called the greatest lawyer of the eighteenth century. William was also a politician and was ennobled as the Earl of Mansfield. He assisted the rise of his nephew, the 7th Viscount Stormont, through the British diplomatic service and into politics.
David Martin, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, 1705 - 1793. Lord Chief Justice | National Galleries of Scotland
Fife | 1437
Balvaird Castle stands three miles from Glenfarg, Perthshire. The area has been in occupation since the Neolithic period as demonstrated by the famous ‘Rocking Stone of Balvaird’, a mass of detached rock poised on a narrow base. It once rocked under very slight pressure but this motion was destroyed around 1650 by those who feared its supposed supernatural powers, as with many similar stones across Britain.
1896 OS map Perth and Clackmannan Sheet CXX.NE. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC-BY NLS)
Bards were important in Gaelic society and were granted land by lords in return for their services. Balvaird is said to have been given by the king himself to a family of hereditary court bards.
In 1295 Balvaird first appears in the historical record as being held by the De Freslay family as part of the dominium of Fourgy, also known as Arngask. Around 1332 a De Freslay heiress married Sir Richard Barclay of Kippo taking with her the lands of Arngask, including Balvaird. Several Barclay men were members of the household of Robert, Duke of Albany, son of King Robert II and leading noble.
Balvaird Castle from the south © 2009 Otter (CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
The family were early supporters of the Reformation and served the Crown loyally. Sir Andrew Murray was granted the Barony of Balvaird in 1624 and was succeeded by his uncle Sir David Murray of Gospitrie, Viscount Stormont and Lord Scone. Stormont had risen to be Captain of the Guard for King James VI, and during the mysterious Gowrie Conspiracy supposedly played a prominent role in saving the king’s life, for which he was granted Scone Palace, land and titles. He was succeeded by his cousin the Reverend Sir Andrew Murray.
View from Balvaird Castle © James Stringer (CC BY-NC 2.0)
His son, David, 2nd Lord Balvaird was also a firm adherent to the monarchy. In 1658 he succeeded his cousin as Viscount Stormont, and moved the main family seat from Balvaird to Scone Palace. He was succeeded by his son David, 5th Viscount Stormont, who with his Jacobite sympathies, almost ruined the family.
Unknown, David Murray, 2nd Earl of Mansfield (Viscount Stormont), 1727 - 1796. | National Galleries of Scotland
Stormont’s eldest son inherited the lands and titles, leading a quiet life, while a younger son, William, was a judge who has been called the greatest lawyer of the eighteenth century. William was also a politician and was ennobled as the Earl of Mansfield. He assisted the rise of his nephew, the 7th Viscount Stormont, through the British diplomatic service and into politics.
David Martin, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, 1705 - 1793. Lord Chief Justice | National Galleries of Scotland