Old Photograph Ballathie House Scotland

Old photograph of Ballathie House located by the River Tay around 9 miles North of Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. The Drummond family, the Earls of Perth, owned the Ballathie lands in the 17th century, before selling to the Robertson family. General Richardson Robertson of Tullybelton undertook the building of the current house but died in 1883, 3 years before it was completed. His nephew, Colonel Edmund Robert F. Richardson took over the house, selling it in 1910 to Sir Stewart Coats, from Paisley by Glasgow. The house was enlarged by alterations to the servants quarters and a new entrance porch. Central heating and electric lighting were also installed. An army hut was erected for use as a dance hall after the World War I and dances were held for staff and locals. A 9 hole golf course was laid out by professional golfer Ben Sayers but this was ploughed up as part of the campaign to provide more food during World War II. Ballathie's fame as a sporting estate led to many famous guests coming to stay during this period. These included:

Duke Michael of Russia and his wife, Natalia, Princess Brassova
John Wolfe-Barry, civil engineer whose most famous projects included Tower Bridge and the District Line in London
Arthur Winnington-Ingram, Bishop of London from 1901 to 1939
The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII
Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster

In 1936, the estate was sold to Colonel Stephen Hardie, a chartered accountant in Glasgow and founder member of the British Oxygen Company. Hardie died in 1969 and the house was sold, and converted into a hotel in 1972 by Colonel & Mrs Brassey & Maxwell family from the west of Scotland.

John Milligan purchased the estate separately in 1998, then also the hotel in 2005. The estate is still used for farming and sports.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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