Battleby
Encyclopedia
Battleby is a country house in Perth and Kinross
, Scotland. It is located in the parish of Redgorton
, 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) west of Luncarty
and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Perth
. The 19th-century house is occupied by Scottish Natural Heritage
, and is protected as a category B listed building. The grounds are listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
, the national listing of significant gardens, for their important plant collection.
as a battle between Scots and Danes in 990, although later historians have doubted whether such a battle occurred.
The Battleby estate was acquired in the 19th century by the Maxtone-Graham family. The house was built around 1862, to designs by the Perth-based architect David Smart. The design of the house shows the influence of Alexander Thomson
. The Grahams also laid out the grounds of the house, and planted many of the trees which still remain.
Later in the 19th century the house was leased, and served as a hospital during the First World War. Battleby was bought in 1947 by Sir Alexander Cross
, who built up an important plant collection in the grounds. In 1970 the house was purchased by the Countryside Commission for Scotland, a public body with reponsibilty for natural heritage
, and was converted for use as their national headquarters, with a visitor centre designed by Morris and Steedman
. In 1992, the Countryside Commission for Scotland was replaced with a new body, Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH). SNH later moved their main headquarters to Inverness, and Battleby now serves as a local office within the Tayside and Grampian Area Management Unit.
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross is one of 32 council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas. Perth is the administrative centre...
, Scotland. It is located in the parish of Redgorton
Redgorton
Redgorton is a settlement in Gowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies a few miles from the River Tay and the A9 road, across the latter from Luncarty. It lies close to the Inveralmond Industrial Estate.-Etymology:...
, 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) west of Luncarty
Luncarty
Luncarty is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately four miles north of Perth. It lies between the A9 to the west, and the River Tay to the east.-History:...
and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. The 19th-century house is occupied by Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
, and is protected as a category B listed building. The grounds are listed on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland is a listing of gardens and designed landscapes of national artistic and/or historical significance, in Scotland. The Inventory was originally compiled in 1987, although it is a continually evolving list...
, the national listing of significant gardens, for their important plant collection.
History
The estate is named after the Battle of Luncarty, recorded by Hector BoeceHector Boece
Hector Boece , known in Latin as Hector Boecius or Boethius, was a Scottish philosopher and first Principal of King's College in Aberdeen, a predecessor of the University of Aberdeen.-Biography:He was born in Dundee where he attended school...
as a battle between Scots and Danes in 990, although later historians have doubted whether such a battle occurred.
The Battleby estate was acquired in the 19th century by the Maxtone-Graham family. The house was built around 1862, to designs by the Perth-based architect David Smart. The design of the house shows the influence of Alexander Thomson
Alexander Thomson
Alexander "Greek" Thomson was an eminent Scottish architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building. Although his work was published in the architectural press of his day, it was little appreciated outwith Glasgow during his lifetime...
. The Grahams also laid out the grounds of the house, and planted many of the trees which still remain.
Later in the 19th century the house was leased, and served as a hospital during the First World War. Battleby was bought in 1947 by Sir Alexander Cross
Cross Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Cross, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Both creations are extinct....
, who built up an important plant collection in the grounds. In 1970 the house was purchased by the Countryside Commission for Scotland, a public body with reponsibilty for natural heritage
Natural heritage
Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes encompassing the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known as biodiversity, and geology and landforms ....
, and was converted for use as their national headquarters, with a visitor centre designed by Morris and Steedman
Morris and Steedman
Morris and Steedman was an architecture firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm was founded by James Shepherd Morris and Robert Russell Steedman in the 1950s...
. In 1992, the Countryside Commission for Scotland was replaced with a new body, Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
(SNH). SNH later moved their main headquarters to Inverness, and Battleby now serves as a local office within the Tayside and Grampian Area Management Unit.