Days out – Blair Castle to open with a new exhibition of “life below stairs”
Blair Castle will offer a first ever glimpse into the lives of servants with their new interactive exhibition ‘Life Below Stairs’.
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl’s distinctive white castle, the seat of Clan Murray, and the home of the Atholl Highlanders, has outlined an impressive line-up of events for Spring Summer 2025.
Re-opening on 1 April, after a winter break, the castle is staging a new exhibition and a programme of events including foraging events around the estate, with renowned foraging expert, Tamara Colchester.
In May, the Atholl Gathering will take place with the Atholl Highlanders, who, as the UK’s only private army, hold a unique place in British military history.
The event attracts history enthusiasts and families, but now there is also something for fans of TV shows like “Downton Abbey” with an interactive exhibition, ‘Life Below Stairs,’ in the Castle’s special exhibition room, from April 2025.
The exhibition will offer a glimpse into the roles, routines, and hidden lives of the twenty five servants who, throughout the 19th Century, maintained the Castle when the Duke of Atholl, and his family, were in residence.
The Castle’s exhibition team, and the archives staff are keen to ensure that this is will truly brings history to life.
Visitors will see the Secret Cellar viewing box, which allows visitors to peer below the floor into the Castle’s secret cellar, where bottles of Scotland’s oldest whisky were discovered. There will be an opportunity to ring the butler’s bell box used to call staff to one of the something eighty separate rooms in the castle. The dumb waiter, a device used to transport meals, linen, and bathing water to the upper floors, will be on show and the “Cabinet of Curiosities” displays everyday kitchen and dining items which were used in the castle, for both informal dining, with the Duke and his family, and for more formal banqueting occasions.
A selection of detailed recreations of the uniforms worn by the housekeeper and the 6th Duke’s valet are on display, and in other areas of the Castle, visitors can peek into the servants’ staircase as a housemaid returns to her room, or watch the luggage lift delivering the suitcases to the top floor.
Jess Reid, Marketing Manager for Atholl Estates said: “We are very much looking forward to our re-opening on the 1st of April, and are thrilled to be headlining the forthcoming season with our fascinating, new “Life Below Stairs” exhibition, one of the most interactive exhibitions we have ever staged.
“TV programmes, such as “Downton Abbey”, which has a cult following, have shown that there is an almost insatiable desire to explore what went on “below the stairs” of any stately residence. The nation has been gripped by the concept that for those in service, it was a tireless duty to serve, with roles often being passed down through the same local families.”
Blair Castle Archivist, Keren Guthrie, said: “Together with my exhibits team, it has been our pleasure to put this new exhibition together. We very much enjoyed doing the research and deciding what aspects to display to the public, working together to make the exhibition as interactive and fun as possible. We particularly wanted it to appeal to children, as we get a great many families visiting over the summer.
“The recreation of the various staff uniforms was painstakingly done, to be as accurate as possible, so I’d like to thank everybody for pulling together to achieve that. We’re confident that everyone who comes along to “Life Below Stairs” this season will very much enjoy it, each finding their own favourite and most engaging aspects. Perhaps they can see themselves as a Head Butler in a fine house or Castle, presiding over the other servants, or maybe they identify with what a young scullery maid would have felt like when faced with the wrath of the Head Cook? Or are they the Duke’s Valet, ensuring that he looks as resplendent as possible?”
Jess Reid said that “it wouldn’t be the Summer Season at Blair Castle without the traditional Atholl Gathering and Highland Games,” reminding everyone that this year the showcase event would be held on Sunday 25 May 2025.
She said: “If you’ve never attended this event before, you’re in for a real treat of colour, spectacle and pageantry.
“The Atholl Highlanders will officially open the Highland Games with a ‘March On’, led by the sound of their pipes and drums. This will be followed by performances from strongmen from all around Scotland, taking centre stage in the Games to battle it out.
“They’ll compete in caber tossing, putting the shot and throwing the hammer. Fabulous Highland dancing, a tug o’ war, solo piping, stands and refreshments will add to the overall experience which is certainly a fun day out for all the family.”
Other events happening over the summer, at the Castle which is itself a five star visitor attraction, include “An evening of Rossini & Schubert”, whilst Julia, the Atholl Estates Ranger, runs a series of Spring, Summer and October activities for children, with fun crafting activities, ranger experiences, and storytelling, particularly good for younger children.
Jess said: “With all types of edible and medicinal plants found in the grounds of Blair Castle and its Gardens, these events combine a walk in beautiful habitat, with a learning experience, in the safe and experienced hands of our expert, Tamara. She will pass on lifelong identification techniques, inspiring recipe ideas, and a wealth of ethnobotanical tales, ending with wild tea and homemade cake & biscuits in Hercules Garden.”
https://atholl-estates.co.uk/events/
