Alternative Names Castle Weem
Site type COUNTRY HOUSE, TOWER HOUSE
Canmore ID 25670
Site Number NN84NW 7.00
NGR NN 83701 49613
Council PERTH AND KINROSS
Parish WEEM
Former Region TAYSIDE
Former District PERTH AND KINROSS
Former County PERTHSHIRE

Canmore Mapping
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Archaeological Notes

NN84NW 7.00 83701 49613

NN84NW 7.01 NN 83802 49731 Walled Garden

For (predecessor) 'Weem Castle' or the 'Place of Weem' (NN c. 83 49), see NN84NW 8.

For garden (NN 8376 4961), Home Farm (NN 83158 49372) and West Lodge (NN 8290 4935), see NN84NW 63, NN84NW 99, NN84NW 100 respectively.

(NN 8369 4961) Castle Menzies (NR) (AD 1571)
OS 6" map, Perthshire, 2nd ed., (1901)

Castle Menzies was the seat of the chiefs of the Clan Menzies for a long period. Built on the Z-plan in the second half of the 16th century, it had large extensions to N and W added in 1840 and later, in the same style of architecture.
Now unoccupied, the Clan Menzies Society intend to preserve at least the original part of the house as a clan centre.
Castle Menzies replaced 'The Place of Weem' (NN84NW 8).
D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92; N Tranter 1963.

The original Z-plan castle is currently being renovated. A heraldic panel above the door of the castle is dated 1571. The 19th century additions to the N have been demolished.
Visited by OS (J M) 11 December 1974.

No change to previous field report.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (J R L) 1 December 1978.

Architectural Notes

ARCHITECT: William Burn 1836 Alterations and additions (New Wing)

REFERENCE:
Scottish Record Office:

Neill Campbell, lime quarrier at Blair:
1738, burning at lime kiln

McLearin (or McClaren), James, mason in Rower,
1738-1739, work in quarry,
slaping drawing room, winning flags, building park at Bromhall, building gate and dyke, rigging stone for house of Colwell Total (pounds) 121.9.8 Sc

McGlasshan, James, smith in Larchlosk
1739, April, work at lime quarry (lime burning and blasting stones at garden of Weem)
(pounds) 57.12

Toshach, Angus, mason,
1736-1737, work at quarry (pounds) 62.6.10
1739, work at Biggin parks and kiln (pounds) 38.15.4

all GD 50/134/5 (Menzies of Weem)

1746 ff Endless petitions, inventories and memorials, incl. to D. of Cumberland via Sir Edw. Fawkener, from Sir Rob. Menzies claiming (pounds) 200 damage done to Castle Menzies by garrisin, with letter to him from Fawkener (3 May 1750) disclaiming Cumberland's responsibility being a Govt matter; and copy Sir Robert to Duke of Argyll (1754) enclosing his memorial to Fawkener to present to Cumberland, being urgent as he cannot use house till repaired, and begging him to "Countenance my Claim which I have rather keept on the moderate side than otherways": sent to MrMackenzie to present to Henry Pelham, and to Baron Maule to present to Argyll.
McGregor Colln GD50/128

1747 Word done by: Daniel Ross, upholsterer, Alexr Dallas, silk dyer, Adam Anderson, pewterer, Andrew Wilson, smith, James McLearin, mason (for kitchen and cellar repairs) (all of Edinburgh) with dimensions and names of room at Castle Menzies, and notes of court actions on same 1746-1749 and attestations of some damage made by David Hendrie (or Henry) wright at Taymouth, and Donald Menzies, wright at Castle Menzies or Weem (1746).
Other work by Duncan McLaren, coppersmith, Edinburgh - 1747.
See also under JOHN DOUGLAS.
McGregor Colln GD50/128

Masonwork at Castle Menzies. Account for mason's time due to Alexander Gowan.
1738 GD/369/135

NMRS REFERENCE:
PLANS:
Dunn & Findlay Collection alterations to drainage system 1903

Anon (1930) 'Weem Castle, Aberfeldy', Scot Country Life, vol.1928-1930 July
Page(s): 214

Christison, D (1883) 'On the grated iron doors of Scottish castles and towers', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.17
Page(s): 126-9

Household, H (1973) 'Castle Menzies, Perthshire', Country Life, vol.154, 3976 (6 September 1973)
Page(s): 654-7 Held at RCAHMS D.13.23.MEN.P

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92) The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, 5v Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol. 4, 37 plan, illust Held at RCAHMS F.5.21.MAC

Outterside, N (1994) History rebuilt: Castle Menzies was a dilapidated ruin, but years of painstaking restoration work by the clan have restored the symbol of its heritage [newscutting], The Scotsman 17 October 1994
Held at RCAHMS Ta Pe.N

Scottish Field Vols for 1950-1990 held. Issues for June, October - December 1952, January - February 1953, April - December 1953, September 1980, January - February 1981, all of 1986 and April 1987 missing. East Kilbride
Page(s): October 1969, pages 14, 15, 16 Held at RCAHMS P.16

Tranter, N (1962-70) 'The fortified house in Scotland', Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol. 2, 36 Held at RCAHMS F.5.21.TRA

anon (post-1969) Castle Menzies, Weem, Perthshire, Typescript
Held at RCAHMS D.13.23.MEN.P