A railway bridge elegantly disguised as part of a medieval style entrance to Castle Grant.
Region:
Red Wheel Site:
Transport Mode(s):
Address:
Castle Grant, Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire PH26 3PS
Postcode:
Visitor Centre:
Website:
Visit website
The original main line of the Highland Railway between Inverness and Perth was by way of Forres and was completed in 1863. About a mile north of Grantown-on-Spey it was desirable to cross the estate of the the landowner, the Head of the Clan Grant of Strathspey.
A railway bridge over the main road was linked to a Scottish baronial style entrance lodge and a mock-medieval gateway into the park. A private platform was provided . A short distance further north an estate road crossed the railway and here an ornamental and over-elaborate three arched bridge was built.
The two-storey stone built structure, known as Lady Catherine's Halt, displays typical Baronial motifs such as crow-stepped gables and stair turrets. The railway bridge is stone built with decorative parapet. The halt enabled the Lords and Ladies of the estate to transfer directly from the train through the building and downstairs to a waiting horse and carriage, all without being exposed to the elements for too long a period.
During the late 20th century the castle became derelict with dry rot throughout the wooden timbers in the upper floors and attic. The late Lord Strathspey (the father of the current Chief) speculated that when soldiers were quartered in the castle in the 1940's, during World War II, that the repeated mopping of the floors, a military exercise in order and cleanliness, caused a terrible dry rot to set into the timbers which slowly demolished the upper floors of the building. It seems that many of the castles in Scotland that housed troops during this period suffered similar problems. The castle left the hands of the Clan Grant in the 1970's and passed through a series of owners. It was most recently sold in 2006.
By Road: About 1 mile north of Grantown on Spey on A939

Castle Grant- history
Castle Grant - images
Clan Grant- UK
Clan Grant- US
Grantown-on-Spey Station - 'L.M.& S.R. Highland Division - Plan of Water Supplies to Tank at Grantown-on-Spey'