Description of the attraction
Balhouse Castle is located in Perth, Scotland. It stands on a stone terrace above North Inch City Park. The main buildings of the castle date back to 1631, although the castle on this site was founded three hundred years earlier. The territory of the castle was surrounded by a wall. The owners of the castle did not live in it permanently, and by the beginning of the 19th century, the castle finally fell into decay and in 1862-63. was rebuilt in baronial style under the direction of the architect David Smart.
In 1962, the castle housed the headquarters and museum of the Black Watch. The 43rd Infantry, known as the Black Watch, is the oldest regiment of the Scottish Highlanders. Back in 1667, by order of King Charles II, the Highland Watch was formed, which was subsequently disbanded, but in 1725, after the Jacobite uprising in 1715, King George II again forms the Scottish regiment from members of the clans loyal to him - Campbells, Grants, Frazers and Munroes. Six units were stationed in the highlands of Scotland, their responsibility was to suppress inter-clan conflicts, prevent looting and monitor the implementation of laws on disarmament of the population.
Then the regiment takes part in many military campaigns abroad. His first battle was the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. Although British troops were defeated in this battle, the bravery and fury with which the Scottish regiment fought was noted by everyone. Then there were military operations in India, America and again in Europe. The 42nd Infantry Regiment (and by that time it was no longer 43rd, but 42nd, and the second battalion, number 73, was allocated from its composition) took part in the Battle of Waterloo. The regiment distinguished itself in the Crimean and Boer War. In World War II, the Black Watch fought wherever British forces fought, from Palestine to Normandy. In the 21st century, the regiment continues to take part in military operations.
Now it is impossible to say exactly where the name "Black Watch" came from. This is most often explained by the fact that the uniform tartan (tartan) of the regiment was of dark colors, blue and green, and also by the fact that the regiment often had to patrol at night. Now this blue-green tartan color is called “Black Watch”. Another distinctive element of the form is a bright red feather (hackle) attached to the headdress.
The museum displays exhibits telling about the history of the Black Watch, many drawings, documents and photographs, regimental uniforms from different periods.
