Brodie Castle
Map of this area

The castle in Moray has been the seat of the Brodies since the mid 11th C when the land came into the family. The 12th Brodie built a Z-plan tower house in 1567. Additions in the 17C and again in 1824 give us the house we see today, still the home of the 25th Brodie of Brodie. Brodie is also known for its famous collection of Brodie daffodils to be seen in spring.

Interiors of various periods are the setting for a splendid collection of paintings and some exquisite timepieces and French furniture. The contrast is striking as one passes from the starkness of the Guard Chamber, in one of the original towers, then across the Entrance Hall once the kitchen, to the 19C Library, an extension by William Burn. the noted country house architect. On the way upstairs note a painting by Guido Reni and Paul Van Somer's Henry, Prince of Wales (d 1612), eldest brother of Charles I.

The Dining-Room, part of the 17C extension, has an amazingly ornate plasterwork ceiling of uncertain date, which was painted brown in the 19C. Under the gaze of family portraits, the table is set with a Chinese export armorial service. The Blue Sitting Room's early 17C plasterwork ceiling incorporates the thistle and rose motifs. The Red Drawing-Room, once the High Hall. gathers together the 17C Dutch and Flemish works (Gerard Dou, Mytens). The 19C Drawing-Room with its delicately decorative compartmented ceiling, is hung with a variety of interesting canvases: Van Dyck's Charles I and Romney's portrait (a copy) of Jane. Duchess of Gordon with her son George who as 5th Duke of Gordon married Elizabeth Brodie.

Much of the French furniture came through Elizabeth, in particular two exquisite pieces: the ingenious Louis XV bed table and the Hedouin bureau plat. The Best Bedroom has 18C lacquer furniture. The William and Mary twin-domed cabinet doubles as a secretaire, with secret compartments. In the rooms beyond there is a changing selection from the art collection which includes Scottish works by Peploe, Gillies and McTaggart and 18C and 19C English watercolours.