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….. as a home for
the Factor of the historic Methven Castle estate. Originally known
as Woodend, it is a traditional stone built property, typical of
the style of the age. The house was extended in 1907 when Colonel
Smythe, the laird of Methven Castle estate, moved out of the Castle
and into the house with his family. The Moulinalmond House motto
"Mediis Tranquillus in Undus" ('in the middle of tranquil
waters') can be seen above the French windows on the south-west
facing side of the main house.
In the Scottish Wars of Independence, in the late 13th
and early 14th centuries, both William Wallace (of 'Braveheart'
fame) and Robert the Bruce (King of Scotland) fought skirmishes
in the adjacent Methven Wood while preparing to besiege Perth. The
Wood was also associated with the Marquis of Montrose, arguably
the finest Scottish soldier ever, who fought the Battle of Tippermuir
nearby in 1644. Ultimately the estate came into the possession of
the Scottish Royal Family, the Stuarts and a number of Scottish
monarchs, including the celebrated James the Fourth, stayed in the
Castle and hunted in the woods and surrounding countryside.
The estate came into the possession of the Smythes, a prosperous
Perthshire family, in 1664 and the Castle remained in their family
until 1922 when it was sold off. Interestingly Miss Barbara Smythe,
daughter of Col. Smythe, lived almost all her life at Moulinalmond
until the late 1980's. The Smythe family still live and farm in
the area around Methven.
Suggested Background reading
and reference
'The Perthshire Book' Edited
by Donald Omand--published by Birlinn Press (1999)
'The Stewart Trilogy' by Nigel Tranter - published by Hodder
& Stoughton, ISBN: 0340391154
'David Douglas: Botanist and Explorer' by Ann Lindsay Mitchell
and Syd House--published by Aurum Press (1999)
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