Interior. 2nd floor. 'Lady Margaret's Room'.
Interior. 1st floor. 'Cecily Blair' room.
Blair Castle, Dalry. Sample detail of window in 1668 block from East.
Blair Castle, Dalry. View from South.
Blair Castle, Dalry. View of 1668 block from West.
Interior. 2nd floor. 'Empire' bedroom.
Detail of doorway from East.
Blair Castle, Dalry. View from South-East.
Blair Castle, Dalry. Interior. Detail of cellar door.
Oblique aerial view centred on the house with the stable block adjacent, taken from the SE.
Blair Castle, Dalry. View from North.
Blair is a large composite mansion; the nucleus appears to have been an oblong tower of great strength, the walls of which reach a thickness of 14ft. This tower has later been integrated with an L-shaped house of mainly 17th century construction, and subsequently added to and altered. The nucleus seems to occupy the angle of the L. The building is of rubble, and is mainly three storeys and an attic in height. The long W wing dates from the second half of the 17th century, and the square stair- tower which occupies the re-entrant angle appears to belong to the same period. The present entrance, at the foot of this, is surmounted by a pediment dated 1662. Above this is a panel dated 1203, which is far too early for this building. There is a smaller tower adjoining and this contains an old doorway dated 1617, with above, two sculptured stones of early workmanship, obviously insertions.
Macgibbon and Ross state that the original tower is certainly not earlier than the 15th century, and probably of 16th century date.
Blair (name confirmed by Miss C M Blair, owner) is as described. It is in use as a residence and is in a good state of repair.
1 Engraving "View on the Jarry, near Blair"
Large mainly C17 tower house incorporating earlier medieval section. One of the two C17 wings was adapted and a further wing in keeping with the existing added in the late C19 by Thomas Leadbetter.