I was delighted to be sent some scans of an article in last week's Dundee Courier, dated 6th April.  This was a letter sent in by a David Storrier of Edinburgh, reminiscing on time he spend with his grandfather at Burnside of Balintore, opposite the gate lodges at Balintore Castle. David enjoyed games of putting with Lady Langman, who stayed at the castle during the summer season.

Lady Langman just so happens to be my favourite previous occupant of the castle. She is the one person who seems to have injected some positive energy into the building, during its long history of neglect. The fact that she played putting with the locals supports the stories I have heard that she liked to throw parties! The article also mentions the gardener Will Crowe. I have heard from other sources that "Willie" was the last person who actually lived in the castle, using the still room in the basement as his bedroom.

The first photograph shows David's grandfather James Storrier. In the background is a clear view of the gates that once existed between the gate lodges. I have never seen these before - they are presumed long gone. I have manged to find digital copies of the article's text and photographs online, and have included these below. Finally, there is camera shot of the printed article showing the components in their published configuration. I would love to know if David Storrier has any more information, does anyone out there have a contact?

James Storrier in front of the castle's gate lodges

Joined in putting

• The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and The Mearns Edition)
• 6 Apr 2017

“An item in a recent Courier Weekend magazine about Balintore Castle interested me,” writes David Storrier of Edinburgh.

“My grandparents lived across the road from the castle gates at Burnside of Balintore where my grandfather, James Storrier, bred blackface sheep.

“I spent many summer holidays from Glasgow staying with my Aunt Susan and going up to the castle with her to visit Will Fenton the gamekeeper and his wife. They lived in a cottage behind the castle.

“On a summer evening, Will Fenton, Will Crowe the gardener, Joe Lindsay the farmer at Balintore Farm and his shepherd Duncan Brown and myself would play a game of putting on the green beside the castle.

“A Lady Langman, who I think was a sister of Lord Lyell, would come up from England and stay for a few weeks and very often joined in the putting.

“The castle had its own hydro electric supply provided by a dam on the hill behind the castle, the water flowing down to a generator at the foot of the hill below Balintore Farm. This was many years before electricity came to the glen in the 1950s.”

historic photo of Balintore Castle

scan of article in Dundee Courier