Balfour Castle

Balfour House
Orkney
Balfour Castle
Location
Grid reference:	HY47481642
Location:	59°1’54"N, 2°54’60"W
Village:	Balfour
History
	Built 1847
	Country house
Information

Balfour Castle is a grand mansion on the southwest of Shapinsay, one of the islands of Orkney. It stands in the hamlet named Balfour, the island's only village, both the village and the house being named for their founder, Colonel David Balfour.

Though built around an older structure that dates at least from the 18th century, the present castle was built in 1847, commissioned by Colonel Balfour, and designed by Edinburgh architect David Bryce.

Prehistory

The small island of Shapinsay has been inhabited since prehistoric times, the most notable evidence being the extant Broch of Burroughston, located not far from Balfour Castle to the northeast; moreover, the Mor Stein standing stone dating to the stone age is found also to the east of Balfour Castle, evidencing even earlier presence of man in the vicinity.

Balfour Castle seen afar off from Elwick

Outside links ("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Balfour Castle) References J.Gunn, Orkney, the Magnetic North, Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh (1932) C.Michael Hogan. , Burroughston Broch, The Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham, 7 October 2007