Page 48 - wadirum

Century old painting of Glamis Castle
in the winter. Below; The Crypt where
the Devil plays cards. Opposite: Young
Queen Elizabeth and a photo wall at
the castle.

"My family have lived at Glamis Castle since 1372,” writes We first entered the dramatic, high-ceilinged Dining Room,
Michael Bowes-Lyon, the 18th Earl of Strathmore and King- in a wing of the castle demolished in 1775 and rebuilt 1798-
horne, in the guidebook. He and his third wife--and his 1801. It was later designed during 1851-53 and its table, cir-
youngest son, age 11-- currently reside here. ca 1850s—ladened with valuable antique silver, china, cut-
lery and glass--can seat 36. Its main feature is a massive oak
Although the main entrance is actually in the front—at the fireplace; large family portraits hang on the walls.
end of the long drive—visitors use the “back door” for small,
group-guided tours through From the elegant Dining Room
10 principal rooms. Some we entered a 10-foot hidden
120,000 tour it annually. door and were immediately
transformed from the Victo-
The castle didn’t have elec- rian era to the Middle Ages!
tricity until 1929, and one Here we were in the castle’s
can imagine how eerie it Crypt, complete with suits of
must have been in the dark- armor. Formerly the Lower
ened passageways, holding Hall of the 15th century tower
a flickering candle or lan- house, it's where the servants
tern to climb the 143 wide, once slept and ate. From here
stone steps on the large cen- they would nervously peer
tral, spiral staircase which through a small hole in the
wind to the top of its 17th wall to the Dining Room to see
century tower. when to serve the next course!

48 Wine Dine & Travel 2016