Castle of Mey

Castle of Mey (formerly Barrogill Castle), located in the north of Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland (2006).

Barrogill Castle was in a semi-derelict state when, in 1952, the estate was purchased by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the widow of George VI, who had died earlier that year.

The Queen Mother set about restoring the castle for use as a holiday home,[9] removing some of the 19th-century additions, and reinstated the castle's original name. As part of the restoration, the castle was for the first time supplied with electricity and water.[10]

Other work done in 1953–1954 included making the castle weathertight and habitable, as well as painting and plastering. The castle interior was also refurbished over the next few years. The west wing restoration was not completed until 1960.[8]

The Queen Mother hung several portraits of the previous owners, the Earls of Caithness, around the castle. She regularly visited it in August and October from 1955 until her death in March 2002; the last visit was in October 2001.

In July 1996, the Queen Mother made the property, the policies and the farm over to the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, which has opened the castle and garden to the public regularly since her death.[11] It is now open seven days a week from 1 May until 30 September each year, with a closed period of ten days at the end of July and the beginning of August, when King Charles III and Queen Camilla, usually stay at Mey. The Trust opened a new Visitor Centre in early 2007, and the visitor numbers for that year topped 29,000.[12]

The Castle of Mey Trust was established by a Deed of Trust executed on 11 June 1996.[13] Its president was the then Prince of Wales. The Trust would manage the property; its mandate was "to secure the future of the building, advance historical and architectural education, to develop the native breeds of Aberdeen Angus and Cheviot sheep and to undertake projects for the benefit of the local community", according to one report. After 2002, the Trust opened the castle for five months each summer to generate revenue that would sustain the property. In 2018, nearly 30,000 visits were recorded.[8]

As of March 2014, the Trustees included former royal equerry Ashe Windham (chairman), the 20th Earl of Caithness, the 3rd Viscount Thurso, and Sir Ian Grant. There are also a number of Honorary Patrons associated with the trust: Lady Elizabeth Anson, Ken Bruce, Susan Hampshire, Kirsty King, Khalid bin Mahfouz, and Alan Titchmarsh (who is noted as being the first Honorary Patron). The trust together with the Friends and Patrons helped to maintain and promote the castle and all fundraising events.

Maintenance work completed by the Trust in 2018, including roof repairs, rewiring of the interior and lime harling of the exterior.

On 1 January 2019, stewardship of the Trust passed to The Prince's Foundation.[8] The president of the Foundation is Charles III. Since 1 January 2019, he has been not only the president of the Castle of Mey Trust but also its sole Trustee, through the Foundation.[14] The Foundation stated its intention to retain the Trust's goals:

"...the preservation of buildings and monuments; the promotion of historical and architectural education; the preservation of the Aberdeen Angus breed of cattle, and the championing of wider benefits to the community, while the Duke of Rothesay and The Prince's Foundation is certain to make the continuation of his grandmother’s legacy a priority."[15]

In early May 2019, the Prince of Wales (now Charles III) formally opened a new building, Granary Lodge,[16] as a 10-bedroom bed and breakfast on the castle grounds. This building combined the previous stables and granary.[17] During the planning stages, it was decided to have "eco-heating" and to use local materials and craftsmen where possible.[17]

Granary Lodge is one of the first ventures under the stewardship of The Prince's Foundation.[18] The business is owned and operated by the Trust and planned to accept guests starting on 15 May 2019. Profits will go to maintaining and operating the estate as a tourist destination.[19]

In January 2023, it was reported that the castle tearoom would be open to the public every Tuesday until March as a warming center, an initiative by the Prince's Foundation.[20]