Explore this poignant museum dedicated to one of Scotland’s most famous local regiments.
The Black Watch Regimental Museum honors the Black Watch, Scotland’s oldest Highland regiment. Through an impressive collection of artifacts, paintings, archival photographs and audiovisual displays, the museum tells the story of the regiment from its origins in the 18th century up to the present day. Learn about the regiment’s important role in the harsh trench warfare of World War I. See historic uniforms, weaponry, medals and some of the soldiers’ personal items.
The museum in set in Balhousie Castle, which dates back to the 12th century. The Black Watch was formed in 1725 to help the government monitor the Highlands following the 1715 Jacobite Uprising. The regiment was named for the dark color of their tartans, which contrast with the red tartans worn by government troops. The regiment fought in numerous campaigns over the centuries, before eventually being merged with the other Scottish regiments in 2006. Watch the introductory film found near the museum entrance, which provides a brief overview of the Black Watch and its key icons.
Make your way through the museum’s galleries, which are divided into seven chronological galleries followed by five themed galleries. In the first galleries, look for an 18th-century red hackle, a red feather that soldiers wore to distinguish them from the other Highland regiments.
The gallery dedicated to World War I, during which the regiment suffered almost 8,000 casualties, is especially moving. View a kilt worn by a young officer, preserved complete with the mud of the trenches where he died in 1916. See the shockingly crude gas masks worn by soldiers for protection, as well as memorial plaques awarded to relatives of those who lost their lives.
Find out if any temporary exhibitions are taking place during your visit. These rotating exhibitions often focus on the personal collections of Black Watch men, providing emotional insight into their lives and families.
The Black Watch Regimental Museum is open daily and hours vary by season. There is an admission fee. Guided tours of the museum are available for an additional charge. The museum is within walking distance of the center of Perth, though parking is offered on-site for those with cars. Get caught up in the victories and defeats of this legendary regiment.
