From time to time visitors to our Battleby office ask about the buildings and gardens here.  For those of you planning a visit or interested in hiring our conference centre facilities we thought you might like a little insight to the office we occupy just north of Perth.

The present Battleby House was built during the period 1861–1863 for James Maxtone Graham, 13^th Laird of Cultoquhey and 6^th Laird of Redgorton, the surnames Maxtone and Graham originated by intermarriage of the Graemes of Balgowan and the Maxtones of Cultoquhey in the mid-17^th century.

Battleby House.

Before the land at Battleby was bought by this family, the property was owned by the Lynedoch Lairds of Redgorton. Battleby House now stands on the site of a farmhouse that was once known as Redgorton Farm and was presumably occupied by tenants as part of the Lynedoch Estates.

In 1901, forty years after the building of Battleby House, a new home farm was built about a quarter of a mile to the east. The Maxtone Grahams continued as owners of Battleby until 1947 when the property was sold to Sir Alexander Cross.

Sir Alexander had leased Battleby for a number of years before 1947, apparently he was one of several occupants over a number of years who leased the house from the Maxtone Grahams. For example, there is a reference in Burke’s Peerage to an Archibald Coates of Battleby, Perthshire, who died in 1912.

Battleby conference centre

Battleby House was used as a hospital during World War I, possibly after it was no longer occupied by the Coates family. After Sir Alexander Cross’ death in 1963, the house was purchased by Mr S A Hay, who lived at Battleby until its sale to the Countryside Commission for Scotland in 1970.

The Countryside Commission for Scotland bought Battleby as its headquarters. Before occupying the premises in 1972, the old stables buildings were altered extensively to create the Battleby Centre, which consisted then of an auditorium for 200 people with one adjacent classroom. The high quality of the conversion was recognised with an award by the Royal Institution of Architects for Scotland.

Battleby conference centre

When Scottish Natural Heritage was established in 1992, following the merger between the Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland, it inherited the property.

Today Battleby Centre is available for commercial hire and offers a unique setting for conferences or business meetings. Ample on-site parking, state of the art conference facilities, quality catering and a professional service are all enhanced by the grounds and historic woodland garden. Book your event now by completing our booking form at http://www.snh.gov.uk/contact-us/battleby-conference-centre/.

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Battleby Auditorium.