Poignant reminders of glories past and lives lost adorn every wall and fill every cabinet in Balhousie Castle.
Over more than 300 years The Black Watch has carved out a reputation as one of the world’s finest fighting forces, earning honours in conflicts and theatres of war around the globe.
As far back as 1745 then known as the 43rd Regiment of Foot the regiment saw action against the French at the First Battle of Fontenoy.
Since then, in the Americas, West Indies, India, Crimea and South Africa in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, during the war in Europe and, most recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands have made the final sacrifice in its colours.
Those behind the £3.5 million rejuvenation of the regiment’s spiritual home hope there will be many thousands keen to hear their gallant story.
And with more than 400 passing the Black Watch Muesum’s doors as it opened to the public for the first time in 12 months on Tuesday those hopes appear set to be met.
Arriving just seconds after 9.30am were Denis and Esther Platt from Eccles in Salford, who were given a warm welcome by Black Watch Museum Trust chief executive Alfie Iannetta.
Mr Iannetta admitted he was stunned by the response and is already considering new staff for the attraction.
“All I ever wanted was to see something created that would carry on The Black Watch name forever,” he said. “This is what we have been dreaming about for the past five years and I am hugely proud of what we have delivered here.
“The important thing now that the museum is reopened is that people now come here and enjoy it.
“Our first visitors arrived the moment we opened the doors and we’ve since welcomed around 400 people. It’s been incredible and way beyond any expectations we had.”
The museum also welcomed its first school visit, with youngsters from Ceres Primary School enjoying a guided tour.
They also became the first to make use of the museum’s new classroom, where they undertook a project on the Second World War.
Meanwhile, the new caf was filled with happy eaters, who sampled a menu created through consultation with previous visitors and filled with nods to military life, such as the regimental breakfast.
“I couldn’t be any happier with the reopening,” Mr Iannetta said.
In addition to an extended educational outreach programme, a series of special exhibitions will be mounted, with the first entitled The Sword and the Pencil.
Learning and audience officer Rebecca Berger said: “Our first special exhibition will highlight artworks from the museum’s large collection of prints, photographs, sketches and watercolours.”
* Stunned museum staff discovered a haul of antique newspapers after opening a soldier’s rucksack which had been untouched for half a century.
In preparation for the reopening of The Black Watch museum, curators opened the bag belonging to Major Sir Peter Halkett and discovered the precious haul.
Some of the newspapers stuffed inside were more than 150 years old, with the most recent from 42 years later in 1900.
The earliest is a copy of The Field, the Country Gentlemen’s Newspaper, dated Saturday March 27 1858, and the latest is a copy of the Times, dated Friday January 5 1900.
The regiment, which became a battalion under recent army reforms, is mentioned in the 1900 paper in a letter written to the editor.
Although the knapsack has been in the collection for a number of years, this is the first time the contents have been seen since they were originally placed inside.
Halkett carried the bag as a lieutenant, and later a captain, in the 42nd during the Crimean War.
Emma Halford-Forbes, the museum curator, said the find had come as a complete surprise, despite the familiarity of the object.
She said: “The knapsack was used in the Crimean campaign and it was part of his kit. We assume he put the newspaper in to keep its shape when it didn’t have his kit in it any more.
“We’ve had the object for 50 years and it was really interesting that nobody had noticed before.”
Major Halkett was originally from Pitfirrane, which is now a part of Dunfermline.
He fought at the battle of the Alma in the Crimea, carrying the colours which are also now housed at the museum a moment which is immortalised in a painting by military artist Robert Gibb, entitled Alma: Forward the 42nd.
Find out more at www.theblackwatch.co.uk