 Tulliallan Castle, is a 160 year old
mixture of Gothic and Italian style architecture set amid some 90
acres of parkland just north of where the Kincardine Bridge spans
the River Forth, is the home of the Scottish Police College.
It was built for George Keith Elphinstone, Admiral Lord Keith one
time senior officer of Lord Nelson, from money received from prize
ships, by a labour force said to include French prisoners of war.
During the Second World War its history took on a further international
dimension when it was used by the Free Polish Army as their headquarters
in Scotland.
Prior to the Second World War there was no central training for
police officers in Scotland, but immediately thereafter it was decided
that probationer constables from all forces should be trained centrally
and that some form of higher training for more senior officers should
also be provided. The result was Tulliallan from the Gaelic Tulach-Aluin
(beautiful knoll) was purchased in 1950 by the then Scottish Home
Department for £9,100. The building was modernised and renovated
and the first courses for inspectors and sergeants began in 1954.
Renovations and Modernisation
After extensive renovation and modernisation the first courses
for Sergeants and Inspectors began in 1954. Over the next 24 years
large sums were spent on improving the College facilities. The foundation
stone of the Junior Division was laid in October 1958, and the completed
extensions containing kitchens, dining room and an assembly hall
for 300, linked to accommodation and classroom blocks that were
opened in 1960. The Castle, stables and garages at Blackhall were
converted for driver training in 1964, and a skid pan, manoeuvreability
area and display rooms for working models were added.
A recreation block with gymnasium, fitness suite, swimming pool,
lounge bar and shop were opened by Her Royal Highness Princess
Margaret in 1966, and a further extension was opened in 1978
providing additional classrooms, a resources library and single
study bedrooms. In 1981 Detective Training also came to
Tulliallan. The Scottish Police College is therefore rare among
central training establishments in the United Kingdom, providing
Senior, Junior, Traffic and Detective Training all on one
campus
The College Crest and Motto
 Lord Lyon, King of Arms, assigned a Coat of Arms to the
College during 1957. It incorporates a thistle, surmounted by a
Crown on a diced Saltire Cross, accompanied by two open books on
a black background and is supported by two Oystercatchers upon a
compartment.
The motto "BI
GLIC-BI GLIC", representing the cry of the Oystercatchers,
translated from Gaelic means "Be wise-be circumspect". It
is the motto to which every student aspires. The Oystercatcher is
known in Gaelic as St. Bride's bird.
According to legend, St. Bride, fleeing during a period of Christian
persecution, fell exhausted on the seashore. The oystercatchers,
seeing her predicament, covered her with seaweed so that her
pursuers passed by without finding her. St. Bride blessed the
birds because they had saved her life and the sign of the cross
appeared on their backs. There after oystercatchers became know
as St. Bride's Birds.
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