However, the Ministry of Defence has insisted the building — which includes the regimental museum — will remain open.

A Regimental Head Quarters (RHQ) for the newly-formed Royal Regiment of Scotland will open at Edinburgh Castle but, contrary to some fears, the move will not spell the end for individual bases, made famous over hundreds of years.

“Following a nationwide review . . . it was determined that the network of existing headquarters which formally supported The Royal Scots, The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, The Black Watch and The Highlanders will be retained,” an MoD spokesman confirmed.

“These headquarters will be designated home headquarters.”

It is understood that the home HQs will continue to provide support to the local communities throughout traditional recruiting areas — Tayside and Fife in the case of The Black Watch.

They will offer support to retired soldiers and their families, as well as helping to preserve what the MoD is terming a “golden thread”, which traces the heritage of the former Scottish regiments.

The MoD also pledged that regimental museums will remain open, quelling fears they too may disappear following amalgamation.

Lieutenant Colonel Niall MacGregor-Smith, Scottish Division Colonel, was glad that previously raised concerns had proved to be unfounded.

He hopes everyone involved with the armed forces north of the border will now embrace the future while remaining mindful of the past.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart was delighted to learn of the decision — but remains cynical over the decision to amalgamate The Black Watch.

“It is a victory of sorts to see that Balhousie is to remain open after vigorous campaigning from politicians and local campaigners. What we must not forget, however, is the fact that the Ministry of Defence merged the Black Watch out of existence against the wishes of the people of Perthshire.”