Building record MAB10398 - BELDORNEY CASTLE

Castle, dating from the 1550s, comprising a Z-plan Tower House and later additions.

Castle, dating from the 1550s, comprising a Z-plan Tower House and later additions. The Gordons came to Beldorney about 1500. In 1554 Gordon Beldorney is recorded as buying the property of Wester Fowlis from Huntly, although much of the present house dates from the first half of the 17th century. The main castle block is rectangular on a north-south axis. At the southeast angle is a drum tower which has lost two of its upper floors. Located at the northwest angle is smaller square stair tower. Two wings were built in 17th century, that to the north was remodelled twice in 19th century, latterly by A Marshall Mackenzie, the south wing was rebuilt in later 18th century. The wings formed a paved courtyard enclosed by a wall and gateway. Over the gateway is a stone bearing the date 1678, believed to belong to additions to the earlier building. The original entrance is to the west, within the courtyard, in the foot of the stairtower, now blocked and made into a window. A pair of square panel recesses are set above the original doorway which would have contained the arms and the initials of the original builder. The new entrance was moved to the centre of the north face of the main towerblock. Above this door is built in a sacrament house of unusual design, which may have come from the Walla' Kirk. Painted ceilings and mural painted decoration discovered in Priest's room. A further wing was added to the north in the late Victorian period. Many changes to original building. Arrowheads from around area on display in castle under separate entries. Internally the ground floor is vaulted as normal. The hall at the first floor was divided into dining and drawing rooms in the late 17th century when bolection-moulded chimney pieces and coved ceilings were added. Extensive refurbishment was carried out between 1982 and 1988. Photographic survey was carried out in 2014 of the west gable of the cottage wing prior to its reconstruction, and a watching brief was carried out by MAS in July-August 2014, during dismantling and rebuilding of the gable. The existing walls were of rubble stone, externally harled with concrete. It had been built directly on a bank of natural sand, with no foundations for the gable or south wall of the wing or wall of the courtyard. No evidence for any earlier south wing extending as far as the gable was found. A number of mason's marks reported in 2014, were recorded by MAS. The marks, exposed by removal of a door, are on the doorway at the ground floor of the southeast tower and represent two masons. One of the marks is also recorded from two other 16th century castles in Aberdeenshire (Huntly and Degatie castles), and also on the 16th century Old Bridge of Dee in Aberdeen. The second mark is also recorded at Drumminor.

Period Notes
Built 1550s, gateway and courtyard wall built 1673; first floor room 1713. Remodelled later 17th century and twice in 19th century; S wing rebuilt later 18th century; N wing 1830, additions and repairs (also restoration of gatehouse) 1890; restored 1982-8. Listed 16/04/1971.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 03/04/65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL VI 1928,173-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No15(1870) 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, 24-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.

SLADE, HG, 1974, PSAS 105(1972-4) 262-80, 264-280 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1694.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2014, ELDORNEY CASTLE, GLASS, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5127.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2014, MASON'S MARKS BELDORNEY CASTLE, GLASS, ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB5124.

ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, p.27 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.

Feb 17 2000 , AAS/00/05/CT89, AAS/00/05/CT89 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12599.

Mar 1 1985 , EB 2-3, EB 2-3 (Ground Photograph). SAB12793.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, GLASS 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Oct 3 2014 , APP/2014/0543, APP/2014/0543 (Ground Photograph). SAB20954.

Sep 24 1994 , SC 990311, SC 990311 (Ground Photograph). SAB12981.

Record last edited

Feb 23 2026 9:45AM