Building record MAB14325 - CULLEN HOUSE

Mansion, home of the Ogilvies, Earls of Seafield.

Mansion, home of the Ogilvies, Earls of Seafield. Mention is made of Inverculain as early as 1264, and there has been various additions made since then. It is now a substantial turreted mansion that forms an extended Z-plan. It is 2-to 4-storey in height, and is rubble built with some harling and tooled and ashlar dressings, margins and crowstepped gables, and is housed on a rocky bluff overlooking Cullen burn. An L-plan tower house was built in 1600-2, on the site of an earlier site that is traditionally connected with a single storey range of cells housing clergy of collegiate church, now the Old Parish Church (NJ56NW0002), and it possibly incorporates some of this earlier fabric. There is a tower at the southeast angle with a long wing to the west of pre-1602 origin. There is substantial late 17th century and early 18th century building. Plans for a large 3-storey house in the courtyard of the house, drawn up in 1709 by Smith and McGill Architects for James, the Third Earl of Findlater, were never implemented following the Third Earl's death in 1711. The principal surviving additions and alterations are those in Scottish Baronial style by David Bryce in 1858-59, including a new south elevation with large windows in the long west wing of the tower at the southeast angle. A substantial doorpiece was inserted into the 1602 3-storey range to the north by David Bryce, which is modelled on the early design, but also has large rampant lions flanking it. The north facing elevation to the courtyard retains the 17th century details and earlier fabric, with some regularisation of the windows. The east facing range has a nearly symmetrical main elevation, and the square tower at the south from 1668 has some reworking. There are recessed bays from 1602. The north tower of 1711-14 has ogee roofed angle turrets and crenellations. The windows are in a variety of shapes, but are mainly sash and case with small panes, except for Bryce's large inserted windows which are plate glass. Numerous windows break the wallhead, with elaborate dormerheads. The U-plan 2-storey service wings at north, including the former kitchen, are now divided as cottages and dwellings. These are 2-storey, with harled, ashlar margined windows and door openings. There are ridge, end and wallhead stacks of various dates and slate roofs. Some of the slate is re-used from Rannas House (NJ46SE0005). The original entrance to the tower is in the tight angle at the south end of the north-south range, with a roll moulded door that is now blocked by a window, and an elaborate doorpiece with stylised waisted pilasters and heraldic medallions and diminutive angle turrets near the wallhead. There is a square tower at the south from 1668, with some reworking, and a painted ceiling from circa 1662 in the former library. The Mansion was sold by Earl of Seafield in 1981 to Kit Martin, who has it converted by architect Douglas Forrest into 13 self-contained flats in 1982-84. It is divided vertically into the separate dwellings, retaining various original staircases and public rooms. There is a mid-18th century wrought-iron balustrade to the former main staircase, and a panelled entrance hall with a Dutch tiled fireplace. The mid-18th century kitchen with a moulded ceiling cornice is now converted as a dwelling and architect's office. The south and southwest portion was badly damaged by fire in 1987, which destroyed the painted ceiling, and restoration took place in 1988. The contemporary ceiling painting was completed in 2006 to replace the one that was fire damaged. The Bridge of Cullen (NJ56NW0045) is crossed at the west entrance to the mansion. The Temple of Pomona (NJ56NW0044) is associated with the house, and the gardens (NJ56NW0067) are circa 750 metres south-southwest of the house. There is a bell that originates from Dundurcas Church (NJ35SW0003). The house sits within a designed landscape (NJ56NW0416).

Period Notes
Mentioned in 1264, and the core of the present house was built in 1600-02, incorporating an earlier manor. A painted ceiling from circa 1662 and carving and square tower from 1668 were added. The east wing was extended in 1711, and the Doric columned gateway built in 1767. The east front was extended in 1769, and there were alterations in 1858-9. The house was sold in 1981 and converted to flats in 1982-4. It was substantially damaged in a fire, and the painted ceiling ruined in June 1987, with restoration taking place in 1988. The modern ceiling painting was finished in 2006. Designated in 22/02/1972.

Img 329 - 333, Img 329 - 333 (Ground Photograph). SAB36048.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 01/11/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 04/06/85 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 10/07/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 18/06/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 18/06/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

p.1, 10

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 22/06/1989 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 27/04/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, v.III,2nd series, p.1-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

JERVISE, A, 1862, PSAS 4(1860-2) 578-592, 588-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB892.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL 4, 294 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

BOGDAN, NQ, 1991, Castles, Manors & Town House survey, 36 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2251.

Aug 1 2018 , AAS-GR-18-08-038 - 046, AAS-GR-18-08-038 - 046 (Ground Photograph). SAB35438.

Aug 6 1983 , AAS/83/14/R33/11, AAS/83/14/R33/11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31034.

Aug 12 1989 , JG 6-22, JG 6-22 (Ground Photograph). SAB33710.

Aug 17 1978 , AAS/78/06/S7/34, AAS/78/06/S7/34 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31033.

Aug 17 1978 , AAS/78/6/CT15, AAS/78/6/CT15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31965.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT245-251, AAS/GR/89/CT245-251 (Ground Photograph). SAB32765.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS/10/3/DG1924-30,1932, AAS/10/3/DG1924-30,1932 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30757.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, CULLEN 4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., COUNTRY LIFE, No20(1906) 378-83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB276.

RITCHIE, CA, n.d., CULLEN HOUSE - AN ILLUS SURVEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB1548.

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 18/06/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 05/06/1992 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 05/11/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 08/10/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 16/11/1989 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 19/06/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 21/11/81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 25/11/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 26/11/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Sep 10 1996 , AAS/96/17/CT21-24,26, AAS/96/17/CT21-24,26 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32115.

Sep 10 1996 , AAS/96/17/G42/1-10, AAS/96/17/G42/1-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31292.

Record last edited

Oct 2 2023 4:43PM