Building record MAB15222 - HOUSE OF MONYMUSK

Mansion house, the earliest part dating from the 16th century, extended in the 18th century for form an L-plan mansion house.

Mansion house, the earliest part dating from the 16th century, extended in the 18th century for form an L-plan mansion house. The keep of circa 1584 may incorporate older work. It is thought to be the guard or refuge tower of the Priory. Manor believed to have been built from stones of Monymusk Priory after Reformation. It was reconstructed by William Forbes, the last commendator of Monymusk, and sold to the Grants in 1712. Forbes extended the tower to an L-plan chateau, with the addition of a block at least four storeys high with battlements ad corbelled angle rounds. It has a vaulted ground floor, and hall at first floor level retaining its painted ceiling and heraldic panel over the fireplaced. The tops of the second floor windows have hoods resting on sculptured corbels. This wing was considerably altered by Alexander Jaffray, 1719-20, with the removal of the battlements down to the corbel table and addition of a platformed roof with high library on the west and two storeys of bedrooms on the 17th century east-northeast wing. Jaffray also rebuilt the south wing with its circular tower. A 2-storey library wing and the oriel window were added in 1886 by JM Dick Peddie. The house was at one time more extensive, with a railed courtyard to the south and east with a tower pavilion at the angle mirroring the tower on the south. The gates, deigned by Jaffray, to the courtyard are now at the entrance of the south drive. The piers are set diagonally and are rusticated in bands, topped by tall urns. See NJ61NE0050 for designed landscape.

Period Notes
Keep built c.1584; sold in 1712 to the Grants who are still owners; trees planted in gardens starting 1716; house reconstructed 1719-20; library wing added and restoration of fireplace in hall1886; additions 1889; hall restored 1937.

SC 960294 , SC 960294 (Ground Photograph). SAB20666.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL I(1923) 22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL IX(1931) 61-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, 1799, OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT, VOL III, 69 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1845.

LEITH-HAY, A, 1849, CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE, pp 103-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1052.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 329 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

SIMPSON, WD, 1925, THE AUGUSTINIAN PRIORY AND PARISH CHURCH OF MONYMUSK, ABERDEENSHIRE PSAS 59 (1924-5) 34-71, 46-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1648.

GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES, LXX (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.

TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, 69-70 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.

McWILLIAM, EJ, 1984, DEESIDE FIELD 18, 84-7, 84-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1168.

FORBES, A, 2021, SOME FORBES CASTLES IN SCOTTISH CASTLES ASSOCATION JOURNAL 27, 38-44 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4189.

Jul 27 1989 , AAS/89/09/S29/2,3, AAS/89/09/S29/2,3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13775.

Mar 3 2003 , E 12913 CN, E 12913 CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20667.

May 8 2002 , AAS/02/4/CT10,13,15,18-9, AAS/02/4/CT10,13,15,18-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17838.

May 8 2002 , AAS/02/4/G8/15, AAS/02/4/G8/15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17830.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XIII, 463-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Oct 27 1993 , AAS/93/14/G27/23-30, AAS/93/14/G27/23-30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14732.

Oct 27 1993 , AAS/93/14/G28/1-3, AAS/93/14/G28/1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14734.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9684, AAS/08/4/DG9684 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18331.

Sep 4 2007 , AAS/07/1/DG1493-4, AAS/07/1/DG1493-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19182.

Record last edited

Apr 16 2024 3:15PM