Building record MAB15420 - TILLYCAIRN CASTLE
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Castle, now restored, built circa 1550 for Matthew Lumsden and abandoned in the 1720s.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (A) 2959
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 6648 1142 (16m by 17m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ61SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Cluny |
Type and Period (8)
- CASTLE (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- CASTLE (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- TURRET (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- KITCHEN (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- Hall (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- DRAIN (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- GARDEROBE (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
Castle, now restored, built circa 1550 for Matthew Lumsden and abandoned in the 1720s. It was ruinous by 1722. It is on an L-plan with rounded corners, it contained four storeys of vaulted apartments. A semi-circular stair tower rises in the re-entrant, and angle turrets crown the gables, supported on elaborate corbelling. An unusual feature has been a short parapet and walk on the west side of the wing between the round stair tower and the southwest turret. There are numerous gun-loops, some provided with cross-shaped slits above for improved aiming. Basement contains three vaulted chambers, one being the kitchen with wide arched fireplace. The hall occupied the first floor with a fine fireplace, a stone sink and drain, also a Laird's lug leading to a closet above the fireplace and a concealed stair in wall thickness. The castle was fully restored in 1980. A 1.3 m deep trench was dug in 1980 for a cesspit to the south of the main building. Till and rock visible in the base and circa 10m from the hall, a large masonry block was visible in the section.
Period Notes
Built 1538-50; ruinous 1772; restored 1980-4. Listed 16/04/1971.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 14/01/65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 15/06/1989 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 19/06/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 601-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.
MITCHELL, A, 1908, MACFARLANES GEOG COLL 1906-8, 96 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1155.
SIMPSON, WD, 1921, PSAS 55(1920-21) 135-149, 139-42, ILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB1642.
GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.
SIMPSON, WD, 1949, EARLDOM OF MAR, 120-2, ILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB1681.
CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 173,216-7,221-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.
SLADE, HG, 1982, TILLYCAIRN CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS 112 (1982), 497-517, PSAS 112, 497-517 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1700.
SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, pp.21-22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.
Apr 11 1980 , COLOUR NEG, COLOUR NEG (Ground Photograph). SAB13783.
Apr 11 1980 , POLAROID, POLAROID (Ground Photograph). SAB13782.
Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT57, 62, AAS/GR/77/CT57, 62 (Ground Photograph). SAB32489.
Jan 1 1980 , AAS/GR/80/CT112,117,122, AAS/GR/80/CT112,117,122 (Ground Photograph). SAB32572.
Jan 1 1980 , AAS/GR/80/CT56,76-80, AAS/GR/80/CT56,76-80 (Ground Photograph). SAB32567.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, CLUNY 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Oct 3 1994 , SC 990561, SC 990561 (Ground Photograph). SAB20337.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Listed Building Number: 2959;
- NMR Card Number: NJ61SE1;
- NRHE Numlink: 18063;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ61SE0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB2959 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/18063 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (18)
- --- SAB1140 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, D. 1892. THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5. Y. 601-2.
- --- SAB1155 Bibliographic reference: MITCHELL, A. 1908. MACFARLANES GEOG COLL 1906-8. Y. 96.
- --- SAB13782 Ground Photograph: Apr 11 1980 . POLAROID. PL. POLAROID.
- --- SAB13783 Ground Photograph: Apr 11 1980 . COLOUR NEG. Colour Negative. COLOUR NEG.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 14/01/65.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 19/06/82.
- --- SAB1416 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 15/06/1989.
- --- SAB1642 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1921. PSAS 55(1920-21) 135-149. 139-42, ILL.
- --- SAB1681 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1949. EARLDOM OF MAR. 120-2, ILL.
- --- SAB1700 Bibliographic reference: SLADE, HG. 1982. TILLYCAIRN CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS 112 (1982), 497-517. PSAS 112, 497-517.
- --- SAB1738 Bibliographic reference: SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY. 1990. JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES. pp.21-22.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. CLUNY 18.
- --- SAB20337 Ground Photograph: Oct 3 1994 . SC 990561. Black & White. SC 990561.
- --- SAB247 Bibliographic reference: CRUDEN, SH. 1960. THE SCOTTISH CASTLE . 173,216-7,221-2.
- --- SAB32489 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1977 . AAS/GR/77/CT57, 62. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/77/CT57, 62.
- --- SAB32567 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1980 . AAS/GR/80/CT56,76-80. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/80/CT56,76-80.
- --- SAB32572 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1980 . AAS/GR/80/CT112,117,122. Colour Transparency. AAS/GR/80/CT112,117,122.
- --- SAB587 Bibliographic reference: GILES, J. 1936. DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES. Y. Y.
Finds (1)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
Record last edited
Oct 28 2022 12:27PM
