Building record MAB16005 - LICKLEYHEAD CASTLE

Castle, in commercial use.

Castle, in commercial use. It was originally a tower, and was renovated in 1629 to form an L-plan. It has been modernised and added to, but the original design can still be discerned. The oldest part of the castle is the rectangular tower, measuring 35ft by 25ft in plan, built possibly in the second half of the 16th century. After its purchase by John Forbes in 1625, a new tower was added to the south-west corner providing a new entrance and stair to the main floor, a stair to the upper floors and three new bedchambers. The new stair in the external angle was originally surmounted by a small square cap house, since removed. The rough-cast walls rise to three storeys, an attic and a garret. The gables are crow-stepped, and the dormer windows have decorative pediments. The entrance in the main re-entrant to south has a moulded granite head and jambs, and is surmounted by a moulded granite frame with the date 1629 and initials I F M S (John Forbbes, Margaret Skene). The basement is vaulted. John Forbes' hall occupied the whole of the first floor, measuring 24ft by 20ft. In the 18th century the house underwent major transformation, the interiors of the old tower were recast and a new wing of two floors was added at right angles to it. The hall was reduced in size by about a third, the larger part forming a Great Chamber that remains largely intact. The new wing was designed to provide kitchen and service rooms on the ground floor. Further additions to the house were made in circa 1825-30. The so called 'shot-holes' may in fact be ventilation holes (H Gordon Slade).

Period Notes
Lands sold 1499; built late 16thC; dated panel 1629; sold 1625; charter dated 1649; L-plan wing added 18thC; restored c.1876.

LEITH-HAY, A, 1849, CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE, pp 49-50 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1052.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 133 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

HUSSY, C, 1937, COUNTRY LIFE 82, 444-8, 444-8, ILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB760.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 164 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

TRANTER, N, 1970, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, No4 65-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1918.

SLADE, HG, 1975, PSAS 106(1974-5) 161-71, 161-71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1695.

GRAHAM, C, 1981, GRAMPIAN: THE CASTLE COUNTRY (2ND ED), 21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB598.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, p.17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

Aug 30 2006 , AAS/06/3/DG429, AAS/06/3/DG429 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18977.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT220-226b, AAS/GR/89/CT220-226b (Ground Photograph). SAB32738.

Jun 14 1989 , IX 6-28, IX 6-28 (Ground Photograph). SAB33686.

Jun 14 1989 , SC 990457, SC 990457 (Ground Photograph). SAB20673.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9689-90, AAS/08/4/DG9689-90 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18334.

Record last edited

Apr 9 2021 12:26PM