Building record MAB17247 - BANFF CASTLE

Remains of a castle, possible site of a motte, and 18th Century mansion house.

Remains of a castle, possible site of a motte, and 18th Century mansion house. Although this Royal Castle is not mentioned until the Wars of Independence, it was probably in existence by 1136 when David I was at Banff. The remains comprise the north wall and parts of the east and west walls. The north wall survives to a length of 44 m, 5.5 m high, 2 m wide. Part of the east wall remains to 25 m long and west wall 11 m long. Part of the moat survives forming two sides of a rectangle, 6 m deep, 6.13 m wide. No trace remains of any possible motte. The castle was held for Edward I, who visited it in 1296 and 1303, and was one of the last castles to hold out against the Scots. A round-arched postern gate is dated to 16th Century and is probably a later insertion and not the date of the building of the castle. Much of the site of the castle has been landscaped and an 18th house built over part of it. The present mansion house was built in 1750 to a design by John Adam, features a tall pavilion roof and is flanked by a pair of 2-storey pavilions with two lodges situated on the north and south sides of the west entrance gate. The historic curtain walls formed a perimeter enclosure to the rear, north facing, courtyard. A porch was added in the 19th Century. By the OS 1st edition map a long building had also been added on the inside of the east curtain wall, possibly relating to the formation of the 1st Banffshire Artillery Volunteers in 1859, providing a linear arrangement of casemates opening into the north courtyard. These were later converted to a rifle range, some time before 1904. Until 1820 a small 17th century building, reputed to be the birthplace of James Sharpe, Archbishop of St Andrews, was attached to the house. To the north of the castle is an irregular stone-walled garden. In the forecourt on the south side of the house is a domed peristyle well, now incorporated into a garden of remembrance. West of the garden is a monkey puzzle tree commemorating General Jose de San Martin, the inscription reading: THIS TREE WAS PLANTED BY THE ARGENTINIAN AMBASSADOR HIS EXCELLENCY SENOR DON CARLOS A. HOGAN ON 25TH, OCTOBER 1950 TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF GENERAL JOSÉ DE SAN MARTIN LIBERATOR OF ARGENTINA AND A FREEMAN OF THE ROYAL BURGH OF BANFF. Two geophysical surveys have been carried out over the South lawn in front of the present castle building. Their exact dates are unknown, but it is thought they were both undertaken in the 1990s. A watching brief was undertaken by MAS in 2003 during a programme of restoration works to the castle but no archaeological features or artefacts were encountered. A watching brief was carried out in November 2010 by MAS over the excavation of an investigative trench for Scottish Water (centred at NJ 68872 64257). No finds or features of archaeological significance were observed. A watching brief was carried out by AKD Archaeology in November 2018 during installation of an interpretation board to the east of the entrance gate. No archaeological features or artefacts were observed.

Period Notes
Old castle probably in existence from 1136; mentioned in 1296, 1303, 1306 and 1310; current manor house built 1749-52; gate lodges and walls c.1780; 19thC porch; well in forecourt and additions 1926; phased restoration work begun 1991; ancillary buildings external restoration 1996; Interior repairs and redecoration 2001; gate lodge refurbishment 2003; Aberdeenshire Design Awards - Highly Commended for Conservation - for ancillary buildings 2004.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/04/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 07/05/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 07/05/84 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 22/11/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No3(18670 26 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

BUIE, J, 1896, T BANFF FC(1895-6) 11-13, 11-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB133.

ARMITAGE, ES, 1912, EARLY NORM CASTLES OF BRIT ISL, 319 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10.

MAHOOD, AE, 1919, BANFF & DISTRICT, 62-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1149.

DOE, 1971, AM'S SCOT, 3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB399.

GOURLAY, R, 1977, Scottish Burgh Survey: Historic banff (Bibliographic reference). SAB593.

MURRAY, J. C., 2003, BANFF CASTLE, WATCHING BRIEF (Bibliographic reference). SAB2948.

WATCHING BRIEF

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2010, BANFF CASTLE WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4699.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2012, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 12, 2011, p.13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5536.

AKD ARCHAEOLOGY, 2018, BANFF CASTLE INTERPRETATION BOARD, BANFF: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF DATA STRUCTURE REPORT, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB6501.

AKD ARCHAEOLOGY, 2018, BANFF CASTLE INTERPRETATION BOARD, BANFF: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB7884.

Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT64-65, AAS/GR/77/CT64-65 (Ground Photograph). SAB32493.

Jan 1 1994 , C 27796 CN, C 27796 CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20448.

Jul 7 2006 , DP 019385,87-88, DP 019385,87-88 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20447.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS-10-3 DG1897, 1905-6, AAS-10-3 DG1897, 1905-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13332.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS-2010-3 DG1886, 1891-3, AAS-2010-3 DG1886, 1891-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13331.

Jul 14 2011 , AAS-GR-13-11-497 - 507, AAS-GR-13-11-497 - 507 (Ground Photograph). SAB18605.

Jul 31 2010 , DG2158-64, DG2158-64 (Ground Photograph). SAB13112.

May 20 1986 , FR 21-34, FR 21-34 (Ground Photograph). SAB13979.

JAMES A STEPHEN, ARCHITECTS, n.d., BANFF RENAISSANCE TOWNSCAPE HERITAGE INITIATIVE STAGE 2, THI (Bibliographic reference). SAB928.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, BANFF 109 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Oct 7 2022 , PUB-GR-22-10-154 - 169, PUB-GR-22-10-154 - 169 (Ground Photograph). SAB36214.

Record last edited

Mar 18 2025 11:37AM