Building record MAB17273 - MONTCOFFER HOUSE

Montcoffer House, built on the site of an earlier manor or mansion house.

Montcoffer House, built on the site of an earlier manor or mansion house. Although 'Ogilvie of Montcoffer' was listed amongst the lesser barons of Aberdeenshire in 1598, it appears that during the late 16th and 17th Century a branch of the Irvine family also has some form of interest in Montcoffer. The lands were in the possession of the Russell family from circa 1690 until 1755, when it was sold to William Duff of Braco, Straloch. The present Montcoffer House (Listed B) dates from the early 18th century, and was renovated circa 1774-75 by Fife Estate then further extended circa 1880. It is a 2-storey 3-bay house with later wings at the rear and to the west forming a double pile. It is harled with ashlar margins, and bows with cill courses and chamfered reveals. The south elevation has a door at the centre with a pilastered and corniced doorpiece and letterbox fanlight. The flanking bows date to circa 1880, extend through ground and first floor and are contemporary with the 1-bay addition to west. On the east elevation are two windows at each floor to gable end. There is a later 2-bay wing extending to north. The west elevation is a gable end with tall windows at ground level, two windows to the first floor, and with a rear wing projecting at right angles connected by wooden bridging corridor at first floor level. To the south of the house is the site of a walled garden. To the north of the main house is a group of three mid to later 19th century polygonal game larders (Listed B). Two of the larders are constructed of coursed rubble with brick arches, ashlar dressings, raised margins and cornice. One of the larders is built of wood. Each has a 4-panelled door, and is roofed in grey slate. The west larder is built in the classical style, and features a doorway with impost course, and semi-circular fanlight with keystone, which is repeated as a window above the impost course to each elevation. It has a polygonal roof with a wooden louvred ventilator at the apex. Trelliswork cladding survives on certain faces. The east larder is built in the Tudor style, with hoodmoulded openings, a doorway with letterbox fanlight and two windows with round-arched timber casements alternating with blank elevations. Some trelliswork cladding also survives as on the west larder. The north larder is smaller than the other two, and built of wood. To the northeast of the main house are the steadings (Listed C), dating from the early to mid 18th century with later alterations. A bellcote was added in 1809. The surviving steading building is a single storey and attic steading, constructed in sneck-harled random rubble. It has a doorway to the south with chamfered reveals which is flanked by paired windows. There is an attic window to the gable, and 9-pane sash and case windows to the south. It has a corrugated-iron roof and concrete skews. An ashlar birdcage bellcote surmounts the east stack, possibly re-used, dated 1809 with the initials JM. To the northeast of the steadings are the former stables and carriage house which have since been converted to residential use. Formally an L-plan building, recent renovations have included the addition of a new south wing thus altering the building to form a U-plan. The archway at the east gable end of the north wing has been altered to a window, a garage has been added, and all original windows have been replaced with double glazing.

Period Notes
Mentioned in 1598, 1690, 1755. Lands were in the possession of the Russell family from c.1690 until 1755. The present house (Listed B) dated early 18th century, and was renovated c.1774-75 by Fife Estate then further extended c.1880. Steadings (Listed C), dating from the early to mid 18th century with later alterations; a bellcote was added in 1809. house and garden walls and gatepiers Listed 26/01/1978; steading Listed 04/03/1984; game larder Listed 02/07/1976

KENNEDY, W, 1818, ANNALS OF ABERDEEN, 492, 494 (Bibliographic reference). SAB957.

ROBERTSON, J, 1843, HISTORY OF SHIRES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF, 111 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1504.

MAHOOD, AE, 1919, BANFF & DISTRICT, 143 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1149.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, ALVAH 12,13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Oct 1 1993 , LB Survey, LB Survey (Ground Photograph). SAB13176.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2025 3:42PM