Building record MAB18004 - DRUM CASTLE

Castle and mansion.

Castle and mansion. The tower, believed to have been in existence before 1324, is a simple rectangular tower with rounded corners. The only original entrance was on first floor gained by means of a wooden stair, now replaced by a stone forestair, from where a door then led into the Common hall. A mural stair leads down to the cellar where there is a well. There is a newel stair in the southeast corner leading up to the Laird's hall, and both the Common Hall and the Laird's Hall contained upper wooden floors. During excavation in the Laird's Hall the stone remains of the foundations of a screen were found towards the east end with a passageway between it and the east wall. A wooden stair led up to upper floor, then to a parapet with its wall-walk and an external garderobe. There are few such perfect examples of the parapet carried round the corners, and it has an unusual stepped walk. A Jacobean mansion was added to the southwest corner of the tower in 1619. A courtyard lies to the west of the tower with a brew-house and entrance gateway. The Victorians knocked through the tower to form a library out of the Common Hall and enlarged the windows in the east and south walls. A 16th/17th Century chapel lies to south-west (NJ70SE0136). To the north-east of the house is an 18th Century walled garden, gardener's cottage and laundry (NJ70SE0138). About a mile to the east is an associated lodge (NJ80SW0062). Drum remained in the Irvine family from 1323 until 1976. Resistivity survey in September 1988 confirmed that the original courtyard lay to the west, and also recorded linear features in the lawn south of the castle, which relate to a hitherto unsuspected 'French' garden laid out circa 1619 when the 9th laird added the 17th century wing to the existing tower. In 1999 part of the upper floor of the Laird's hall was reconstructed and a new stairway inserted in the northeast corner, close to where the original stairway had stood. Watching brief carried out on excavations for drainage sumps in June 1998. No artefacts were recovered but evidence was found of previous ground surfaces in the courtyard area, and a cobbled strip under the eaves of the chapel. A drainage trench was excavated in vicinity of chapel and a watching brief undertaken to establish whether any information on earlier formal garden layouts could be recovered. Deposits of silty sand and a layer of medium sized stones over bedrock seem to represent levelling fill put in place for the landscaped area around the castle. Their deposition probably post dates the early 19th century, based on ceramic finds. An archaeological survey was undertaken by AOC in 2000. A watching brief by NTS in March 200 during removal of a tree stump from the site of the 17th century formal gardens uncovered evidence of landscaping possibly related to those gardens. In 2008, NTS commissioned trial excavations to be undertaken to identify the extent of the survival of archaeological features in those areas around the castle that are used for public events. A resistivity survey in 1988 had indicated that the garden plan survived south of the castle. MAS Ltd undertook the work in 2008, with an initial plan of targeting three areas around the castle for investigation: the south lawn, north of the Drum tower, and west of the Castle. The trenches on the south lawn were the first to be opened, revealing such a complexity of surviving archaeology that it was decided not to open any trenches in the other two target areas, as there was insufficient time to complete the work. In total six trenches were opened. A number of stone walls, a path and an area of paving were revealed, as well as two prehistoric flints (re-deposited) and sherds of possible medieval pottery and tiles. It is suggested that the part of the garden nearest the mansion was a walled garden, possibly with simple geometric patterns. Through the wall, the south part of the garden included a long border along the south side. A wide pathway ran beside this and around the perimeter of the garden. The enclosed area may have been divided into slightly raised beds separated by narrow paths and revetted by low drystone walls. Historic building survey of the tower, brewhouse and cross chamber was carried out by FAS Heritage in 2010 with further research in January 2011. It showed that the building represents nine phases of development, the earliest construction of the Drum Tower shortly after 1323, and building taking 4 years. A timber stair recovered from the northeast corner of the hall was dendrochronologically dated to the first half of the 15th century. Subsequent phases of development included addition of a one-storey range on the south side of the tower dated to the mid 14th -15th century. An entrance building was added to the north side of the tower in the late 15th or early 16th century, this building late reused for service use including a brewhouse, with the addition of the Jacobean south range in the early 17th century. The addition resulted in the demolition of the earlier hall range and construction of the cross range. In 2012 dendrochronological analysis was carried out of the Cross Chamber roof timbers and the castle steps. Results indicate felling of the roof timbers in the years between 1603 and 1612, comparable with dates for the Mansion House, and indicating that timber from the same woodland was used for both. Samples from the set of steps found in the northeast corner of the hall indicate original construction in the first half of the 15th century, with later refurbishment at an unknown date. Archaeological investigation was carried out in 2013 in the tower, included unblocking of two window openings on the west face of the tower, and revealed tow medieval chambers, one with remains of a garderobe. A watching brief by MAS in June-July 2013 on drainage works in the field southeast of the castle recorded no features or artefacts of archaeological significance. An area on the south and southwest perimeter of the south lawn was also investigated in an unsuccessful attempt to locate a well shown on an annotated estate copy of the 1899 OS map, although a well built stone channel was recorded which may have taken runoff from the well. Geophysical survey was carried out around the castle in July 2013 aimed at mapping potential structural remains and garden features. Many elements of the formal garden were mapped within the south lawn. Ground penetrating radar over gravel/tarmac/paved areas identified several anomalies of possible interest, including possible footings of a wall associated with the tower and potential structures in the northeast of the courtyard. Excavation by MAS in May 2014 focused on three areas around the tower. In the castle courtyard this recorded a large stone-lined cesspit which would have taken waste from two garderobes within the tower. Excavation in the angle between the tower and the brewhouse recorded a building which abutted the brewhouse and the tower, and which may possibly have been a brewing room. There is limited documentary evidence for this building but it is suggested that is its shown on an 1831 engraving. Excavation south of the tower uncovered demolition rubble from a chimney which had been built against the east wall of the cross range and shown on an 1850s oil painting although it is not clear when it was constructed, a path also depicted in the same painting. Whilst the trench found no foundations for an earlier building abutting the hall on this side, there was some evidence of stone building demolished in the early 17th century in the reuse of a number of pieces of dressed stone in the 17th century path and courtyard that seem to be associated with the Cross range. A watching brief by MAS in November 2014 in the courtyard during resurfacing works recorded details of the base of the wall of the 14th century tower. A watching brief by MAS in March 2016 during drainage trenching for the pathway west of the castle to the car park recorded cobbles that may represent an earlier pathway bit no other feattures. A watching brief was carried out by MAS in October to November 2016 during works for a replacement drain from the southwest corner of the castle, along the south facade and north to the east of the castle. South of the castle there appears to be evidence of a construction level with subsequent levelling of the ground south of the castle. Steps at the southwest corner appear to be 17th century in date and may relate to the formal 17th century gardens. A watching brief was carried out by Cameron Archaeology in April 2017 on installation of over 60m of drainage ditches along the southern edge of the south lawn. This uncovered a fully functional hand-built stone culvert, which was used to assist with the present drainage scheme, No other archaeological features or finds were found.

Period Notes
1280. Gifted to De Irwin 1323; mansion added 1619, Trust ownership 1976. 16thC brewhouse. Entrance doorway inserted and main windows enlarged c.1800. Gateway and entrance block with main staircase added to north side in 1875. Interior detail to Jacobean hall c.1882. Former 13thC hall converted to library in 1840. Drum Chapel 16thC, restored 1856; great silver statue of the virgin brought from Augsburg in 1897; walled garden 1796, laid out as a display of historic roses in 1991. East Lodge dated 1892, addition in 1954. Dendrochronological dating of roof timbers of the Cross Chamber indicates felling dates 1603 and 1612; and for the steps in the NE corner of the Hall a felling date in thefirst four decades of the 15th century. Listed 16/04/1971.

A 27211 (1986), A 27211 (1986) (Ground Photograph). SAB14042.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 05/09/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 23/07/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 23/4/99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 23/4/99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 25/04/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 04/07/13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

LEITH-HAY, A, 1849, CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE, pp 71-74 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1052.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL 2, 436-40 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL 4, 149-51 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

SIMPSON, WD, 1929, PSAS 63(1928-9) 102-37, 133-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1654.

SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 118-34 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 111-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

DUNBAR, JG, 1966, HIST ARCH OF SCOT, 38-41 (Bibliographic reference). SAB358.

TRANTER, N, 1977, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 42-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1950.

GRAHAM, C, 1981, GRAMPIAN: THE CASTLE COUNTRY (2ND ED), 3-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB598.

SLADE, HG, 1985, THE TOWER AND HOUSE OF DRUM, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS, 115 (1985), 297-356, PSAS 115, 297-356 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1792.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, p.8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

GREIG, M, 1991, DES : DRUM CASTLE, 34 (Bibliographic reference). SAB713.

EXCAVATION

GREIG, MK, 1992, D & E, (Bibliographic reference). SAB642.

GREIG, MK, 1992, REPORT ON EXCAVATIONS AT DRUM CASTLE, REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB641.

NTS, 1993, DRUM CASTLE & ESTATE MANAGEMENT PLAN 1993-98 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1312.

SHEPHERD, I, 1996, ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED), p. 107-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4829.

EWART, G, 1996, DES, 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB467.

EXCAVATION

AOC, 1996, DRUM CASTLE: POST-EX & CONSERVATION REPORT FOR NTS (Bibliographic reference). SAB3502.

WALLACE, S.A., 1998, DES : DRUM CASTLE, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2066.

WATCHING BRIEF

HIND, D, 1998, DES : DRUM CASTLE, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB799.

WATCHING BRIEF

HIND, D, 1999, DRUM CASTLE : WATCHING BRIEF. NTS REPORT NO. 16, REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB778.

RANKIN, D, 2000, Drum Castle Estate. DES 2000 p10, p10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1599.

SURVEY

RANKIN, D, 2002, DES 2001, P.10, p10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1609.

ASSESSMENT/SURVEY

MURRAY, J. C., 2002, DRUM CASTLE: EXCAVATION FOR THE NTS (DRU/02/1) (Bibliographic reference). SAB2891.

EXCAVATION

MURRAY, JC, 2002, EXCAVATION, DRUM CASTLE (Bibliographic reference). SAB2898.

COOK, M, 2003, GRANTOWN RD, FORRES: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION, Project outline (Bibliographic reference). SAB1339.

SUAT, 2004, ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING: TOWER WALKWAY, DRUM CAST (Bibliographic reference). SAB4800.

HIND, D., 2004, BUILDING RECORDING, TOWER WALKWAY, DRUM CASTLE (Bibliographic reference). SAB2691.

RECORDING

GREIG, M. K., 2004, EXCAVATIONS IN THE LAIRD'S HALL, DRUM CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. , PSAS134, pp.423-456 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2615.

MURRAY, H.K., 2008, DRUM CASTLE SOUTH LAWN EXCAVATION, Excavation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4603.

EXCAVATION

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.18-19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

AOC, 2011, DRUM CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE; DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CROSS CHAMBER ROOF TIMBERS AND THE CASTLE STEPS (Bibliographic reference). SAB3597.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, pp.16-17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2013, DRUM CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE, DRAINAGE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5155.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2014, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 14, 2013, p.19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5483.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2014, DRUM CASTLE, TOWER OF DRUM MAJOR REPAIRS PROJECT, DRUMOAK, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION, Excavation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5147.

ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, p.22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2016, DRAINAGE DRUM CASTLE, ABERDEENSHRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7431.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2016, PATHWAY DRUM CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7458.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2017, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 17, 2016, p. 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6497.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2017, DRUM CASTLE, DRUMOAK, ABERDEENSHIRE: REPORT ON A WATCHING BRIEF, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7951.

Apr 1 2002 , AAS/GR/02/CT63, AAS/GR/02/CT63 (Ground Photograph). SAB33165.

Apr 26 1986 , FM 1-37, FM 1-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB14041.

Aug 9 1984 , BR 15-23, BR 15-23 (Ground Photograph). SAB14037.

Aug 9 1984 , BS 8-9, BS 8-9 (Ground Photograph). SAB14038.

Aug 20 1989 , JG 26-29, JG 26-29 (Ground Photograph). SAB33712.

Aug 28 1995 , AAS/95/09/G25/11-5, AAS/95/09/G25/11-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16134.

Aug 28 1995 , AAS/95/09/G26/1, AAS/95/09/G26/1 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16135.

Aug 28 2001 , AAS/01/8/CT31-37, AAS/01/8/CT31-37 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17916.

Dec 18 2006 , AAS/06/4/DG0919-24, AAS/06/4/DG0919-24 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19070.

Jan 1 1900 , AB 1360-4,8, AB 1360-4,8 (Ground Photograph). SAB19999.

Jan 1 1942 , AB 1358/15,17-8, AB 1358/15,17-8 (Ground Photograph). SAB20108.

Jan 1 1976 , AAS/GR/76/CT251, AAS/GR/76/CT251 (Ground Photograph). SAB32464.

Jan 1 1977 , AAS/GR/77/CT63, AAS/GR/77/CT63 (Ground Photograph). SAB32492.

Jan 1 1979 , AAS/GR/79/CT90, AAS/GR/79/CT90 (Ground Photograph). SAB32555.

Jan 1 1988 , AAS/GR/88/CT142-43,442-61, AAS/GR/88/CT142-43,442-61 (Ground Photograph). SAB32718.

Jan 1 1989 , AAS/GR/89/CT304-305, AAS/GR/89/CT304-305 (Ground Photograph). SAB33713.

Jan 1 1991 , AAS/GR/91/CT113-120, AAS/GR/91/CT113-120 (Ground Photograph). SAB32840.

Jan 1 1992 , AAS/GR/92/CT05,09, AAS/GR/92/CT05,09 (Ground Photograph). SAB32848.

Jan 1 1992 , AAS/GR/92/CT53,59, AAS/GR/92/CT53,59 (Ground Photograph). SAB32849.

Jul 22 2008 , AAS/08/3/DG0125-27, AAS/08/3/DG0125-27 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19825.

Jul 23 1992 , AAS/92/05/G3/12, AAS/92/05/G3/12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14036.

Jun 6 2024 , APP/2014/2402, APP/2014/2402 (Ground Photograph). SAB37060.

Jun 17 2005 , AAS/05/02/CT35-47, AAS/05/02/CT35-47 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18243.

Jun 29 2010 , AAS/2010/2/DG1748-9, AAS/2010/2/DG1748-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13019.

Mar 28 1991 , No21/48/18, No21/48/18 (Ground Photograph). SAB17705.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, DRUMOAK 15,16,17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XII, 880 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Author unknown, n.d., THE DONSIDE PIPER, 28/05/14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4051.

HIND, D, n.d., Watching brief on the removal of a tree at Drum, NTS Report no. 21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB831.

WATCHING BRIEF

Nov 3 2014 , APP/2014/4321, APP/2014/4321 (Ground Photograph). SAB20886.

Nov 7 1988 , IA 1-15, IA 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33580.

Nov 7 1988 , IB 1-15, IB 1-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB33581.

Nov 7 1988 , ID 1-12, ID 1-12 (Ground Photograph). SAB33583.

Oct 27 1987 , GV 4-13, GV 4-13 (Ground Photograph). SAB33527.

Sep 8 2006 , DP 020751-4, DP 020751-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19978.

Sep 11 1984 , CZ 19-37, CZ 19-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB14039.

Sep 11 1984 , DA 2-4, DA 2-4 (Ground Photograph). SAB14040.

Record last edited

Mar 26 2025 3:08PM