Building record MAB18322 - BISHOP'S PALACE, FETTERNEAR

Remains of Fetternear House.

Remains of Fetternear House. The earliest record mentioning the site dates from 1256, although a church was built at Fetternear in the 12th Century. Fetternear House is better known as a summer palace of the 13th Bishop of Aberdeen, Alexander de Kyninmond (1329-41) who made extensive additions to it. These foundations were uncovered some years before 1906 and lay circa 25m to south of the existing ruins. These ruins consist of the remains of a 16th century towerhouse, at the southeast end of the main block, with circular stair in the west corner. To this was added a long extension extending from the northwest wall in the 17th Century when it was made part of a large near-symmetrical mansion for Count Patrick Leslie. Further additions were made in 19th Century. The building is now a crumbling shell bearing the date 1693 on a plaque above the main entrance in the south wall. On the OS 1st edition map a walled orchard is depicted to the east of the house. The house was burnt down in 1919. Excavation in the late 19th century south of the mansion house by Charles Leslie is noted to have recovered pieces of mouldings and tracery possibly associated with the palace of the 1330s, and the 2nd edition OS map shows that this work detected a massive structure under the lawn that lay south of his mansion. A series of excavations have been undertaken in the area surrounding the upstanding remains of the House yearly from 1995 - 2010 by the late Nicholas Bogden and Penny Dransart, which has uncovered the foundations of the earlier Bishop's Palace with a deep ditch surrounding it. Two palisade trenches have also been revealed with remains of timber stakes in some post-holes. A considerable number of artefacts have also been recorded including one sherd of a jug of French Saintonge mottled green glaze. In the 2005-2006 season, part of the kitchen quarters was also located. Prior to the 2005 season, a contour survey was conducted by W. Risk and a resistivity survey was conducted by R. Kidd. Further work in July 2007 as part of the Scottish Episcopal Palaces Project recorded more evidence of the extensive levelling operations undertaken during Post-Reformation occupation. Investigation of a section of moat south of the mansion showed a flat-bottomed ditch in contrast to the V-sectioned ditch of the moat north of the mansion. Scarce finds from the moat fill appear to be of 14th century date. Excavation to the east of the drive in 2009 as part of the Scottish Episcopal Palaces Project recorded various features including a beam identified as the sole plate of a trestle bridge which probably spanned the moat. Finds from the excavations in 2010 included a rare seal from a 17th century bottle, a piece of Piermont Water glassware dating from around 1690.

Period Notes
Built in 1226 and extended in 1330; lease granted in 1550 to Baron of Balquhain so passed away from the bishops at this time; elongated mansion attached 1691-3; 1693 armorial panel; served as headquarters for RC Jesuit mission in Scotland in late 17thC; forecourt with stables, offices and side wings burnt down in 1745; gothicised by Massie in early 19thC; two-storey wing added 1818; two-storey cross-wing added 1850; burnt out in 1919. Prehistoric worked stones & flints discovered during 2005-06 seasons.

Previous notes state 'Earliest record 1256; summer palace 1329-41; charter dated 1566; sundial dated 1798.'

GR/00/CT428 - 441, GR/00/CT428 - 441 (Ground Photograph). SAB37211.

GR/00CT55, GR/00CT55 (Ground Photograph). SAB37049.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/06/2009 P.2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 14/10/2002 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 30/05/2001 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No13(1867) 123 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

BLUNDELL, F. O., 1907, Ancient Catholic homes of Scotland, 171-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB155.

KELLY, W, 1910, ABERDEEN PHILOS SOC TRANS 4, 173 (Bibliographic reference). SAB988.

Author unknown, 1918, Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 19/04/1918 (Bibliographic reference). SAB40.

SLADE, HG, 1971, PSAS 103(1970-1) 178-91, 178-91 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1693.

BINNEY, M, 1980, LOST HOUSES OF SCOTLAND, photo (Bibliographic reference). SAB3740.

DRANSART, P.Z., 1995, DES : FETTERNEAR, 31 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2449.

EXCAVATION

SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL PALACES PROJECT, 1995, FETTERNEAR BISHOP'S PALACE SURVEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB1702.

SCOTTISH CASTLE SURVEY, 1995, SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL PALACES PROJECT (Bibliographic reference). SAB3298.

BISHOP'S PALACE

DRANSART, P.Z., 1996, DES, 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2439.

DRANSART, P Z, 1996, THE BISHOP'S PALACE, FETTERNEAR 1995. THE SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL PALACES PROJECT (Bibliographic reference). SAB4040.

DRANSART, P.Z., 1997, DES, 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2440.

EXCAVATION

DRANSART, P.Z., 1998, DES : FETTERNEAR, 6-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2443.

EXCAVATION

BOGDAN, NQ, 1998, FETTERNEAR; EXCAVATION, RESISTIVITY, ARCHITECTURAL AND DESK=BASED SURVEY. CASTLE STUDIES GROUP NEWSLETTER 1998 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3764.

DRANSART, P.Z., 1999, DES : FETTERNEAR, 7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2450.

EXCAVATION

FETTERNEAR TRUST, 1999, THE OLD RUINS FETTERNEAR: PROPOSAL FOR CONSOLIDATION AND PARTIAL RESTORATION (Bibliographic reference). SAB2545.

Dransart, P.Z., 2000, DES p.9, p9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2467.

EXCAVATION

HUNTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST, 2000, SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL PALACES PROJECT - FETTERNEAR: REPORT ON THE 2000 SEASON, Excavation report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4416.

DRANSART, P.Z., 2002, DES P.9-10, p9-10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2470.

EXCAVATION

SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL PALACES PROJECT, 2004, FETTERNEAR (Bibliographic reference). SAB4811.

FETTERNEAR TRUST, 2004, THE BISHOP'S PALACE AND THE OLD RUINS, FETTERNEAR: THE HLF PROJECT PLANNING GRANT. FINAL REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB2540.

Author unknown, 2004, THE GUARDIAN, 29/07/04 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2629.

DRANSART, P. Z., 2005, DES VOL5, 2004, P.12 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4022.

EXCAVATION

ELLIOT, C, 2006, BISHOP'S PALACE, FETTERNEAR, 29/07/06 (Bibliographic reference). SAB480.

EXCAVATION

DRANSART, P. Z., 2007, DES VOL7, 2006, P.16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4021.

EXCAVATION

Author unknown, 2007, Sporting finds for archaeologists at site, 28/07/07 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1469.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2008, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND, p14 (Dansart/Trigg) (Bibliographic reference). SAB4029.

DRANSART, P, 2008, PROSPECT AND EXCAVATION OF MOATED SITES, p.119-121 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4035.

DRANSART, P, 2008, THE BISHOP'S PALACE, FETTERNEAR 2005-2006 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4034.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.17-18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2010, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND: VOL 10, 2009, p.19-20 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3514.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2011, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 11, 2010, pp.16-17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5535.

DRANSART, P, 2015, RECONSTRUCTION OF A CHAMFERED DOORWAY FROM A LATE 16TH-CENTURY TOWER AT FETTERNEAR, IN CASTLE STUDIES GROUP JOURNAL 29 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4055.

Apr 13 1994 , MS 9-14, MS 9-14 (Ground Photograph). SAB33383.

Aug 5 1997 , AAS/97/09/CT49-71, AAS/97/09/CT49-71 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17026.

Aug 11 1999 , AAS/99/09/CT48-55, AAS/99/09/CT48-55 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17346.

Aug 11 1999 , AAS/99/09/G10/5-15, AAS/99/09/G10/5-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17345.

Aug 13 2010 , DG2273-80, DG2273-80 (Ground Photograph). SAB13073.

Jan 1 1969 , AB 2793, AB 2793 (Ground Photograph). SAB20244.

Jan 1 1994 , AAS/GR/94/CT144, AAS/GR/94/CT144 (Ground Photograph). SAB32902.

Jan 1 1995 , AAS/GR/95/CT264-265, AAS/GR/95/CT264-265 (Ground Photograph). SAB32938.

Jan 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT590-595, AAS/GR/97/CT590-595 (Ground Photograph). SAB33067.

Jul 1 1996 , AAS/GR/96/CT173-174, AAS/GR/96/CT173-174 (Ground Photograph). SAB32986.

Jul 1 2001 , CNU 30-36, CNU 30-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB12322.

Jul 2 2009 , AAS/09/1/DG0564-582, AAS/09/1/DG0564-582 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19974.

Jul 11 1996 , AAS/96/08/CT1-5, AAS/96/08/CT1-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16437.

Jul 11 1996 , AAS/96/08/G21/4-9, AAS/96/08/G21/4-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16436.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS/10/3/DG2037-39, AAS/10/3/DG2037-39 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13071.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS/10/3/DG2045-9, AAS/10/3/DG2045-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13072.

Jul 16 1998 , AAS/98/09/CT, AAS/98/09/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17027.

Jul 16 2001 , AAS/01/5/CT22-8, AAS/01/5/CT22-8 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17725.

Jul 16 2001 , AAS/01/5/G6/30, AAS/01/5/G6/30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17724.

Jul 18 2000 , AAS/00/10/CT1-9, AAS/00/10/CT1-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17425.

Jul 18 2000 , AAS/00/10/G24/6, AAS/00/10/G24/6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17424.

Jul 19 1996 , NQb 5-18, NQb 5-18 (Ground Photograph). SAB33462.

Jul 23 1996 , AAS/96/09/CT1-5, 8-9, AAS/96/09/CT1-5, 8-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16456.

Jul 23 1996 , AAS/96/09/G24/10-5, AAS/96/09/G24/10-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16455.

Jun 25 1996 , AAS/96/04/CT, AAS/96/04/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16394.

Jun 25 1996 , AAS/96/04/CT1-3, AAS/96/04/CT1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19622.

Jun 25 1996 , AAS/96/04/G10/8-12, AAS/96/04/G10/8-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16393.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, CHAPEL OF GARIOCH 32 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XII,572,582 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Nov 1 2000 , AAS/GR/00/CT17-20, AAS/GR/00/CT17-20 (Ground Photograph). SAB33178.

Nov 1 2000 , SC 976575-6, SC 976575-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB20245.

Sep 7 2009 , DG 0701-13, DG 0701-13 (Ground Photograph). SAB19998.

Record last edited

Aug 11 2025 2:49PM