Building record MAB19953 - CRAIGSTON CASTLE

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Summary

Castle built between 1604-1607 by John Urquhart of Craigfintry, known as the Tutor of Cromarty.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (A) 9392

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NJ 7622 5502 (32m by 62m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet	NJ75NE
Authority	Aberdeenshire
Civil Parish	King Edward

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Castle built between 1604-1607 by John Urquhart of Craigfintry, known as the Tutor of Cromarty. The lands and barony of the castle were granted by charter in 1597 and 1600. The construction of the castle began on 14 March 1604 and finished on 8 December 1607. The castle is built of pink harled rubble with Turriff sandstone ashlar dressings, margins, and pronounced angle quoins, and is characterised by its white tower; measuring 17.37 sq. m and 20.42 m high

The castle is U-plan, composed of two main wings (added in the mid-18th Century by Captain John Urquhart who made his money as a privateer or pirate) flanking the entrance and connected by an elevated arch, and surmounted by a richly corbelled parapet. A central porch with Tudoresque baronial detailing was added to the west front between 1834-1836. There are flanking plaques displaying the coat of arms of John Urquhart (1537-1631) and there is a datestone recording the construction of the central tower block between 1604-1607. The interior of the castle contains rare, early-17th Century carved timber panels, which were extended in 1845.

The Home Farm dates to 1760.

Period Notes
Lands & barony granted by charter 1597 and 1600; castle begun 14 March 1604 and finished 8 December 1607. Rare, early 17th century carved timber panels; extended in 1845. Home Farm 1760. Listed 24/11/1972.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL IV(1928) 220 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL IX(1931) 38-40 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 31/05/16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

LEITH-HAY, A, 1849, CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE, pp 101-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1052.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 12, fig (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 483-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 151,153,192 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

SLADE, HG, 1977, CRAIGSTON CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS 108(1976-77) 262-99, 262-99 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1696.

TRANTER, N, 1977, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 37-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1950.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, pp7-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

TOURISM RESOURCES COMPANY, 2008, CRAIGSTON CASTLE ESTATE: DIVERSIFICATION AND STABILISATION STRATEGY (Bibliographic reference). SAB1987.

Aug 6 1983 , AAS/83/14/R34/3,10, AAS/83/14/R34/3,10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14406.

Feb 28 1986 , AAS/86/01/S1/11, AAS/86/01/S1/11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14407.

Jan 1 1982 , CNJ 19-21, CNJ 19-21 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33912.

Jun 23 1982 , AAS/82/05/S7/31-4, AAS/82/05/S7/31-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14408.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, KING EDWARD 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Other Statuses/References

Authority: ASH;
NMR Card Number: NJ75NE 2.00;
NMR Card Number: NJ75NE 2.01;
NMR Card Number: NJ75NE 2.02;
NMR Card Number: NJ75NE 2.03;
NRHE Numlink: 158139;
NRHE Numlink: 163305;
NRHE Numlink: 163306;
NRHE Numlink: 19228;
Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ75NE0002;

External Links (1)

https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB9392 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)

Sources/Archives (16)

--- SAB1052 Bibliographic reference: LEITH-HAY, A. 1849. CASTELLATED ARCHITECTURE OF ABERDEENSHIRE. pp 101-2.
--- SAB1140 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, D. 1892. THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5. Y. 483-4.
--- SAB14406 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 6 1983 . AAS/83/14/R34/3,10. Black & White. AAS/83/14/R34/3,10.
--- SAB14407 Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 28 1986 . AAS/86/01/S1/11. Black & White. AAS/86/01/S1/11.
--- SAB14408 Air-oblique Photograph: Jun 23 1982 . AAS/82/05/S7/31-4. Black & White. AAS/82/05/S7/31-4.
--- SAB1620 Bibliographic reference: SCOTT, D. 1887. GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN . Y. 12, fig.
--- SAB1696 Bibliographic reference: SLADE, HG. 1977. CRAIGSTON CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE. PSAS 108(1976-77) 262-99. 262-99.
--- SAB1738 Bibliographic reference: SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY. 1990. JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES. pp7-8.
--- SAB1819 Bibliographic reference: THE SCOTSMAN. 0000. THE SCOTSMAN. 31/05/16.
--- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. KING EDWARD 14.
--- SAB1839 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES. VOL IX(1931) 38-40.
--- SAB1839 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES. VOL IV(1928) 220.
--- SAB1950 Bibliographic reference: TRANTER, N. 1977. FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4. 37-9.
--- SAB1987 Bibliographic reference: TOURISM RESOURCES COMPANY. 2008. CRAIGSTON CASTLE ESTATE: DIVERSIFICATION AND STABILISATION STRATEGY.
--- SAB247 Bibliographic reference: CRUDEN, SH. 1960. THE SCOTTISH CASTLE . 151,153,192.
--- SAB33912 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 1 1982 . CNJ 19-21. Colour Negative. CNJ 19-21.

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Record last edited

Aug 26 2026 10:03AM