Building record MAB20137 - DELGATIE CASTLE

Castle, still in use, which is one of a group of contemporary castles (Craig NJ42SE0003, Gight NJ83NW0003 and Towie Barclay NJ74SW0009 are others) that are said, by Dr Douglas Simpson, to be the work of the same master mason (traditionally said to be Alexander Conn, 1st of Auchry, it there is no documentary evidence to support this) and probably date from 16th century.

Castle, still in use, which is one of a group of contemporary castles (Craig NJ42SE0003, Gight NJ83NW0003 and Towie Barclay NJ74SW0009 are others) that are said, by Dr Douglas Simpson, to be the work of the same master mason (traditionally said to be Alexander Conn, 1st of Auchry, it there is no documentary evidence to support this) and probably date from 16th century. This is indicated by dates over a fireplace (1570) and on the east side of a wing (1589). It is supposed that an earlier castle most likely existed here. Lyons suggests that some walls of an earlier tower may have been incorporated into the later structure, while Capt. Hay believed that the castle was rebuilt in 1346 and also noted changes in mason's marks at upper levels. It is a towerhouse of 4-storeys and attic, with a 5-storey wing with cape-house. The ground floor has a dungeon with mezzanine floor. The harled wing retains a corbelled ashlar parapet with bartizan with the upper part of main jamb having crow-stepped gables. In the interior there is an entrance passage with groin-vaulted vestibule at original entrance, a circular turnpike stair and painted ceilings of 16th century date. The hall was re-modelled as a ballroom in circa 1830. There are a number of painted ceilings of late 16th century date. There are two single-storey wings with three ogee-headed windows with cross finials. The dining room, which is in the west wing, is also known as 'the chapel'. The kitchen is in the east wing. Two screen walls, on the east and west, with buttresses, pinnacles and gablet, terminate to building. The west screen has a dummy doocot, and is extended by a concave-gabled screen wall into which a late medieval tomb recess and other fragments have been built in. The castle has been gradually restored since the 1950s. A total of 145 marks from 62 different masons have been recorded on the castle by the Mason's Mark Project. During the Second World War the castle grounds were used for an army campsite and training area.

Period Notes
Possibly rebuilt 1346; present building c1570-79; damaged 1594, repaired 1597. Wings added 1768 and 19thC.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 72, illus (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL 11, 52-4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

LYONS, AW, 1910, PSAS 44(1909-10)247-8, 247-8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1088.

SIMPSON, WD, 1930, PSAS 64(1929-30) 48-95, 82-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1657.

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

Jul 4 2015 , AAS-GR-15-07-093 - 097, AAS-GR-15-07-093 - 097 (Ground Photograph). SAB20905.

Jul 12 2010 , AAs-10-3 DG1869-79, AAs-10-3 DG1869-79 (Air-vertical Photograph). SAB20619.

Jul 12 2010 , AAS-10-3 DG1882, AAS-10-3 DG1882 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20620.

Jun 23 1982 , AAS/82/05/CNJ20, AAS/82/05/CNJ20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14416.

Jun 23 1982 , AAS/82/05/S7/35-7, AAS/82/05/S7/35-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14415.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, TURRIFF 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL 12, 991 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Record last edited

Jun 13 2023 11:21AM