Building record MAB27165 - CASTLE OF ESSLEMONT
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Summary
Remains of a castle.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 3400
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9321 2974 (90m by 84m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ92NW |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Ellon |
Type and Period (9)
- CASTLE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOWER HOUSE (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- COURTYARD (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- WALL (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- KITCHEN (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- DRAIN (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- VAULT (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
- MOAT (12th Century to 19th Century - 1100 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Remains of a castle. In 1493 the castle was destroyed by fire, and another was not erected until probably the latter part of the 16th century. This 3-storey L-shaped towerhouse survives as a roofless shell with a square staircase in the re-entrant angle, and a large round tower appended to the east corner. It stands on the side of a ditched enclosure. Excavation revealed the lower courses of the earlier castle, a massive L-shaped towerhouse over the two long sides, probably early 15th century. The remains of an enclosure, probably contemporary with the later castle, is built against the south wall. On the scarp of the surrounding ditch a curtain wall had stood, with an external heel. At the west corner were two round towers and the mutilated remains of a third on the northeast side. The round tower of the later castle may be built over an earlier enceinte tower. A cross wall connects the curtain wall to the north side of the earlier towerhouse. The surrounding ditch may date from the 14th century.
Period Notes
Originally built 15thC and destroyed by fire 1493; Royal licence dated 1500; castle rebuilt c1570-90; passed to Errolls in 1625 and bought by Gordons 1728; abandoned 1769. Previous notes state 'property of George Jamesone 1588-1644; occupied by Covenanters in 1646' which contradicts other information.
ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No85(1868) 71 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.
MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 603 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.
GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES, XLII (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.
SIMPSON, WD, 1944, PSAS 78(1943-4) 100-5, 100-5, ILL (Bibliographic reference). SAB1678.
GODSMAN, J, 1952, HISTORY OF THE BURGH & PARISH OF ELLON, ABERDEENSHIRE, 107 (Bibliographic reference). SAB591.
SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, p.10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
Jan 20 2000 , AAS/00/01/CT16-21, AAS/00/01/CT16-21 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12230.
Jan 20 2000 , AAS/00/01/G2/5-6, AAS/00/01/G2/5-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12229.
Author unknown, n.d., LEOPARD MAGAZINE, 1978? P.8-10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1074.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 3400;
- NMR Card Number: NJ92NW1;
- NRHE Numlink: 20361;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ92NW0001;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM3400 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/20361 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (10)
- --- SAB1074 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. LEOPARD MAGAZINE. 1978? P.8-10.
- --- SAB1140 Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, D. 1892. THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5. Y. 603.
- --- SAB12229 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 20 2000 . AAS/00/01/G2/5-6. Black & White. AAS/00/01/G2/5-6.
- --- SAB12230 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 20 2000 . AAS/00/01/CT16-21. Colour Transparency. AAS/00/01/CT16-21.
- --- SAB1360 Bibliographic reference: ORDNANCE SURVEY. 1871. Ordnance Name Book. No85(1868) 71.
- --- SAB1678 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1944. PSAS 78(1943-4) 100-5. 100-5, ILL.
- --- SAB1738 Bibliographic reference: SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY. 1990. JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES. p.10.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
- --- SAB587 Bibliographic reference: GILES, J. 1936. DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES. Y. Y. XLII.
- --- SAB591 Bibliographic reference: GODSMAN, J. 1952. HISTORY OF THE BURGH & PARISH OF ELLON, ABERDEENSHIRE. 107.
Finds (4)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Jan 31 2024 3:37PM
