Building record MAB27555 - ELLON CASTLE

Remains of castle dating from the late 16th century.

Remains of castle dating from the late 16th century. It was reconstructed, circa 1706-15 and 1781-5, John Baxter, but ruinous post-1801, and demolished 1851. The ivy-clad remains consist of a lofty 4-storeyed building, lying east-west, to the southeast angle of which is attached a tall slender round tower, one quarter engaged with the main structure. Only the south wall remains of an impressive and complex château. Baxter retained only the square tower with its circular south-eastern angle-tower as part of a four-storey, U-plan block 39.6m by 22.9m open to the east, which had twin three-window bows. West front was seven-windowed with the centre three recessed. Fluted stone pilasters survive of the stairhall at the west end. The tower is complete to the wall head. Only the front or south elevation of the main building survives. The southwest corner of the main structure forms a projecting elbow in the front beyond which further building is continued west. This part bears an armorial stone dated 1635. The vault in the basement of the main structure is older than everything above. What remains of the jamb and the kitchen fireplace suggests a date from the 1st half of the 15th century. The middle portion of the building evidently represents a reconstruction of the late 16th century. The superstructure belongs to alterations of 1781. It was dismantled in 1851 when the modern castle (NJ93SE0165) of Ellon was built, the greater part of the latter being pulled down after 1929. See NJ93SE0163 for walled garden and historic garden survey, and NJ93SE0048 for the castle park.

Period Notes
Fortalice in existence by 1413; main build late 16thC; armorial stone dated 1635; reconstructed 1706-15; alterations 1781-5; demolished 1850.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 20/11/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 36, illus (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, VOL 4, 391 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.

GODSMAN, J, 1952, HISTORY OF THE BURGH & PARISH OF ELLON, ABERDEENSHIRE, 49-57 (Bibliographic reference). SAB591.

BUCHAN, J, 1987, BYGONE BUCHAN, 65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB97.

SCOTTISH MONUMENTS SURVEY, 1990, JAMES GILES - ABERDEENSHIRE CASTLES, p.10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1738.

DINGWALL, C, 2007, ELLON CASTLE GARDENS: EXAMINING THE POTENTIAL HERI (Bibliographic reference). SAB4036.

RSK ENVIRONMENT, 2009, CASTLE MEADOWS, ELLON: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT (Bibliographic reference). SAB3052.

SCOTIA ARCHAEOLOGY, 2011, CASTLE GARDEN: ELLON (Bibliographic reference). SAB1711.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2016, ELLON CASTLE GARDENS, ABERDEENSHIRE: HISTORIC GARDEN SURVEY, Survey report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7292.

Apr 10 1997 , AAS/97/04/CT35-6,45, AAS/97/04/CT35-6,45 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16699.

Jan 1 1998 , AAS/GR/98/CT384-385, AAS/GR/98/CT384-385 (Ground Photograph). SAB33097.

Mar 21 2006 , AAS/06/1/CT11, AAS/06/1/CT11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18951.

Mar 21 2006 , AAS/06/1/DG221, 22, 24-5, AAS/06/1/DG221, 22, 24-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18611.

May 28 1998 , AAS/98/05/CT, AAS/98/05/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17035.

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

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL XII, 905 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Record last edited

Apr 3 2025 1:02PM