Building record MAB27574 - ELLON CASTLE PARK
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Summary
Designed landscape and Park Wall / Deer Dykes of Ellon Castle (NJ93SE0001, NJ93SE0165).
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 31103
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 9586 3087 (1612m by 708m) Linear Feature - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ93SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Ellon |
Type and Period (7)
- LODGE (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- SCHOOL (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- WALL (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- DEER PARK (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- CASTLE (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
- DESIGNED LANDSCAPE (Post Medieval - 1561 AD to 1899 AD)
Full Description
Designed landscape and Park Wall / Deer Dykes of Ellon Castle (NJ93SE0001, NJ93SE0165). The rubble built park wall was built early 18th century (probably circa 1715) and encloses a quadrilateral area, approximately 400 by 300 yards. The east gate has alternately fluted and rusticated gatepiers with ball finials. The south gate on Castle Road has square gatepiers with angle rustication and ogee and ball cupping flanked by repaired foot gates. The gatepiers which stood west of the castle ruins, beside the lodge shown on the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps at NJ 95643 30759 were moved further east in the 1970s (see NJ93SE0115). The park wall was much rebuilt in 1850s as unemployment relief. It is a fine, remarkably complete, early 18th century layout. Parts of the original designed landscape still survive although now broken up by housing developments. To the west on Turnishaw Hill and part of the McDonald Park are the kennels and the original West Lodge, now called Turnshaw Cottage. Later features on the avenue west of West Lodge include the Coronation Stone erected in 1936 to mark the coronation of George VI, and the Obelisk, a foundation stone which marks the gifting of Macdonald Parklands to the people of Ellon by Sir James Macdonald. See also NJ93SE0163 - walled garden, NJ93SE0164 - ice house. The area near the west entrance and the site of the previous west lodges (NJ93SE0105) was later used as the site of Ellon Academy (NJ93SE0140). A photographic survey was carried out in 2021, prior to proposed redevelopment of the site of the former Ellon Academy for housing, focused of the wall and gatepiers at the west entrance (centred on NJ 9564 3076) of the designed landscape.
Period Notes
Park wall built c.1715; much rebuilt 1850s.
RSK ENVIRONMENT, 2009, CASTLE MEADOWS, ELLON: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT (Bibliographic reference). SAB3052.
Jul 18 2006 , AAS/06/2/CT49, AAS/06/2/CT49 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19279.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, ELLON BURGH 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Sep 7 2021 , APP/2020/1422, APP/2020/1422 (Ground Photograph). SAB35509.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Listed Building Number: 31103;
- NMR Card Number: NJ93SE29;
- NRHE Numlink: 122230;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ93SE0048;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB31103 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/122230 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (4)
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. ELLON BURGH 13.
- --- SAB19279 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 18 2006 . AAS/06/2/CT49. Colour Transparency. AAS/06/2/CT49.
- --- SAB3052 Bibliographic reference: RSK ENVIRONMENT. 2009. CASTLE MEADOWS, ELLON: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT.
- --- SAB35509 Ground Photograph: Sep 7 2021 . APP/2020/1422. Digital. APP/2020/1422.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Dec 22 2025 11:59AM