Building record MAB27648 - ELLON CASTLE WALLED GARDEN

Walled Garden of Ellon Castle (NJ93SE0165), dating from the early 18th century.

Walled Garden of Ellon Castle (NJ93SE0165), dating from the early 18th century. Evidence supports dating of the main layout of the walled garden and terrace to the 18th century, probably during the ownership of Baillie James Gordon, when, in its hey day, was one of the finest gardens in Scotland. The garden measures roughly 165m by 119m with a raised terrace at the north. There is a datestone over the West gate in the south wall. The OS 1st and 2nd edition maps show greenhouses at the southeast corner of the garden. The 2nd edition map shows a fountain in the centre of the garden. A geophysical survey of the lower garden, upper terrace and ground between the castle ruin and the drive was undertaken by RGC in June 2016. A survey and photographic recording of all visible elements of the garden was carried out by MAS in July-August 2016. The probably late 17th century date of the two sundials suggests some degree of formal layout at that date, but there is no other direct evidence for the garden at this period. At this time the focus of the garden was looking down from the prestige rooms of the old castle (NJ93SE0001), with access to the garden down steps through the Garden House (NJ93SE0122) on a central path to the sundial (NJ93SE0121). The gardens appear to have been neglected in the first half of the 19th century, but recreated 1845-73 by Alexander Gordon. A watching brief carried out by MAS in October 2016 on a new cable trench at the south end of the garden, found some indication of the water piping associated with the boiler house but no evidence for the greenhouses. The south wall of the garden appears to have no foundation.

Period Notes
Garden house and terrace stairs adapted 1851.

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.

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.

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, CABLE TRENCH ELLON CASTLE GARDEN, ABERDEENSHIRE, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB7286.

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

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2017, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 17, 2016, pp. 15-16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6497.

Apr 10 1997 , AAS/97/04/CT35-6,45, AAS/97/04/CT35-6,45 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB34182.

Jan 1 1998 , AAS/GR/98/CT384-385, AAS/GR/98/CT384-385 (Ground Photograph). SAB34186.

Mar 21 2006 , AAS/06/1/CT11, AAS/06/1/CT11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB34185.

Mar 21 2006 , AAS/06/1/DG221, 22, 24-5, AAS/06/1/DG221, 22, 24-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB34184.

May 28 1998 , AAS/98/05/CT, AAS/98/05/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB34183.

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

Record last edited

Jan 5 2024 11:38AM