Building record MAB28543 - FARMHOUSE, MAINS OF PITTENDRUM

Farmhouse to Mains of Pittendrum farm (NJ96NE0286).

Farmhouse to Mains of Pittendrum farm (NJ96NE0286). The house is made up of a central 3-storey block, with single-storey and attic wings projecting form the north and south gables. It consists of eight rooms with kitchen, bathroom and cellars. The central block is constructed of pinned rubble with margins, with skewputts and coped chimneys. Cat slide dormers to east elevation. The walls in the main block are 1.2m thick. The west front has a lugged architraved doorpiece with a segmental pediment containing a thistle, rose and shamrock and a fine Cumine coat-of-arms. The farm was built by the Cumines in 1734 and sold, along with Pittulie, to Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo in 1787. The farmhouse was gutted and renovated in 1887. Prior to this time, most of the rooms were oak panelled, with stout wooden shutters on every window, and in place of large rooms there were several small ones with dressing-rooms attached. The staircase was then on the eastern side of the house, before being moved to the western side of the house during the 19th century renovations. During the renovations it emerged that to insulate and soundproof the rooms, straw ropes had been used but this was all removed. The kitchen was not renovated at this time, and retained its wooden rafter ceiling, stone fireplace with flanking stone 'deece' (benches), built-in girdle, and flag stone floor. The tall shape of Pittendrum farmhouse is reportedly visible far out to sea and was said to have been used a navigational aid by local fishermen.

Period Notes
Built 1734; sold 1787. House gutted in 1887.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, PITSLIGO 50 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

MILNE, C, n.d., PITTENDRUM, ABERDEENSHIRE. IN THREE SCOTTISH FARMS (Bibliographic reference). SAB5106.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2025 3:40PM