Building record MAB30208 - NEW SLAINS CASTLE

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Summary

The remains of New Slains Castle, originally named as Bowness, sit on top of a high cliff to the east of Port Erroll.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Listed Building (B) 52471

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Location

Grid reference Centred NK 1019 3617 (308m by 277m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet NK13NW
Authority Aberdeenshire
Civil Parish Cruden

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

The remains of New Slains Castle, originally named as Bowness, sit on top of a high cliff to the east of Port Erroll. It originated as a tower and court, built in the late 16th - early 17th century by the ninth Earl of Errol after James VI had destroyed his old castle at Collieston. It was subsequently added to in the 18th century, and enlarged and virtually rebuilt in 1836-7, although the base of the tower survives on the south. The tower measures 4.8m by 2.5m within a wall 1.2m thick. The walling is probably original to the first floor level but with alterations. The whole building is now a two-storeyed roofless shell. To the north, south and west can be seen various banks and parterres where gardens, designed by Thomas Mawson, once stood. The castle is said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Site visit in 2022 as part of the SCAPE Coastal Zone Assessment Survey.

Period Notes
Built c.1598; gallery added 1664; new entrance front 1707; painted by Charles Cordiner in 1784; rebuilt 1836-7; unroofed in 1925. Listed 11/04/2018


Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/09/81 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 03/11/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 19/08/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 29/09/04 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, VOL I, 3RD SER,70 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

THE SCOTSMAN, 0000, THE SCOTSMAN, 07/10/15 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1819.

PRATT, J. B., 1858, BUCHAN: A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION, 40-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1410.

SCOTT, D, 1887, GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN , 93, illus (Bibliographic reference). SAB1620.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 188, 249 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

BINNEY, M, 1980, LOST HOUSES OF SCOTLAND, photo (Bibliographic reference). SAB3740.

Author unknown, 2016, HERALD SCOTLAND, 27/12/16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5832.

SCAPE, 2023, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY ABERDEENSHIRE AND CITY OF ABERDEEN: CULLEN TO MILTON NESS, ID 14753 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4866.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/CT23-7, AAS/00/04/CT23-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12609.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G11/12-4, AAS/00/04/G11/12-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12608.

Jul 28 1984 , AAS/84/9-10/R21(1)/13-5, AAS/84/9-10/R21(1)/13-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15110.

Mar 1 2011 , AAS/2011/2/DG3310-6, AAS/2011/2/DG3310-6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13201.

Mar 10 1994 , AAS/94/07/CT11, 13-16, AAS/94/07/CT11, 13-16 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19560.

Mar 10 1994 , AAS/94/07/G17/13-15, AAS/94/07/G17/13-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15116.

Mar 10 1994 , AAS/94/07/G17/13-15, AAS/94/07/G17/13-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15077.

Sep 2 1987 , AAS(A)/87/03/S3/1,2,4-10, AAS(A)/87/03/S3/1,2,4-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15111.

Sep 2 1987 , AAS/87/03/CT2-3, AAS/87/03/CT2-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19846.

Other Statuses/References

  • Authority: ASH;
  • HES Listed Building Number: 52471;
  • NMR Card Number: NK13NW1;
  • NRHE Numlink: 21149;
  • Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NK13NW0001;

External Links (2)

Sources/Archives (21)

  • --- Bibliographic reference: MACGIBBON, D. 1892. THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5. Y. 188, 249.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 15 2000 . AAS/00/04/G11/12-4. Black & White. AAS/00/04/G11/12-4.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Feb 15 2000 . AAS/00/04/CT23-7. Colour Transparency. AAS/00/04/CT23-7.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 1 2011 . AAS/2011/2/DG3310-6. Digital. AAS/2011/2/DG3310-6.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: PRATT, J. B.. 1858. BUCHAN: A TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION. 40-6.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 19/08/82.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 03/11/87.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 02/09/81.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . PRESS & JOURNAL. 29/09/04.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 10 1994 . AAS/94/07/G17/13-15. Black & White. AAS/94/07/G17/13-15.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 28 1984 . AAS/84/9-10/R21(1)/13-5. Black & White. AAS/84/9-10/R21(1)/13-5.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 2 1987 . AAS(A)/87/03/S3/1,2,4-10. Black & White. AAS(A)/87/03/S3/1,2,4-10.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 10 1994 . AAS/94/07/G17/13-15. Black & White. AAS/94/07/G17/13-15.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: SCOTT, D. 1887. GRASS OF PARNASSUS FROM THE BENTS O’BUCHAN . Y. 93, illus.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: THE SCOTSMAN. 0000. THE SCOTSMAN. 07/10/15.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. . SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES. VOL I, 3RD SER,70.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 10 1994 . AAS/94/07/CT11, 13-16. Colour Transparency. AAS/94/07/CT11, 13-16.
  • --- Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 2 1987 . AAS/87/03/CT2-3. Colour Transparency. AAS/87/03/CT2-3.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: BINNEY, M. 1980. LOST HOUSES OF SCOTLAND. Y. photo.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: SCAPE. 2023. COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY ABERDEENSHIRE AND CITY OF ABERDEEN: CULLEN TO MILTON NESS. ID 14753.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 2016. HERALD SCOTLAND. 27/12/16.

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Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jul 28 2025 11:47AM

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