Building record MAB36674 - CARESTON CASTLE

Mansion/castle, still in use, within a designed landscape (NO55NW0115).

Mansion/castle, still in use, within a designed landscape (NO55NW0115). It was built in the late 16th century, but with many various later alterations and additions. The initial building was on an L-plan, oriented east/west, with a wing at the southwest corner, projecting west and south. A semi-circular stair-tower was also built on the north side of the mansion at this time. There were various interior alterations during the 17th century by various owners. The house was recast in circa 1700, at which time the south elevation was turned into a U-plan with a southeast wing balancing the one to the southwest. In circa 1790, a stair-hall was added to the rear, and the 16th century north corner turrets and stair-tower were embellished in a Georgian Gothic style. In circa 1880, there were further additions to the rear, and a loggia was added to the front of the main block. The U-plan south elevation has four storeys and five bays, with the windows on the top floor forming pilastered and pedimented dormers. The timber dormerheads are 19th century replacements for the 17th century stone pediments. The first and second floor windows retain their circa 1700 surrounds. Above the central opening on the first floor is a large coat of arms of the Stewart of Grandtully dated 1714. The ground floor has small windows, and the central entrance is possibly from the 18th century. The 19th century loggia has elliptical-headed arches carried on columns. The two wings at either end of the south elevation are identical, despite their different construction dates. They are both four storeys, and have a plain door and ground floor window on the inside wall, covered by the later loggia. Each wing has a pedimented two-bay gable, with three circular lights within the pediment. The top floor openings on the southwest wing are blind, and there are blocked openings on the west of the wing. At the rear of the southeast wing, filling the north inner angle, is a two-storey jamb with a piended roof. The rear of the southwest wing has a similarly placed lean-to addition, hiding the base of the 16th century stair-tower. The original roof of the stair-tower, which was probably conical, was replaced with a flat roof in circa 1790. The stair-tower and the 16th century north towers have castellated wallheads. The rear additions to the house are irregular, with two and three storey sections, and with some gabled bays and gabled wallhead dormers. The rear of the main block rises above the additions. The various roofs are slated. Inside, there is a private chapel, containing a communion table and chair dated to 1623. There are also interior carved chimneypieces, and a painted ceiling.

Period Notes
Built in the late-16th century. There were interior alterations during the 17th century, and there is a communion table and chair dated 1623. the house was recast in circa 1700. There is a coat of arms dated 1714, and in circa 1790 the stair-hall was added to the rear. In circa 1880, there were rear additions and a loggia added to the frontage. There were also alterations to the dormers in the 19th century. It was listed on 11/06/1971.

AN/1903-1912 PO (1913), AN/1903-1912 PO (1913) (Ground Photograph). SAB26542.

AN/6847-55 (1983), AN/6847-55 (1983) (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB26541.

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T, 1887-92, [Untitled], Vol.4,80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6113.

TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, Vol.4,102-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.

Mar 23 1927 , AN/1084 PO, AN/1084 PO (Ground Photograph). SAB26543.

May 21 2002 , AAS/02/5/CT87-9, AAS/02/5/CT87-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB26544.

Record last edited

Aug 6 2024 9:29AM