Building record MAB38311 - KELLY CASTLE

Castle, still in residential use.

Castle, still in residential use. Kelly (or Kellie) Castle, formerly known as Auchterlony, was the seat of the Elliot family from the 14th to the 17th centuries but the building itself appears to date from the late 15th century at the earliest. After standing in ruins for some time it was restored in the mid-19th century and is still occupied. The castle consists of a large tower-house of red coursed rubble overlooking a courtyard on the west. Access is through a gatehouse and pend. The tower-house, 4 storeys high and massive, may date from the late 15th century, but architectural detail suggests that it is more likely to be contemporary with the ranges of 16th century buildings which flank the courtyard. These are 2 storeys high on the north, south and west, where there is a modern entrance archway. The east range abutting the tower on the north is 3 storeys high. At the outer angles of the west range there are round towers with conical roofs. The whole building shows only slight evidence of its 19th century restoration, for example a few window insertions and some outbuildings on the north. In general it still retains its early character. There are two angle-turrets on the tower, one is the usual conical design, the other is an unusual three-storey rectangular design. The doorway to the tower is within the re-entrant angle. There are various gunloops and shot-holes. A desk based assessment, building survey and watching brief were carried out by AOC between March and November 2008 over renovations being undertaken. The watching brief was carried out over select areas of the castle, and revealed much of the original fabric of the castle.

Period Notes
Castle, still in residential use. Kelly (or Kellie) Castle, formerly known as Auchterlony, was the seat of the Elliot family from the 14th to the 17th Centuries but the building itself appears to date from the late 15th Century at the earliest. After standing in ruins for some time it was restored in the mid-19th Century and is still occupied.

B/46160, B/46160 (Photograph). SAB22393.

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T, 1887-92, [Untitled], Vol.3, 599-600 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6119.

TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, 134-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.

WILSON, E M, 1966, ASPECTS OF ANTIQUITY. ABERTAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATION NO. 11, p.12 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3467.

AOC Archaeology Ltd, 2007, Kelly Castle, Angus - DBA, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB2201.

AOC Archaeology Ltd, 2007, Kelly Castle, Angus - WSI, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB2202.

AOC, 2009, KELLY CASTLE, ARBIRLOT, ANGUS: HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING WATCHING BRIEF REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB3534.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2010, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND: VOL 10, 2009, p.30 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3514.

Mar 23 1927 , AN 1100, AN 1100 (Ground Photograph). SAB21670.

Record last edited

Mar 31 2023 12:30PM