Building record MAB39488 - FETTERCAIRN HOUSE
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Summary
Fettercairn House, incorporating elements of an earlier house.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 9507
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 6558 7393 (218m by 254m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO67SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Fettercairn |
Type and Period (4)
Full Description
Fettercairn House, incorporating elements of an earlier house. The original house was built for John, Earl Middleton and Grizel Durham, the new house was begun for Sir William Stuart Forbes and completed for his son Sir John H. S. Forbes. To the south of the house is a walled garden and woodland walks.
The original house was long and rectangular, of two storeys and attic, and lying north-northeast to south-southwest. It was built in 1666 (and now forms the south wing of the present house). A 1670 date stone in the original house was initialled EM and GM. There was also a small addition at the south-southwest end of a square crowstepped projection on the east-southeast flank, which originally contained a spiral stair.
The old house was incorporated into the large, single-storey and basement, Jacobean mansion with its main frontage to the west-northwest, which was built between 1826-1829. The main block has a semi-symmetrical scheme with an advanced 2-storey entrance tower with octagonal angle turrets. The south-southwest frontage has a large bay with a shaped gable over addition, the old gable recast with square ogee turrets. The rubble work of the old house has been left exposed while the new work is of red ashlar. The east addition, at right angles to the old house, was built in 1877. It is 2-storey and attic with a circular, conical-roofed tower and shaped gables. The house has an interesting interior with a high rib-vaulted entrance hall and a ribbed stair ceiling with a lantern light. The drawing and dining rooms have ribbed ceilings, the former more elaborate with a caryatid chimneypiece. The library in the old house has an enriched frieze designed by Robert S. Lorimer in 1898. The walled garden is attached to the east wing of the house.
CAMERON, AC, 1899, HISTORY OF FETTERCAIRN, 160 (Bibliographic reference). SAB214.
TRANTER, N, 1970, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, No4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1918.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, FETTERCAIRN 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Listed Building Number: 9507;
- NMR Card Number: NO67SE 2.00;
- NMR Card Number: NO67SE 2.03;
- NRHE Numlink: 118607;
- NRHE Numlink: 36117;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO67SE0002;
External Links (3)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB9507 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/118607 (Fettercairn House, Garden Wall - trove.scot link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36117 (Fettercairn House - trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (3)
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Oct 1 2026 5:42PM
