Building record MAB39490 - THORNTON CASTLE
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Summary
Thornton Castle is a small square tower house dated 1531, 3-storey with elaborately corbelled parapet with angle rounds, and a crow-stepped cap-house.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 16295
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 6875 7181 (48m by 49m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO67SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Marykirk |
Type and Period (5)
Full Description
Thornton Castle is a small square tower house dated 1531, 3-storey with elaborately corbelled parapet with angle rounds, and a crow-stepped cap-house. A lower 2-storey wing dated 1662 connects this to a 3-storey high round tower, at the northeast corner, which is said to be the oldest part of the building, the base of which is a survival of a 14th Century building. The castle was remodelled in the 19th Century with the crenellated parapets on the wing, top stage of the round tower buttresses and the chimneyheads probably of that date. Further alterations and additions were made later. A weather-vane bears the date of 1680. The basement is vaulted, the turnpike stair wide for the period. The Hall, on the first floor is now panelled but bears traces of tempera painting behind. The property belonged to the Thornton family in the 13th Century but in 1309 an heiress carried the lands to the Strachans, in whose possession it remained until 1683 when it transferred to a Forbes, then Fullartons, Gardenstones and in the 19th Century to the Crombies. In 1893 it was purchased by Sir Thomas Thornton, and is still owned by the Thornton family.
Period Notes
From 14thC. Tower house dated 1531; weather-vane dated 1680; remodelled c1822. 1662 date stone in barrel-vaulted kitchen. In the 1890s original doorway was replaced. Early 20thC bathroom and toilet added.
ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No16(1863) 9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.
JERVISE, A, 1879, EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2, 134 (Bibliographic reference). SAB889.
TRANTER, N, 1977, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 169-70 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1950.
GRAHAM, C, 1981, GRAMPIAN: THE CASTLE COUNTRY (2ND ED), 16, 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB598.
Jan 30 1997 , AAS/97/03/CT17-20, AAS/97/03/CT17-20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16627.
Jan 30 1997 , AAS/97/03/G4/24-27, AAS/97/03/G4/24-27 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16626.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, MARYKIRK 36 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Author unknown, n.d., NSA, (1843) 302 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Listed Building Number: 16295;
- NMR Card Number: NO67SE4;
- NRHE Numlink: 36119;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO67SE0004;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB16295 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36119 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (8)
- --- SAB1269 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. NSA. (1843) 302.
- --- SAB1360 Bibliographic reference: ORDNANCE SURVEY. 1871. Ordnance Name Book. No16(1863) 9.
- --- SAB16626 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 30 1997 . AAS/97/03/G4/24-27. Black & White. AAS/97/03/G4/24-27.
- --- SAB16627 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 30 1997 . AAS/97/03/CT17-20. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/03/CT17-20.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. MARYKIRK 36.
- --- SAB1950 Bibliographic reference: TRANTER, N. 1977. FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4. 169-70.
- --- SAB598 Bibliographic reference: GRAHAM, C. 1981. GRAMPIAN: THE CASTLE COUNTRY (2ND ED). 16, 18.
- --- SAB889 Bibliographic reference: JERVISE, A. 1879. EPITAPHS & INSCRIPTIONS,VOL 2. N. 134.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Mar 22 2024 12:01PM
