Building record MAB42334 - FETTERESSO CASTLE

Remains of castle/mansion, an ancient seat of the Keiths, Earls Marischal of Scotland.

Remains of castle/mansion, an ancient seat of the Keiths, Earls Marischal of Scotland. Called Fetteresso Palace by Bishop Leslie in 1578, the castle developed as a long block with a courtyard or close, typical of the 15th century, with a similar block to the east forming two sides of a quadrangle. The east portion was burnt by Montrose in 1645 and reconstructed in 1670-1. According to Duthie, the buildings originally had eight slender towers, but only one remained in 1865. In 1782 the castle was purchased by Admiral Robert Duff. In 1808 the castle was rebuilt incorporating the old portion, on one of the door lintels of which could be seen, in 1865, the arms of the Earl Marischal, dated 1671. (It was at this doorway that the Chevalier de St George, James Stewart, was proclaimed King James VIII on his arrival from France in 1715). Extensive towered, turreted and battlemented 3-storey mansion. L-plan with service court in re-entrant angle. Various intermediate turrets on long elevation, some enclosing stairs. There are a variety of windows, some hood-moulded, some bipartite. In January 1947 the castle was sold on the death of its last Duff laird, and was run as a guest house or private hotel until 1953. Gutted and roofless in 1954, the castle was fully restored and turned into flats 1993.

Period Notes
Called a palace in 1578; reconstructed in 1670-1; re-built in 1808; stone dated 1671. Restored 1993. Listed 05/08/1987.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No10(1865) 230-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

BARRON, 1925, THE CASTLE OF DUNNOTTAR & HIST, 73, 92 (Bibliographic reference). SAB86.

MACKENZIE, WM, 1927, THE MEDIEVAL CASTLE IN SCOT., 153 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1146.

GRAHAM, C, 1981, GRAMPIAN: THE CASTLE COUNTRY (2ND ED), 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB598.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, EARLY BRONZE AGE BURIAL RITES: NEW DISCOVERIES FROM EXCAVATIONS ACROSS SCOTLAND. IN ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND MAGAZINE, ISSUE 18, P22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3652.

Feb 24 1993 , AAS/93/06/G15/1-3, AAS/93/06/G15/1-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16015.

Jul 14 2008 , AAS/08/2/DG9498-9, AAS/08/2/DG9498-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19589.

SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, FETTERESSO 6a (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.

Oct 17 1984 , DV 2, DV 2 (Ground Photograph). SAB16014.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 3:52PM