Document record MAB56503 - HOUSE OF KELLY
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Summary
Site of the House of Kelly/Old Kelly Castle/Place of Kelly (or Kellie/Kellye), possibly the ancient House of Kelly which belonged to Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan in 1261.
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 8678 3466 (40m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ83SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Methlick |
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
Site of the House of Kelly/Old Kelly Castle/Place of Kelly (or Kellie/Kellye), possibly the ancient House of Kelly which belonged to Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan in 1261. Lord Erskine and his descendants held the Barony in the 15th and 16th centuries. The earliest mention of The House of Kelly comes from Robert Gordon’s (1636-52) 'Formarten and part of Marr and Buquhan'. In 1639 Sir John Gordon held house when Montrose threatened with siege. In the 1642 the Covenanters, under the command of the Marquis of Argyll, besieged and burnt down the previous dwelling. In 1990 stones were disturbed when a service trench was cut on the site. There has been speculation on the location of the House of Kelly with construction and archaeological work providing two possible locations. Remains of 3 m thick walls were found in 1890 at this location when Haddo House Hall (NJ83SE0096) was built. However, discoveries made in August 2011 suggest the presence of ruins underneath the front lawn of Haddo House (NJ83SE0042), supporting some theories that the current Haddo House was built on top of the ruins of the previous building. The site lies within the Haddo House designed landscape (NJ83SE0076).
Period Notes
1261; 1433; 1513; 1639.
Author unknown, 1892, T BANFF FC, 170-1, 179 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1952.
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2011, WEST LAWN, HADDO HOUSE, TARVES, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND EXCAVATION, Watching Brief and Evaluation (Bibliographic reference). SAB5011.
Jan 1 1990 , COLOUR PRINTS, COLOUR PRINTS (Ground Photograph). SAB14649.
Sep 6 1984 , AAS/84/14/S9/1-20/1-9, AAS/84/14/S9/1-20/1-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14648.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NJ83SE21;
- NRHE Numlink: 19819;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ83SE0020;
External Links (1)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/19819 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (5)
- --- SAB14648 Air-oblique Photograph: Sep 6 1984 . AAS/84/14/S9/1-20/1-9. Black & White. AAS/84/14/S9/1-20/1-9.
- --- SAB14649 Ground Photograph: Jan 1 1990 . COLOUR PRINTS. Colour Negative. COLOUR PRINTS.
- --- SAB1952 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. 1892. T BANFF FC, 170-1. 179.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
- --- SAB5011 Bibliographic reference: MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES. 2011. WEST LAWN, HADDO HOUSE, TARVES, ABERDEENSHIRE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND EXCAVATION. Watching Brief and Evaluation.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Nov 6 2025 10:20AM
