Document record MAB57124 - PITFODEL'S LODGING, ABERDEEN

Site of a house, also known as Menzies Lodging, built circa 1530 after its predecessor was destroyed by a fire in 1529.

Site of a house, also known as Menzies Lodging, built circa 1530 after its predecessor was destroyed by a fire in 1529. This large replacement mansion of the Laird of Pitfodels was the first stone-built private residence to be erected in Aberdeen. It was a three storey turreted mansion, associated both with the Marquis of Huntly in 1639, and possibly with Charles II in 1650. It was demolished in 1800 to enable the construction in 1801 of an addition to the Aberdeen Banking Co, which in 1849 became the Union Bank of Scotland (NJ90NW0562). Two stones formerly part of the building were briefly moved to a backhouse in what is now Victoria Court, 54 Castle Street, then onto the Pitfoddels townhouse at 37 Belmont Street, and finally passed to St Nicholas Kirk. These comprise an armorial pediment (circa 1590) bearing the impaled arms of Gilbert Menzies of Pitfoddels and Margaret Irvine of Drum, and an oblong panel (circa 1540) bearing the arms and motto of Scotland, and the initials, arms and motto ('Spero') of Thomas Menzies of Pitfoddels.

Period Notes
Built circa 1530, and removed in the 19th century.

DENNISON, E, 1997, HISTORIC ABERDEEN: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT. THE SCOTTISH BURGH SURVEY, p. 65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4057.

Record last edited

Apr 10 2025 2:02PM