Building record MAB8575 - BALVENIE CASTLE

Remains of a castle, of high architectural merit, which shows work of the 13-16th centuries.

Remains of a castle, of high architectural merit, which shows work of the 13-16th centuries. It was originally the stronghold of the Comyns, and was in existence by 1304. It is situated on a promontory above the River Fiddich, and commanded the mouths of Glen Rinnes and Glen Fiddich, the passes to Huntly, Keith and Cullen, and the route to Elgin. Much of the work of the early castle enclosure can be seen, including the quadrangular curtain wall, although the projecting angle towers have gone. The great flue of the 15th century kitchen and the brew cauldron setting in the brew house can still be seen on the south wall. In the early 16th century a range of service chambers were built against the inside of the east wall. The castle was remodelled in the mid 16th century, in a similar fashion to Huntly Castle, by the 4th Earl of Athol. It was last used militarily by the Marquis of Montrose in 1644. The castle passed to Alexdander Duff of Braco in the late 17th Century. Of exceptional interest is the wide, flat-bottomed ditch which enclosed the castle on three sides. In 1990 a watching brief was undertaken during alterations to the ground level of the castle's south range. A large kiln, possibly associated with a brewing vat, and a disturbed cobbled floor were uncovered. At the west end of the range were a number of pits, all pre-dating the 15th century buildings. One of the pits, which may have been clay lined, contained animal bones, charcoal, burnt clay and ash. In 1993, a watching brief was carried out by Scotia Archaeology over trenching for the installation of a power supply to the north-east round tower parallel to the north curtain wall, and over trenches into the tower and across its floor at ground level. Little of archaeological interest was uncovered within any of these trenches. In 2014, a watching brief was undertaken by Kirkdale Archaeology during the relocation of an information panel situated on the south side of the bend in the access path leading to the castle. There were no finds or features of archaeological significance. A programme of landscape, buildings and materials analysis at the castle (as part of the Univ of Stirling Scottish Medieval Castles and C14 Project) has identified various differences in form, masonry style and mortar compositions in the upstanding structure. It suggests that the enclosure walls either side of the north angle may be of an earlier building than previously thought.

Period Notes
From 13thC; forfeited to the crown 1455; remodelled 1547-57; Mary Queen of Scots stayed 1562; passed to Inneses of Innermarkie 1615; last used militarily by the Marquis of Montrose in 1644; passed onto Alexdander Duff 1687; ruined 1929.

Author unknown, , SCOTTISH NOTES AND QUERIES, Vol IX,201-5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1839.

MACGIBBON, D, 1892, THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND, 1-5, 386-90 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1140.

SIMPSON, WD, 1926, PSAS 60(1925-6) 132-55, 132-48 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1650.

SIMPSON, WD, 1929, PSAS 63(1928-9) 102-37, 126-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1654.

RICHARDSON, JS, 1936, THE CASTLE OF BALVENIE (Bibliographic reference). SAB1497.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 51,127 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.

TRANTER, N, 1970, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOT VOL 4, 47 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1918.

LEWIS, J, 1990, DES : BALVENIE CASTLE, 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1115.

WATCHING BRIEF

BOGDAN, NQ, 1991, Castles, Manors & Town House survey (Bibliographic reference). SAB2251.

MURDOCH, R, 1993, DES : BALVENIE CASTLE, 41 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2847.

WATCHING BRIEF

SHEPHERD, I, 1996, ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED), p.105-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4829.

KIRKDALE ARCHAEOLOGY, 2014, BALVENIE CASTLE MONITORING MARCH 2014, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB1043.

ARCAHEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2015, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND. NEW SERIES, VOLUME 15, 2014, p.139 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5542.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2019, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 19, 2018, p. 143 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6524.

Aug 2 1985 , AAS/85/09/S4/9, AAS/85/09/S4/9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30644.

Aug 11 1992 , AAS/92/08/G8/22, AAS/92/08/G8/22 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31071.

Jul 1 1982 , AAS/82/8/CT41-3, AAS/82/8/CT41-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31987.

Jul 17 1959 , AAH 59, AAH 59 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB30643.

Jul 18 2013 , AAS-GR-13-07-192 - 246, AAS-GR-13-07-192 - 246 (Ground Photograph). SAB35212.

Jun 3 1997 , AAS/97/06/CT65, AAS/97/06/CT65 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31326.

Jun 3 1997 , AAS/97/06/G12/11, AAS/97/06/G12/11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31313.

Jun 11 2008 , DG8985, 8990, DG8985, 8990 (Ground Photograph). SAB32209.

Jun 14 2007 , DG1265-1316, DG1265-1316 (Ground Photograph). SAB32023.

May 9 2015 , AAS-GR-15-05-008 - 012, AAS-GR-15-05-008 - 012 (Ground Photograph). SAB30881.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 25/11/78 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Oct 16 1984 , DS 37-38, DS 37-38 (Ground Photograph). SAB30642.

Oct 16 1984 , DT 1-3a, DT 1-3a (Ground Photograph). SAB30641.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9748-60, AAS/08/4/DG9748-60 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32174.

Sep 2 2008 , AAS/08/4/DG9763-7, AAS/08/4/DG9763-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB32175.

Sep 20 1985 , FB 32-7, FB 32-7 (Ground Photograph). SAB30640.

Record last edited

Apr 7 2025 1:52PM