Ellon Castle is a scheduled monument within the town of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Only ruins survive of the 16th-century structure that may incorporate sections from the 15th century together with 18th-century renovations. The ruins form a focal point in a formal 6-acre (2.4 ha) garden planted in 1745; an older Category A listed sundial dating from c. 1700 forms the centrepiece to the garden.
A timbered motte castle existed on a different site[a] in Ellon, which later became known as Moot Hill or Earl's Hill, dating back to the 13th-century rule of the Comyns.[2] One of the principal seats of the Mormaers who controlled Buchan,[3] the motte was used by Alexander Comyn as the prime centre to carry out legal affairs.[4] Surrounded by a deep ditch, the level hill of earth was topped by a wooden tower containing accommodation for the family.[1] A drawbridge prevented intruders gaining access to the timber staircase on the side of the slope leading to the palisade around the tower.[1] Barns, stables and other ancillary structures were housed in another courtyard alongside it that incorporated the same protection measures.[1] After Robert the Bruce defeated Comyn's son, John, at the Battle of Barra on 24 December 1307, there followed the Harrying of Buchan and Ellon was destroyed by fire;[1] the earthen mound survived until it was flattened at the start of the 19th century.[5] The downfall of the Comyns saw the ownership of the lands returned to the Crown which held them until gifted to Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan by Robert II of Scotland.[6]
Old Castle
Land known as the Hill of Ardgith was sold by Isobel Moffat to Thomas Kennedy in 1413.[7] Kennedy – sometimes spelt as Kynidy – had been appointed as hereditary Constable of Aberdeen by the Duke of Albany in appreciation for his actions during the Battle of Harlaw.[8] A fortification was constructed at some point after the purchase date of the land and before 1500;[7] originally known as the Fortalice of Ardgith,[9] the castle was likely built by the Kennedy of Kermuck – sometimes recorded as Kinmuck – family and was used as their family seat.[10] According to the archaeology historian W. Douglas Simpson[11] the basement vault dates to the 15th century and pre-dates any later remains.[12] The castle was reconstructed in the late 16th century that, according to Simpson, was undertaken by the masons John and Thomas Leiper, who were also responsible for work at nearby Tolquhon Castle, the House of Schivas and Castle Fraser.[12][13]
A stone bearing the Kennedy arms is set into the ruins.[14] Dated 1635,[9] the marriage stone pictures a shield and bears the initials G. K.[14]
Later history
In 1706 the site was acquired by Baillie James Gordon, who sold it in 1752 to the Earl of Aberdeen, who extended the castle to a U-shaped plan and allowed one of his mistresses to live there with their son, Alexander Gordon. After Gordon's death in 1873, the house passed to his son George, a retired diplomat, who lived there with his German wife Emy until moving to the continent in the 1880s.[15]
The castle was later demolished and replaced by a mansion house, itself demolished in 1927. Today only the stable block bears the name.
Gardenedit
The centrepiece of the 6 acres (2.4 ha) formal garden is a facet head sundial.[16] Dating from c. 1700, it is mounted on three steps and features twenty-four faces.[17] It may have been erected as a memorial to Baillie Gordon of Ellon's two children who were murdered by their tutor, Robert Irvine, in 1717.[18] The two boys were killed in Edinburgh after they reported seeing him with their mother's servant in a compromising situation.[19]
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^The site was recorded on an 1874 town plan as being opposite the New Inn on Market Street.[1]
^ Young, Alan (2004), "Comyn, Alexander, sixth earl of Buchan (d. 1289)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/6042 (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Shaw, Edward Charles, "The Kennedys — An Unusual Western Family", Manitoba Historical Society, from the original on 12 May 2015, retrieved 20 September 2015
^ ab"Ellon Castle and garden", Historic Scotland, archived from the original on 20 September 2015, retrieved 13 September 2015
^ Dingwall, Christopher (October 2007), "Ellon Castle Gardens", Newsletter (14), Ellon and District Historical Society
^ Hall, A. T. (2004), "Simpson, William Douglas (1896–1968)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49530 (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Niedersächsisches Institut für frühkindliche Bildung und Entwicklung, Manfred Berger, "Emy Gordon of Ellon (1841−1909)" (in German). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
Chambers, Robert (1868), Traditions of Edinburgh, Chambers
Godsman, James (1957–1962), "Ellon: The ancient capitol of Buchan", Transactions of the Buchan Club, 18, part 1
Godsman, James (1958), A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Lindsay
Gordon, Cosmo Alexander (1958), "The Ellon Castle Estate", in Godsman, James (ed.), A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Lindsay
MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1892), The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, Douglas
Simpson, W. Douglas (1958), "Ellon Castle, the fortalice of Ardgith, and the Abbotshall of Ellon", in Godsman, James (ed.), A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Lindsay
Somerville, Andrew R. (1987), "The Ancient Sundials of Scotland" (PDF), Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 117
April 15, 2024
ellon, castle, scheduled, monument, within, town, ellon, aberdeenshire, scotland, only, ruins, survive, 16th, century, structure, that, incorporate, sections, from, 15th, century, together, with, 18th, century, renovations, ruins, form, focal, point, formal, a. Ellon Castle is a scheduled monument within the town of Ellon Aberdeenshire Scotland Only ruins survive of the 16th century structure that may incorporate sections from the 15th century together with 18th century renovations The ruins form a focal point in a formal 6 acre 2 4 ha garden planted in 1745 an older Category A listed sundial dating from c 1700 forms the centrepiece to the garden Ellon CastleEllon CastleCoordinates57 22 01 N 2 04 05 W 57 36696025 N 2 068171029 W 57 36696025 2 068171029Site historyBuilt15th centuryRuins of Ellon CastleContents 1 History 2 Garden 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 3 3 BibliographyHistory editMotte CastleA timbered motte castle existed on a different site a in Ellon which later became known as Moot Hill or Earl s Hill dating back to the 13th century rule of the Comyns 2 One of the principal seats of the Mormaers who controlled Buchan 3 the motte was used by Alexander Comyn as the prime centre to carry out legal affairs 4 Surrounded by a deep ditch the level hill of earth was topped by a wooden tower containing accommodation for the family 1 A drawbridge prevented intruders gaining access to the timber staircase on the side of the slope leading to the palisade around the tower 1 Barns stables and other ancillary structures were housed in another courtyard alongside it that incorporated the same protection measures 1 After Robert the Bruce defeated Comyn s son John at the Battle of Barra on 24 December 1307 there followed the Harrying of Buchan and Ellon was destroyed by fire 1 the earthen mound survived until it was flattened at the start of the 19th century 5 The downfall of the Comyns saw the ownership of the lands returned to the Crown which held them until gifted to Alexander Stewart Earl of Buchan by Robert II of Scotland 6 Old CastleLand known as the Hill of Ardgith was sold by Isobel Moffat to Thomas Kennedy in 1413 7 Kennedy sometimes spelt as Kynidy had been appointed as hereditary Constable of Aberdeen by the Duke of Albany in appreciation for his actions during the Battle of Harlaw 8 A fortification was constructed at some point after the purchase date of the land and before 1500 7 originally known as the Fortalice of Ardgith 9 the castle was likely built by the Kennedy of Kermuck sometimes recorded as Kinmuck family and was used as their family seat 10 According to the archaeology historian W Douglas Simpson 11 the basement vault dates to the 15th century and pre dates any later remains 12 The castle was reconstructed in the late 16th century that according to Simpson was undertaken by the masons John and Thomas Leiper who were also responsible for work at nearby Tolquhon Castle the House of Schivas and Castle Fraser 12 13 A stone bearing the Kennedy arms is set into the ruins 14 Dated 1635 9 the marriage stone pictures a shield and bears the initials G K 14 Later historyIn 1706 the site was acquired by Baillie James Gordon who sold it in 1752 to the Earl of Aberdeen who extended the castle to a U shaped plan and allowed one of his mistresses to live there with their son Alexander Gordon After Gordon s death in 1873 the house passed to his son George a retired diplomat who lived there with his German wife Emy until moving to the continent in the 1880s 15 The castle was later demolished and replaced by a mansion house itself demolished in 1927 Today only the stable block bears the name Garden editThe centrepiece of the 6 acres 2 4 ha formal garden is a facet head sundial 16 Dating from c 1700 it is mounted on three steps and features twenty four faces 17 It may have been erected as a memorial to Baillie Gordon of Ellon s two children who were murdered by their tutor Robert Irvine in 1717 18 The two boys were killed in Edinburgh after they reported seeing him with their mother s servant in a compromising situation 19 References editNotes edit The site was recorded on an 1874 town plan as being opposite the New Inn on Market Street 1 Citations edit a b c d e Godsman 1958 p 46 Simpson 1958 p 49 Godsman 1957 1962 p 25 Young Alan 2004 Comyn Alexander sixth earl of Buchan d 1289 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 6042 Subscription or UK public library membership required Godsman 1958 p 48 Godsman 1958 p 47 a b Gordon 1958 p 61 Shaw Edward Charles The Kennedys An Unusual Western Family Manitoba Historical Society archived from the original on 12 May 2015 retrieved 20 September 2015 a b Ellon Castle and garden Historic Scotland archived from the original on 20 September 2015 retrieved 13 September 2015 Dingwall Christopher October 2007 Ellon Castle Gardens Newsletter 14 Ellon and District Historical Society Hall A T 2004 Simpson William Douglas 1896 1968 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 49530 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Simpson 1958 p 54 Thomas Leiper Dictionary of Scottish Architects archived from the original on 6 October 2015 retrieved 6 October 2015 a b Simpson 1958 p 55 Niedersachsisches Institut fur fruhkindliche Bildung und Entwicklung Manfred Berger Emy Gordon of Ellon 1841 1909 in German Retrieved 5 January 2024 MacGibbon amp Ross 1892 p 446 Ellon Castle old sundial Historic Scotland archived from the original on 17 August 2016 retrieved 13 September 2015 Somerville 1987 p 242 Chambers 1868 p 385 Bibliography edit Chambers Robert 1868 Traditions of Edinburgh Chambers Godsman James 1957 1962 Ellon The ancient capitol of Buchan Transactions of the Buchan Club 18 part 1 Godsman James 1958 A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon Aberdeenshire Lindsay Gordon Cosmo Alexander 1958 The Ellon Castle Estate in Godsman James ed A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon Aberdeenshire Lindsay MacGibbon David Ross Thomas 1892 The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Douglas Simpson W Douglas 1958 Ellon Castle the fortalice of Ardgith and the Abbotshall of Ellon in Godsman James ed A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon Aberdeenshire Lindsay Somerville Andrew R 1987 The Ancient Sundials of Scotland PDF Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 117 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellon Castle amp oldid 1193782880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
