Benholm Castle

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Benholm Castle is a mansion in the Scottish village of Benholm in the Council Area Aberdeenshire . In 1972 the building was included in the Scottish monument lists in the highest monument category A.

history

Benholm Castle was built around 1475 as the Tower House for John Lundie and his wife Isabel Forrester . In 1559 it went to George Keith, 4th Earl Marischal or his family. The Tower House was expanded in the early 17th century. Around 1660 David Scott , who later became Treasurer of the Bank of Scotland , bought the property. Around 1760, his descendants had the manor house, which was still free at the time, added. The mansion was connected to the Tower House by an extension on the north flank in 1798. At a later date, this connection was largely broken.

In the 1880s, Benholm Castle was described as vacant and in ruins. The Aberdeen city ​​architect John Rust bought the property in 1903. During the Second World War , Benholm Castle served as a hospital for Polish soldiers. In 1967 it was again described as a ruin. Restoration and stabilization work began around 1990. During a storm in 1993, parts of the north and east flanks of the Tower House collapsed, which is still in ruins today. The restoration of the mansion, however, was completed.

description

Benholm Castle is isolated on the northern edge of the scattered settlement Benholm. The brickwork of the Tower House is made of reddish sandstone . On its west facade, a portal built around 1790 leads into the interior. The facades close with a cantilevered parapet and corner curvatures . The seated house was added in the 17th century.

The classicist mansion has three floors with lower rear extensions. Its south-facing main facade is five axes wide. The central entrance portal is pilastrated and crowned by a cornice . There is a thermal bath window and a Venetian window along the back . The final hipped roof is covered with slate.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Entry on Benholm Castle  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 49 ′ 29.4 "  N , 2 ° 19 ′ 21.1"  W.