Ellon Castle

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Ellon Castle
Ruins of Ellon Castle

Ruins of Ellon Castle

Creation time : 16th Century
Castle type : Niederungsburg
Conservation status: ruin
Standing position : Scottish nobility
Construction: gray stone
Place: Ellon
Geographical location 57 ° 22 '1.1 "  N , 2 ° 3' 55.9"  W Coordinates: 57 ° 22 '1.1 "  N , 2 ° 3' 55.9"  W.
Height: 31  m ASL
Ellon Castle (Scotland)
Ellon Castle

Ellon Castle is a ruined castle in the town of Ellon in the Scottish county of Aberdeenshire . The castle was built in the 16th century, but contains parts of an older building from the 15th century. The castle was renovated in the 18th century. The ruins form the center of a 6 hectare formal garden that was laid out in 1745. In the middle is a sundial built around 1700 , which Historic Scotland has listed as a Category A historic building. The castle ruins are considered a Scheduled Monument .

history

moth

A wooden moth made in the 13th century during the reign of Clan Cumming was found elsewhere in Ellon. This place was later called Moot Hill or Earl's Hill . Alexander Comyn used the Motte, believed to be the headquarters of the Mormaers who controlled Buchan , as the main center for dealing with judicial matters. On the earth mound , which was surrounded by a deep moat , stood a wooden tower that served as a home for the family. A drawbridge prevented intruders from gaining access to the wooden stairwell on the slope side that led to the palisades around the tower. Barns, stables and other outbuildings were in a different, adjoining courtyard, which was protected in the same way. After Robert the Bruce had defeated Comyn's son John in May 1308 in the Battle of Inverurie , the Harrying of Buchan followed and Ellon fell victim to a fire; the earthen mound was preserved until it was leveled in the early 19th century. With the fall of the Comyns, the lands reverted to the crown, which they held until King Robert II bestowed them on Alexander Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan .

Old castle

In 1413, Isobel Moffat sold land called the Hill of Ardgith to Thomas Kennedy . Kennedy, sometimes written as Kynidy , had been named hereditary constable of Aberdeen by the Duke of Albany for his services in the Battle of Harlaw . Sometime between the purchase of the land and 1500, a fortress was built, originally called the Fortalice of Ardgith ; the castle was probably built by order of the Kennedys of Kermuck - sometimes also called Kinmuck - and served as their family seat. According to the historian W. Douglas Simpson '', the vaulted basement dates from the 15th century, making it the oldest part of the building. The castle was rebuilt in the late 16th century, according to Simpson by builders John and Thomas Leiper , who also carried out work on nearby Tolquhon Castle , the House of Schivas and Castle Fraser .

A stone with the coat of arms of the Kennedys can be found in the ruins. A shield is depicted on the stone, dated 1635, and it bears the initials GK

garden

In the center of the 2.4 hectare formal garden is a faceted sundial . The clock, made around 1700, is mounted on three levels and shows 24 faces. It is believed to have been erected for Baillie Gordon of Ellon in memory of their two children, who were killed by their tutor, Richard Irvine , in 1717 . The two boys were killed in Edinburgh after they reported seeing him with their mother's servant in a compromising situation.

Individual references and comments

  1. ^ W. Douglas Simpson, James Godsman (editor): A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. Chapter: Ellon Castle, the fortalice of Ardgith, and the Abbotshall of Ellon . P. 49.
  2. ↑ The location was marked on an 1874 city map opposite the New Inn on Market Street .
  3. ↑ a b c d e James Godsman: A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. p. 46.
  4. ↑ James Godsman: Ellon: The ancient capitol of Buchan in Transactions of the Buchan Club . Issue 18. Part 1. 1957–1962. P. 25.
  5. ^ Alan Young: Comyn, Alexander, sixth earl of Buchan (d. 1289) . In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  6. ↑ James Godsman: A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. p. 48.
  7. ↑ James Godsman: A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. p. 47.
  8. ^ A b Cosmo Alexander Gordon, James Godsman (Editor): History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. Chapter: The Ellon Castle Estate . P. 61.
  9. ^ Edward Charles Shaw: The Kennedys - An Unusual Western Family . Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Originally printed in: Transactions of the Manitoba Historical Society , Volume 3, No. 29, 1972-73.
  10. ^ A b Ellon Castle and garden . Historic Scotland. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  11. ↑ Christopher Dingwall: Ellon Castle Gardens in Newsletter . Issue 14. Ellon and District Historical Society, Ellon October 2007.
  12. ^ AT Hall: Simpson, William Douglas (1896–1968) . In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  13. ^ W. Douglas Simpson, James Godsman (editor): A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. Chapter: Ellon Castle, the fortalice of Ardgith, and the Abbotshall of Ellon . P. 54.
  14. ^ A b c W. Douglas Simpson, James Godsman (editor): A History of the Burgh and Parish of Ellon, Aberdeenshire . Lindsay, 1958. Chapter: Ellon Castle, the fortalice of Ardgith, and the Abbotshall of Ellon . P. 55.
  15. ↑ Thomas Leiper . Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  16. ^ David MacGibbon, Thomas Ross: The Castallated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland . Douglas, 1892. p. 446.
  17. ↑ Listed Building: Ellon Castle (old) sundial at central avenue of garden . Historic Scotland. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  18. ^ Andrew R. Somerville: The Ancient Sundials of Scotland . P. 242. 1987. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  19. ^ Robert Chambers: Traditions of Edinburgh . Chambers. P. 385, 1868. Retrieved July 6, 2017.