![Ellon Castle, Aberdeenshire](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Ellon_Castle%2C_Aberdeenshire.JPG)
Ellon Castle is a
scheduled monument
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...
within the town of
Ellon, Aberdeenshire. 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 garden planted in 1745; an older
Category A listed sundial dating from c. 1700 forms the centrepiece to the garden.
History
Motte Castle
A timbered
motte castle existed on a different site in Ellon, which later became known as Moot Hill or Earl's Hill, dating back to the 13th-century rule of the
Comyns. One of the principal seats of the
Mormaers who controlled Buchan, the motte was used by
Alexander Comyn
Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan (died 1289) was a Scoto-Norman magnate who was one of the most important figures in the 13th century Kingdom of Scotland. He was the son of William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, and Marjory, Countess o ...
as the prime centre to carry out legal affairs. Surrounded by a deep ditch, the level hill of earth was topped by a wooden tower containing accommodation for the family. A
drawbridge
A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable ...
prevented intruders gaining access to the timber staircase on the side of the slope leading to the
palisade
A palisade, sometimes called a stakewall or a paling, is typically a fence or defensive wall made from iron or wooden stakes, or tree trunks, and used as a defensive structure or enclosure. Palisades can form a stockade.
Etymology
''Palisade' ...
around the tower. Barns, stables and other ancillary structures were housed in another courtyard alongside it that incorporated the same protection measures. After
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
defeated Comyn's son,
John, at the
Battle of Barra
The Battle of Inverurie, also known as the Battle of Barra, was fought in the north-east of Scotland and was a victory for the Scottish king Robert Bruce over his chief domestic enemy, John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan. Though part of the wide ...
on 24 December 1307, there followed the
Harrying of Buchan and Ellon was destroyed by fire; the earthen mound survived until it was flattened at the start of the 19th century. 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
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, Alasdair Mór mac an Rígh, and called the Wolf of Badenoch (1343 – c. 20 July 1405), was the third surviving son of King Robert II of Scotland and youngest by his first wife, Elizabeth Mure of Rowallan. He w ...
by
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II (2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) was King of Scots from 1371 to his death in 1390. The son of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, he was the first monarch of the House of Stewa ...
.
Old Castle
Land known as the Hill of Ardgith was sold by Isobel Moffat to Thomas Kennedy in 1413. Kennedy – sometimes spelt as Kynidy – had been appointed as hereditary Constable of
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
by
the Duke of Albany in appreciation for his actions during the
Battle of Harlaw. A
fortification
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
was constructed at some point after the purchase date of the land and before 1500; originally known as the Fortalice of Ardgith, the castle was likely built by the
Kennedy of Kermuck – sometimes recorded as Kinmuck – family and was used as their family seat. According to the archaeology historian
W. Douglas Simpson
William Douglas Simpson CBE (2 August 1896 – 9 October 1968) was a Scotland, Scottish academic and writer who focused on the study of medieval architecture and archaeology.
Career
Simpson was appointed Assistant in History at the Univers ...
the basement vault dates to the 15th century and pre-dates any later remains. 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
Tolquhon Castle (pronounced: "toh-hon", and sometimes spelt 'Tolquhoun') is located in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. It lies about north-west of Pitmedden, and south of Tarves. The castle was built by William Forbes, 7th Laird of Tolquhon, ...
, the
House of Schivas
House of Schivas is an L-plan tower house, dating from the 16th century, about three miles east of Methlick, in the valley of the River Ythan, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
History
The land was owned by Schivas of that Ilk in the 14th century, but ...
and
Castle Fraser.
A stone bearing the Kennedy
arms
Arms or ARMS may refer to:
*Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body
Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to:
People
* Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader
Coat of arms or weapons
*Armaments or weapons
**Fi ...
is set into the ruins. Dated 1635, the
marriage stone pictures a shield and bears the initials G. K.
Later history
In 1706 the site was acquired by Baillie James Gordon, who sold it in 1752 to the
Earl Of Aberdeen
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
. He extended the castle to a U-shaped plan and allowed one of his mistresses to live there with their son
Alexander. The castle was later demolished and replaced by a mansion house, itself demolished in 1927. Today only the stable block bears the name.
Garden
The centrepiece of the formal garden is a facet head
sundial
A sundial is a horological device that tells the time of day (referred to as civil time in modern usage) when direct sunlight shines by the apparent position of the Sun in the sky. In the narrowest sense of the word, it consists of a flat ...
. Dating from c. 1700, it is mounted on three steps and features twenty-four faces. 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. The two boys were killed in Edinburgh after they reported seeing him with their mother's servant in a compromising situation.
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{refend
Ruined castles in Aberdeenshire
Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Aberdeenshire
Clan Comyn