Melgund Castle, lying around due east of

Aberlemno Aberlemno ( gd, Obar Leamhnach, IPA: �opəɾˈʎɛunəx is a parish and small village in the Scottish council area of Angus. It is noted for three large carved Pictish stones (and one fragment) dating from the 7th and 8th centuries AD (Histori ...

in Angus, Scotland, is a 16th-century

L-plan castle An L-plan castle is a castle or tower house in the shape of an L, typically built from the 13th to the 17th century. This design is found quite frequently in Scotland, but is also seen in England, Ireland, Romania, Sardinia, and other locations ...

which has been partially restored as a private residence. It was designated as 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 ...

in 1971.

History

The land was initially held by the Cramonds, but by 1525 was in the hands of Patrick Annand, whose daughter Janet passed it to her husband James Bethune, son of John Bethune, 6th of Balfour, and elder brother of Cardinal

David Bethune David Bethune may refer to: * David Beaton (c. 1494–1546), also Bethune, Scottish cardinal * David Bethune of Balfour (1648–1708), Scottish landowner and politician * David Bethune of Creich (c. 1605–1660), Scottish landowner and politician ...

. James had no children with Janet and, when he died in 1542, the estate was sold to David, who made it one of the many homes for his mistress

Marion Ogilvy Marion Ogilvy (c. 1495–1575) was the mistress of Cardinal David Beaton an advisor of James V of Scotland. Early life Marion Ogilvy was the younger daughter of Sir James Ogilvy of Lintrathen. Sir James, a diplomat, was created Lord Ogilvy of Air ...

and their growing family. He started improving the castle. In 1543 he bought timber for the building works from William Mayne, a merchant in St Andrews, and had it shipped to Arbroath. After his assassination in 1546, Melgund passed to his eldest son,

, who may have made further improvements. It much later passed by marriage to the

Earls of Minto Earl of Minto, in the County of Roxburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1813 for Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Baron Minto. The current earl is Gilbert Timothy George Lariston Elliot-Murray-Kynynm ...

, who were granted the title Viscount Melgund, presently used by the heir to the earldom. It remained in the family until it was sold in 1990. The castle was extensively investigated by archaeologists between 1990 and 1996 in preparation for its partial conversion into a residence. The work was completed in August 2002, mostly using local materials which included stone from a specially re-opened quarry nearby. The domestic range to the east of the keep has been retained in its ruined state and the primary exterior difference is the new roof to the keep. The restoration by Benjamin Tindall Architects has been called, "Perhaps the best Tower House project of the last 20 years" by the

Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) is the professional body for architects in Scotland. History Previously the (lapsed) Architectural Institute of Scotland, it was re-founded in 1916 as the Incorporation of Architects in ...

Description

The castle was built "in imitation of a 15th century keep with 16th century additions", although it may have incorporated earlier structures. It comprised a four- storey keep with an attic and a stair tower that appears to have been raised to act as a watchtower. Its two-storey domestic range on the east had a round tower at the north-east corner. One lintel has a carved shield with the initials D.B.

References

{{coord, 56, 41, 48.44, N, 2, 44, 32.02, W, region:GB-ANS_type:landmark, display=title Castles in Angus, Scotland Category A listed buildings in Angus, Scotland Listed castles in Scotland Tower houses in Scotland