Watching Brief

Date January 2022 - June 2022

Event ID 1158611

Category Recording

Type Watching Brief

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1158611

NJ 76390 39306 A historic building recording was completed of the external sculptures at Fyvie Castle as part of an ongoing programme of conservation work. A pilot photogrammetric survey was undertaken of twelve of the sculptures, including turrets, panels, and window dormers. Photographs were also taken of the current state of the rest of the sculptures.

As part of this work, a review of existing documentation for the sculptures was undertaken and collated into a gazetteer as a working document to inform future interpretation and conservation works. This has provided a historical narrative of the sculptures relating to the various families at Fyvie and brought together the existing interpretation of the various figures. Much of the works originate with Alexander Seton’s alterations to the castle from 1596, including the window dormers and the sculptural panels. The scheme was continued by the later owners of the castle, with the later panels depicting representative symbols from the family crests of each significant family: Seton, Drummond, Meldrum, Gordon, Forbes and Leith. There are few comparisons to the Fyvie turret finials, which date from Alexander Seton’s work in the late 16th century. Further finials were added by Gordon and the four bear finials by Forbes-Leith in the 19th century. Three of the sculptural panels have been re-sited and are thought to reflect Alexander Seton’s personal principles and may have originally been located within an inner garden at Fyvie.

Further research is required to set the sculptures more firmly

within their historic context and outline their significance, which was outwith the scope of the current report. Recommendations for further work are contained within the gazetteer. A separate document will outline all recommendations for further work, both on the carved stonework and on the overall historic building recording of the castle.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: The National Trust for Scotland

Elizabeth Jones – Addyman Archaeology

(Source DES Volume 23)