Archaeology Notes

Event ID 672432

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/672432

NJ93SE 29.00 95980 30743

NJ93SE 29.01 96143 30718 Ellon Castle (New)

NJ93SE 29.02 96089 30576 Deer Park

NJ93SE 29.03 95997 30721 Sundial (terrace)

NJ93SE 29.04 96003 30709 Garden House and Terrace Stairs

NJ93SE 29.05 96000 30647 Walled Garden

NJ93SE 29.06 96000 30669 Sundial (walled garden)

NJ93SE 29.07 95999 30658 Fountain

NJ93SE 29.08 96626 30574 Larachbeg (East Lodge)

NJ93SE 29.09 95637 30760 Gate Piers

(NJ 9600 3071) Ellon Castle (NR).

OS 6" map, (1959).

Ellon Castle stands on the hill of Ardgith and was known as the Fortalice of Ardgith. It was the seat of the Kennedys of Kermuck. The ivy clad remains consist of a lofty four-storeyed building, lying east to west, to the SE angle of which is attached a tall slender round tower, one quarter engaged with the main structure. The tower is complete to the wall head; but only the front, or S elevation, of the main building survives. The SW corner of the main structure forms a projecting elbow in the front beyond which further building is continued westward. This part bears an armorial stone with the date 1635.

The vault in the basement of the main structure is older than everything above. What remains of the jamb and the kitchen fireplace suggests a date from the first half of the fifteenth century. The middle portion of the building evidently represents a reconstruction of the late sixteenth century. The superstructure belongs to alterations of 1781.

It was dismantled in 1851 when the modern castle of Ellon was built, the greater part of the latter being pulled down after 1918.

J Godsman 1958.

Ellon Castle remains as described.

Visited by OS (RL) 12 December 1968.

Ellon, remains of castle and gardens. Air photograph: AAS/97/04/CT.

NMRS, MS/712/29.