Basic Site Details

Name: Haddo House
Town, district or village: Haddo/Methlick
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish: Tarves
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Stags are B Listed.

Two chimneypieces in Library in north wing have plaques by Flaxman.

House refitted and refurnished by the London decorators Wright & Mansfield in 1878.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Country House  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 1617321735Build/constructionHouse and layout of formal gardens
Item 2 of 16Late 1700s Decoration carried outCeiling design in new dining room on north from George Richardson's'Book of Ceilings'
Item 3 of 161822 Alterations and additionsAlterations, including arcade below horseshoe stair to first floor entrance. Also 2-storey, 4-bay pavilion to north wing for dowager apartments. Coffered ceiling to Adam's family stair
Item 4 of 161830 Alterations and additionsRemodelling and architectural embellishment. East terrace laid out as geometric formal garden. Walled garden layout.
Item 5 of 16Before 1834 Alterations and additionsCupola and clock stage added to archway of service court
Item 6 of 161836 Alterations and additionsFormation of Upper and Lower lakes
Item 7 of 161840s Decoration carried outCeiling design in 4th earl's drawing room
Item 8 of 161843  Kitchen court and ancillary buildings
Item 9 of 1618451847 South lodge, the Avenue with golden gates and pair of stags, urn etc - for these see separate entries
Item 10 of 1618761881 Chapel (including some fittings such as altar and candleabra)
Item 11 of 16March 1879March 1881 Major alterations - plans dated
Item 12 of 16c. 1880 Decoration carried outRe-decorated internally
Item 13 of 161891  New hall and covered tennis court
Item 14 of 1619301931 Renovation and reconstruction of west wing after fire
Item 15 of 161997 RestorationRestoration and upgrading scheme commenced
Item 16 of 162005 ProposedDevelopment plan proposals

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 30William Adam H17321735House and layout of formal gardens
Item 2 of 30John Clerk (Sir) (2nd Baronet) I17321735Gave advice about design.
Item 3 of 30John Baxter J17321735 
Item 4 of 30George Richardson MLate 1700s Ceiling design in new dining room on north front taken from George Richardson's'Book of Ceilings'
Item 5 of 30James Giles F18161819Assisted William Gordon in development of grounds.
Item 6 of 30Archibald Simpson L1822 Alterations, including arcade below horseshoe stair to first floor entrance. Also 2-storey, 4-bay pavilion to north wing for dowager apartments. Coffered ceiling to Adam's family stair.
Item 7 of 30James Giles S1830 Remodelling and architectural embellishment. East terrace laid out as geometric formal garden. Walled garden layout.
Item 8 of 30Archibald Simpson NAfter 1834 Extension of terrace on east elevation - as part of formal garden works
Item 9 of 30Archibald Simpson OBefore 1834 Cupola and clock stage added to archway of service court
Item 10 of 30James Giles G1836 East terrace laid Formation of Upper and Lower Lakes.
Item 11 of 30Thomas Bonnar L1840s Ceiling design in 4th Earl's drawing room
Item 12 of 30John Smith  1843 Kitchen court and ancillary buildings
Item 13 of 30J & W Smith D18451847 
Item 14 of 30John Smith D18451847 
Item 15 of 30William Smith II D18451847 
Item 16 of 30George Edmund Street T18761881Chapel (including some fittings such as altar and candleabra)
Item 17 of 30Charles Reid A18791881Major alterations
Item 18 of 30James Maitland Wardrop A18791881Major alterations
Item 19 of 30Wardrop & Reid A18791881Major alterations
Item 20 of 30Harvey Mennie  18911892Various works on estate, as assistant to estate architect
Item 21 of 30D Macandrew & Co B1891 New hall and covered tennis court. Also described as contractors for new hall on undated plan
Item 22 of 30Daniel Macandrew junior B1891 New hall and covered tennis court. Also described as contractors for new hall on undated plan
Item 23 of 30George Angus Mitchell C19301931Renovation and reconstruction of west wing after fire and alterations to south wing
Item 24 of 30George Bennett Mitchell C19301931Renovation and reconstruction of west wing after fire and alterations to south wing
Item 25 of 30George Bennett Mitchell & Son C19301931Renovation and reconstruction of west wing after fire and alterations to south wing
Item 26 of 30Henry ('Harry') James Lyall Mantell E1997 Restoration and upgrading scheme commenced
Item 27 of 30Meldrum & Mantell E1997 Restoration and upgrading scheme commenced
Item 28 of 30Henry ('Harry') James Lyall Mantell K2005 Development plan proposals
Item 29 of 30Mantell Ritchie K2005 Development plan proposals
Item 30 of 30Michael Ritchie K2005 Development plan proposals

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 4Aberdeen, 1st and 2nd Marquesses ofClients for reconstruction of 1930-1
Item 2 of 4Aberdeen, 2nd Earl of Client for William Adam building
Item 3 of 4Aberdeen, 4th Earl ofClient for 1822 alterations and kitchen court and ancillary buildings of 1843
Item 4 of 4Aberdeen, 7th Earl and Marquess ofClient for chapel for 1876 and major alterations of 1879-81

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 4Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 4Shepherd, Ian1994Gordon: an illustrated architectural guide  p189-191
Item 4 of 4Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray Yale University Presspp 37-38, 45, 237-244

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Architect and Building News1930July-Dec p219
Item 2 of 4Builder1847v p217
Item 3 of 4Country Life18 August 1966   
Item 4 of 4Country Life25 August 1966   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 10Aberdeen City ArchivesGeorge Bennett Mitchell and Son Collection GBM/1930/18/1-21
Item 2 of 10Aberdeen UniversityAberdeen University Archives Bills from work at Haddo House
Item 3 of 10Courtesy of Harry MantellInformation sent via'Contact Us' on DSA website Sent October 2009
Item 4 of 10Edinburgh University LibraryAnderson Collection (Plans and drawings)  
Item 5 of 10Haddo House Estate OfficeHaddo House Estate Plans Collection Plans of 1843 work, chapel 1879, Wardrop & Reid alterations 1879, George Bennet Mitchell 1930 work
Item 6 of 10Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register16470 
Item 7 of 10Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register19768Pair of stags flanking avenue south east of house
Item 8 of 10National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD 18/2000 
Item 9 of 10National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Copies of original drawings at Haddo
Item 10 of 10RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Harvey Mennie: L v2 no123 (microfilm reel 29); George Angus Mitchell: F no2821 (box 12); George Bennett Mitchell: F no2909 (box 14)