Basic Site Details

Name: Aboyne Castle
Town, district or village: Aboyne
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: (At Aboyne castle) Mr Truefitt, about five years ago, pulled down the old kitchen department, which was in a ruinous condition, and erected new buildings in their place, all of granite with stepped gables, very simply done, but effectively. We notice the total absence of mouldings, everything done being square in the edges, and which seems to be the most reasonable way of using granite, - certainly the best way of saving the client’s pocket. We have often seen in polished work that square members look better than moulded, and cost nothing at all compared with the latter. We now see the same result in unpolished work. [Aberdeen Journal/Builder 19 September 1874 p791-792]

The involvement of George Truffitt would suggest a link between this work and the marriage of the Marquis to the daughter of William Cunliffe Brooks in 1869. See also Glen Tanar. Aboyne Castle largely demolished and Truefitt's work completely removed.

About 1899 T H Mawson prepared plans for new entrances. avenues, and carriage court, together with extensive lawns and gardens at the castle. Mawson had previously worked for Sir William Cunliffe Brooks at the nearby Glen Tanar estate.

Building Type Classification

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

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 71860  Proposed additions probably not built
Item 2 of 7c. 1869 AdditionNew buildings replacing ktchens
Item 3 of 71885  Proposals for additions
Item 4 of 71890s  Remodelling
Item 5 of 7c. 1899 AdditionEntrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed - not executed
Item 6 of 71904  Restoration and alterations
Item 7 of 71982 Restoration 

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 11Dainton & DrakeArchitectural practiceB  Scheme for Aboyne Castle with Fyvie features
Item 2 of 11James MatthewsArchitect 1860 Proposed additions probably not built
Item 3 of 11George TruefittArchitect c. 1869 Additions
Item 4 of 11John Russell MackenzieArchitect 1885 Proposals for additions
Item 5 of 11George Haywood TruefittArchitect 1890s Remodelling
Item 6 of 11Dan GibsonArchitectDc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 7 of 11Mawson & GibsonArchitectural practiceDc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 8 of 11Thomas Hayton MawsonGarden designer, Landscape architect, Town PlannerDc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 9 of 11George Bennett MitchellArchitect 1904 Restoration and additions
Item 10 of 11Ian McKerron BeggArchitectA1982 Restoration. Partner in charge.
Item 11 of 11Robert Hurd & Partners (or R A Hurd & Partners)Architectural practiceA1982 Restoration. Practice in conjunction with L A Rolland at this time.

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 3Aboyne Castle EstateClient for 1904 restoration and alterations
Item 2 of 3Cunliffe-Brooks, Sir WilliamManchester banker and Member of Parliament. Client for 1899 work, including gardens
Item 3 of 3Marquis of HuntlyFor 1869 work? or was this paid for by Sir William Cunliffe Brooks

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p55
Item 2 of 6Dixon, Roger and Muthesius, Stefan1978Victorian Architecture London: Thames & Hudsonp115
Item 3 of 6Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  p574
Item 4 of 6Jamieson, David and Wilson, W Stewart2001Old Royal Deeside Stenlakep25 (as in 1915)
Item 5 of 6Mawson, Thomas H1927The Life and Works of an English Landscape Architect  p46 onwards
Item 6 of 6Waymark, Janet2009Thomas Mawson: Life, Gardens and Landscape Frances Lincoln Ltd. Londonp87

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder19 September 1874  p791-792 Reprinted from Aberdeen Journal

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 6Aberdeen City ArchivesGeorge Bennett Mitchell and Son Collection GMB 1900/5/1
Item 2 of 6DMW ArchiveA G R Mackenzie notes  
Item 3 of 6Historic ScotlandListed Buildings Register3122 
Item 4 of 6Information courtesy of Graeme More who has specialist knowledge of Dan GibsonInformation via website (from Graeme More)  
Item 5 of 6Lord AboyneAboyne Castle drawings Copies of drawings in NMRS
Item 6 of 6National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection For proposed Mackenzie additions etc