Basic Site Details

Name: House of Schivas
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish: Tarves
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: The Earl of Aberdeen has had restored as a residence for his eldest son (Lord Haddo) the old House of Schivas in the Parish of Tarves. It was built about 1640 by a descendent from a younger branch of the noble family of Kinfauns ... (sold to the Earl of Aberdeen in 1845) .... A few years ago the mansion house, then in a state of comparative ruin, was destroyed by fire leaving nothing but the stone walls, which are of great thickness and strength. In the restoration, which has been carried out by Mr Cobban, architect, Haddo House, all the old features of the original building have been retained and the house is now restored as it was nearly three hundred years ago. [British Architect 18 December 1903 Page 466]

HS references include a letter from Fenton Wyness and photographs in possession of W Douglas Simpson.

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 4After 1582 Build/construction 
Item 2 of 41900  Restoration from ruins for Earl of Aberdeen
Item 3 of 41931  Internal alterations
Item 4 of 419341937ReconstructionExtensive alterations and additions, including great hall

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 7Thomas Leiper BAfter 1582  
Item 2 of 7Arthur George Sydney Mitchell A1900 Restoration from ruins
Item 3 of 7George Wilson A1900 Restoration from ruins
Item 4 of 7Sydney Mitchell & Wilson A1900 Restoration from ruins
Item 5 of 7James Cobban A1902 Restoration from ruins - as executant architect for scheme prepared by Sydney Mitchell
Item 6 of 7Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon  1931 Internal alterations
Item 7 of 7[James] Fenton ('Tony') Wyness  19341937Restoration, extensive alterations and additions, including great hall

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 3Aberdeen, 7th Earl ofClient for 1900 restoration
Item 2 of 3Catto, Lord, of CairncattoClient for 1934-37 restoration
Item 3 of 3Gordon, GeorgePurchased the castle from his uncleJohn Gordon of Gight, in 1582

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Shepherd, Ian1994Gordon: an illustrated architectural guide  p186
Item 2 of 2Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray Yale University Presspp43, 250-252

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Aberdeen Daily Journal15 December 1903   
Item 2 of 3Aberdeen Daily Journal9 March 1920   
Item 3 of 3British Architect18 December 1903  p466 - article taken from the Scotsman

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register15982 
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers James Cobban: L v16 no1186; Fenton Wyness: F no4140 (box 33)