Basic Site Details Name: | Castle Fraser | City or county: | Aberdeenshire | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | | Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Castle | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1563 | 1576 | Build/construction | Original tower. East turnpike stair almost certainly part of works of this period. | | 1617 | 1618 | Addition | Heightening of walls | | Early 1600s | | Addition | Further work after John Bell, including the geometric floor. | | c. 1794 | | Build/construction | Hexagonal stable block | | After 1815 | Before 1840 | Build/construction | Landscape developed | | 1816 | 1818 | Decoration carried out | Redecoration of hall and minor alterations | | c. 1824 | | | Additions, probably buildings at North entrance gate and main staircase | | 1830 | 1838 | | Interior of library and other alterations | | 1921 | | | Design for large alterations - not executed. Also stables | | 1923 | 1926 | | Drawings for stables dated | | 1926 | | Design exhibited | | | After 1928 | | | Restoration work - left unfinished | | 1996 | | Repair | Alterations and remedial work to stables |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe 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. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | Thomas Leiper | | W | 1563 | 1576 | Attribution on stylistic grounds (for example triple gun loops). East turnpike stair almost certainly part of works of this period. | | John Bell | | k | 1617 | 1618 | Heightening of walls. Work signed 'I. Bel' | | James Leiper | | V | Early 1600s | | Commissioned to do further work after John Bell, including the geometric floor. | | James Byres | | U | 1790s | | May have been involved. May have acted as agent providing bas relief sculpture for Moses Well in grounds. | | James Massie | | U | 1790 | 1791 | Employed to overhaul the roofs. | | John Paterson | | C | c. 1794 | | Hexagonal stable block | | James Giles | | K | After 1815 | Before 1840 | Landscape developed | | William Burn | | T | 1816 | 1818 | Redecoration of hall and minor alterations | | John Smith | | A | c. 1824 | | Additions, probably buildings at North entrance gate, main staircase (removed) | | John Smith | | B | 1830 | 1838 | Interior of library and other alterations | | (Sir) Robert Stodart Lorimer | | | 1921 | | Proposed large alterations. Also stables | | Morton John Heddell Cowie | | | c. 1923(?) | | Sketch plans in Cowie & Seaton collection; unclear whether for alterations (in which case probably by Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid) or simply study sketches by Cowie | | James McLellan Fairley | | E | c. 1923 | | Plans in Cowie & Seaton collection - possibly for alterations by Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid? | | Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid | | E | c. 1923 | | Plans in Cowie & Seaton collection - possibly for alterations by Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid? | | Robert Stirling Reid | | E | c. 1923 | | Plans in Cowie & Seaton collection - possibly for alterations by Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid? | | James Brown Nicol | | D | After 1928 | 1939 | Restoration work - left unfinished | | Kelly & Nicol | | D | After 1928 | 1939 | Restoration work - left unfinished | | William Kelly | | D | After 1928 | 1939 | Restoration work - left unfinished | | Henry ('Harry') James Lyall Mantell | | J | 1996 | | Alterations and remedial work to stables | | Meldrum & Mantell | | J | 1996 | | Alterations and remedial work to stables |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Fraser, Colonel Charles Mackenzie | Cleint for William Burn decoration | | Fraser, Elyza | Client for John Paterson stable block | | Pearson, Clive - Hon | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Royal Academy exhibitors | | | | | 1926, no 1209 | | RSA | 1925 | | | | 590 | | Savage, Peter | 1980 | Lorimer and the Edinburgh Craft Designers | | Edinburgh: Paul Harris Publishing, 1980 (also paperback ed, London & Edinburgh: Steve Savage, 2005) | p177 | | Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M | 2015 | The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen | | London and New Haven: Yale University Press | pp51, 405-407, 410-413 | | Simpson, W Douglas | | A tribute offered by the University of Aberdeen to the memory of William Kelly LLD ARSA | | | p7 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Proceedings of the Soc. of Antiquaries of Scotland | Between 1977 and 1978 | No 109 | | pp246, 257 & 260-1 - H Gordon Slade. Variant plans by Paterson dated 1794. | | Scottish Field | January 1950 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Courtesy of Harry Mantell | Information sent via'Contact Us' on DSA website | | Sent October 2009 | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Cowie and Seaton Collection | | CSE 1920/92/1 - unclear whether these plans are for alterations or are simply study sketches | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Lorimer and Matthew Collection | | LOR C/4, LOR C/10 | | Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | Canmore | 18722 | |
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