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.

During restoration, interior plasterwork by Albert Cramb and masonwork by Alistair Urquhart

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 81835 Alterations and additionsSince removed
Item 2 of 81860  Proposed additions probably not built
Item 3 of 8c. 1869 AdditionNew buildings replacing ktchens
Item 4 of 81885  Proposals for additions
Item 5 of 81890s  Remodelling
Item 6 of 8c. 1899 AdditionEntrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed - not executed
Item 7 of 81904  Restoration and alterations
Item 8 of 819741982Restoration 

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 12Dainton & Drake B  Scheme for Aboyne Castle with Fyvie features
Item 2 of 12William Burn B1835 Alterations and additions (since removed)
Item 3 of 12James Matthews  1860 Proposed additions probably not built
Item 4 of 12George Truefitt  c. 1869 Additions
Item 5 of 12John Russell Mackenzie  1885 Proposals for additions
Item 6 of 12George Haywood Truefitt  1890s Remodelling
Item 7 of 12Dan Gibson Dc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 8 of 12Mawson & Gibson Dc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 9 of 12Thomas Hayton Mawson Dc. 1899 Entrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 10 of 12George Bennett Mitchell  1904 Restoration and additions
Item 11 of 12Ian McKerron Begg A19741982Restoration. Partner in charge.
Item 12 of 12Robert Hurd & Partners (or R A Hurd & Partners) A19741982Restoration. 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 4Aboyne Castle EstateClient for 1904 restoration and alterations
Item 2 of 4Cunliffe-Brooks, Sir WilliamManchester banker and Member of Parliament. Client for 1899 work, including gardens
Item 3 of 4Huntly, 9th Marquis ofClient for William Burn work
Item 4 of 4Marquis 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 8Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p55
Item 2 of 8Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 8Geddes, Jane2001Deeside and the Mearns: An Illustrated Architectural Guide Edinburgh: RIAS/Rutland Pressp115
Item 4 of 8Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  p574
Item 5 of 8Jamieson, David and Wilson, W Stewart2001Old Royal Deeside Stenlakep25 (as in 1915)
Item 6 of 8Mawson, Thomas H1927The Life and Works of an English Landscape Architect  p46 onwards
Item 7 of 8Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen London and New Haven: Yale University Presspp65, 312
Item 8 of 8Waymark, 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 2Builder19 September 1874  p791-792 Reprinted from Aberdeen Journal
Item 2 of 2RIBA Transactions1870  p125-128 List of works by Burn compiled by T L Donaldson

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 8Aberdeen City ArchivesGeorge Bennett Mitchell and Son Collection GMB 1900/5/1
Item 2 of 8DMW ArchiveA G R Mackenzie notes  
Item 3 of 8Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register3122 
Item 4 of 8Information courtesy of Graeme More who has specialist knowledge of Dan GibsonInformation via website (from Graeme More)  
Item 5 of 8Lord AboyneAboyne Castle drawings Copies of drawings in NMRS
Item 6 of 8National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection For proposed Mackenzie additions etc
Item 7 of 8National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Architects Index  
Item 8 of 8RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Drawings Collection