Basic Site Details

Name: Fyvie Castle and ancillary buildings
Town, district or village: Fyvie
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: South gates are C listed.

Robert Mason recorded on site in 1500 and George Mason in 1508. Unclear if any of their work survives. Landscaping lake etc about 1770 by Robert Robinson.

11 plaster ceilings by Robert Whyte designed in 1683 for the 4th Earl of Dunfermline.

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 16Late 1500s Build/construction 
Item 2 of 161733 Alterations and additionsPartly rebuilt
Item 3 of 161773 AdditionTwo chimneypieces - that in the drawing room still survives.
Item 4 of 1618161819AdditionExtension of grounds and improvement of loch
Item 5 of 161816 Alterations and additionsEntrance corridor to west of courtyard with porch flanked by towers with conical roofs
Item 6 of 16c. 1880  Bothy and game larder, two cottages, bowling alley and racquet courts, Seton Room
Item 7 of 161881 Repair 
Item 8 of 161890  South Lodge and entrance gates
Item 9 of 161892 Build/constructionAddition - including Leith Tower, billiard room and dining room in Gordon Tower but other work halted.
Item 10 of 1618981899Alterations and additionsAlterations and additions. Took over John Bryce's job. Gothic lanterns on projecting porch. Interior survives much as Mackenzie remodelled it.
Item 11 of 161900 Design exhibitedAlterations and additions
Item 12 of 16c. 1913  Recreation hall
Item 13 of 161920  Alterations and additions
Item 14 of 161980s(?)1990s(?)RestorationRestoration including reinstatement of 18th century bellcote.
Item 15 of 161994 * Won award or awardsEuropa Nostra/IBI Medal of Honour for restoration works to the castle completed by McCrombie & Mennie
Item 16 of 162003 RestorationRestoration of garden store

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 22William Schaw L15991603May have been responsible or the Bell family.
Item 2 of 22Bell Family KLate 1500s  
Item 3 of 22William Adam K1733 May have been responsible for part refitting for William, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen as temporary residence while Haddo being built.
Item 4 of 22James Byres A1773 Two chimneypieces (of which that in the Drawing Room survives)
Item 5 of 22James Giles F18161819Assisted in extending grounds and improving loch.
Item 6 of 22Archibald Simpson Ac. 1816 May have been responsible for entrance corridor with porch flanked by towers with conical roofs
Item 7 of 22James Duncan Bc. 1880 Bothy and game larder, two cottages, bowling alley and racquet courts, Seton Room (Duncan may have been executant architect for John Bryce)
Item 8 of 22Duncan McMillan K1881 Repairs
Item 9 of 22John Russell Mackenzie K1881 Repairs
Item 10 of 22Mackenzie & McMillan K1881 Repairs
Item 11 of 22D & J Bryce C1890 South lodge and gates
Item 12 of 22John Bryce II (or John Bryce (junior)) C1890 South lodge and gates
Item 13 of 22D & J Bryce D1892 Addition
Item 14 of 22John Bryce II (or John Bryce (junior)) D1892 Addition - addition of Leith Tower built out from flank of Gordon Tower, billiard room and interior work in dining room in Gordon Tower. Other work halted because of financial difficulties of Alexander Forbes-Leith.
Item 15 of 22Alexander Marshall Mackenzie E18981899Alterations and additions. Took over John Bryce's job. Gothic lanterns on projecting porch. Interior survives much as Mackenzie remodelled it.
Item 16 of 22A Marshall Mackenzie & Son G1920 Further alterations and additions
Item 17 of 22Alexander George Robertson Mackenzie G1920 Further alterations and additions
Item 18 of 22Alexander Marshall Mackenzie G1920 Further alterations and additions
Item 19 of 22Alexander ('Sandy') Mennie J1980s(?)1990sRestoration including reinstatement of 18th century bellcote.
Item 20 of 22McCombie & Mennie J1980s(?)1990sRestoration including reinstatement of 18th century bellcote.
Item 21 of 22Henry ('Harry') James Lyall Mantell H2003 Restoration of garden store
Item 22 of 22Meldrum & Mantell H2003 Restoration of garden store

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Forbes-Leith, Alexander JClient for John Bryce II, James Duncan & Marshall Mackenzie work
Item 2 of 2Gordon, Hon WilliamClient for 1773 fireplaces

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Academy Architecture1900 part 1 p81 (Mackenzie's work)
Item 2 of 5McKean, Charles1990Banff and Buchan: an illustrated guide  p74
Item 3 of 5RSA1892   517 (Bryce work)
Item 4 of 5RSA1900   508 (Mackenzie's work)
Item 5 of 5Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray Yale University Presspp34, 45, 218-9, 225-229, 231

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Architectural Heritage1991ii  
Item 2 of 2ProspectMarch 1994  spring issue no.51, p4

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 7Aberdeen City ArchivesDuncan and Munro Collection Plans dating from the 1880s
Item 2 of 7Courtesy of Harry MantellInformation sent via'Contact Us' on DSA website Sent October 2009
Item 3 of 7Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register9615 
Item 4 of 7Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register9613South gates
Item 5 of 7RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership Obituary of Alexander Mennie
Item 6 of 7RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers AGR Mackenzie: F v21 no 1496
Item 7 of 7Viewfield House, Old Perth Rd, Inverness (1990)A Marshall Mackenzie & Marr Office List (held by John G Marr in 1960)