Basic Site Details

Name: House of Cromar
Town, district or village: Tarland
City or county: Aberdeenshire
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: B listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Contracts have been accepted for the erection of a new mansion house for the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen on their Cromar estate to take the place of Tarland Lodge. Messrs Sydney Mitchell and Wilson, architects, of Edinburgh have furnished the design which partakes of the Scottish baronial style. The main building will be 102 feet long by 50 feet broad and, in addition to the basement will have two storeys with attics. The drawing room and dining room enter off the central hall and other apartments on this floor are a boudoir and smoking-room and, in a wing, a billiards room. The upper floors are to be used as bedrooms, bathrooms etc. and the basement will contain accommodation for the servants. In the immediate vicinity of the house an extensive park is being laid out, and the site commands a wide view of the fine mountain scenery. [British Architect 19 June 1903 Page 451].

House sold to the cotton baron Sir Alexander MacRobert whose wife renamed it Alastrean after her three sons who were killed in WW2.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1AlastreanYesRenamed by Lady MacRobert in memory of her three sons who were killed seving in the RAF in the Second World War.

Building Type Classification

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

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 3c. 1902c. 1904  
Item 2 of 31903 Build/constructionContracts accepted June 1903
Item 3 of 31958 Destruction/demolitionBurnt out and rebuilt in modified form with heightened and enlarged wings. Interiors restored.

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 4Arthur George Sydney Mitchell Ac. 1902c. 1904 
Item 2 of 4George Wilson Ac. 1902c. 1904 
Item 3 of 4Sydney Mitchell & Wilson Ac. 1902c. 1904 
Item 4 of 4D M Hall D1958 Restoration after fire

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Aberdeen, 7th Earl of 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Geddes, Jane2001Deeside and the Mearns: An Illustrated Architectural Guide Edinburgh: RIAS/Rutland Pressp137
Item 2 of 5Hamilton-Gordon, J C, Marquis of Aberdeen1925We twa, Reminiscences of Lord and Lady Aberdeen London: W Collins, Son & Co 
Item 3 of 5Jamieson, David and Wilson, W Stewart2001Old Royal Deeside Stenlakep27 (illustration before 1958 fire)
Item 4 of 5Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen London and New Haven: Yale University Pressp313
Item 5 of 5Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and Moray Yale University Pressp245

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architect19 June 1903  p451

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register49157 
Item 2 of 2Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of ScotlandCanmore136642