Fordyce Castle

Fordyce Castle is a T-plan castle, its oldest part dating from 1592, about three miles south-west of Portsoy, in the village of Fordyce, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.[1]

Fordyce Castle
Fordyce, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Fordyce Castle
Fordyce Castle is located in Aberdeenshire
Fordyce Castle
Fordyce Castle
Coordinates57.6609°N 2.7474°W / 57.6609; -2.7474
TypeT-plan
Site history
Built1592–1700

History

The castle was built by Thomas Menzies of Durn and Cults, a former Provost of Aberdeen,[2] as an L-plan tower house. In 1700 it was extended to the present T-plan. The north wing was used as a parish school between 1716 and 1789.[3] After years of neglect, the tower has now been restored. The house has been altered internally.[1]

Thomas Menzies was knighted by James VI and I in 1620. He gave James VI and I a valuable pearl found in the Kellie burn, a tributary of the River Ythan, and the pearl was said to have been set in the crown.[4]

Structure

The main part is an L-plan castle; the 1700 addition was the west wing, at the north gable,[3] which has two storeys and an attic.[1]

The original house has three storeys and a circular stair tower. This tower is corbelled out heavily in the re-entrant angle from the second floor. It is topped with an oversail from the roof of the south wing. There are angle turrets with conical caps on the top storey.[1] Variations of cable moulding in diminishing courses terminating as foliated stop decorate the corbelling.[3]

At the foot of the circular wing, in the re-entrant angle, is the entrance. There is a vaulted basement. The stair in the main wing rises only to the first floor, ascent to the upper levels is by the south wing stair.[1] Another entrance, in the main front, and flanked by slit vents, gives access to the basement.[3]

There are four different types of shot holes, providing a wide range of fire angles.[1] In the front elevation, there is an enlarged first-floor window under relieving arch which lights the first floor hall. A similar window in the south gable has been blocked. There is a second-floor window in the front elevation, while other windows are very small and are randomly sited. The monogram of Thomas Menzies of Durn is carved on the south-west turret.[3]

The 1700 addition has three entrances, the main one being on the first floor, approached by an external forestair.[3]

The roof is of Banffshire slate.[3]

It is a category A listed building.[5]

References
  1. Lindsay, Maurice (1986) The Castles of Scotland. Constable. ISBN 0-09-473430-5 p 249,
  2. McKean, Charles (1990), Banff & Buchan, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, p. 49, ISBN 978-1-85158-231-0
  3. "Fordyce Castle". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 4 (London, 1828), pp. 616-7.
  5. Historic Environment Scotland. "FORDYCE VILLAGE, FORDYCE CASTLE (LB10623)". Retrieved 18 September 2019.

57.6609°N 2.7474°W / 57.6609; -2.7474

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