Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

HMP Castle Huntly including Garden Terraces and Statues, Longforgan, near DundeeLB12868

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
05/10/1971
Last Date Amended
23/10/2015
Supplementary Information Updated
29/10/2015
Local Authority
Perth And Kinross
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Longforgan
NGR
NO 30194 29105
Coordinates
330194, 729105

Description

Castle Huntly has its origins in the 15th century. It is set on a flat plain close to the River Tay and it stands on a volcanic mound. Its corbelled and battlemented parapet and angle turrets contribute to its distinctive landscape presence. Constructed in the local pinkish brown stone, there is a strongly vertical L-plan tower house dating to the 15th century which is largely 3-storeys with an attic and deep basement. It was remodelled in the 17th century (mainly internal alterations and the enclosing of basement vaults to the north-west) and again in 1777-83 when a pair of 2-storey crowstep-gabled castellated wings were added to the east. In 1792-5 John Paterson was employed to build a single storey block between the wings. This was remodelled and recessed in 1937-8.

The stonework is predominantly random rubble to the earlier tower and roughly squared and coursed to the 18th century work. There is mostly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows.

The interior was seen in 2014. The entrance lobby leads to a top lit oval saloon of 1793-5 with a decorative cornice and a classical style chimneypiece. There are 6-panel timber doors. There are early vaulted storerooms in the basement, one of which provides access to a pit-prison. Some of the principal rooms have architraved doorcases, corniced ceilings in classical styles and timber shutters. The former dining room has a vine leaf cornice and a moulded stone fireplace of the 1930s. There is a stone staircase with iron barleysugar balusters and a timber handrail.

The Garden Terraces lie to the south and are likely to date from the late 17th century. There are two main tall brick walls forming terracing which run west to east and various other surviving sections of walls. Along the upper terrace there are three (now painted white) Renaissance classical statues, one male and two female which are also thought to date from the late 17th century.

Statement of Special Interest

Castle Huntly, with its origins in the 15th century, is an outstanding early example of tower house architecture. Stone buildings from this period which survive largely intact are highly significant and rare. Castle Huntly is tangible evidence of over 500 years of Scottish social and architectural history. The earlier tower house remains readable against the 18th century alterations which also add to its interest and represent the changing fashions of the times.

The Garden Terraces and Statues also have particular interest. The idea of creating terraced gardens with classical features was highly fashionable in the late 17th century. As landscaping fashions changed many early examples were lost and this increases the interest of the surviving garden terraces at Castle Huntly. An understanding and appreciation of classical art and architecture was a sign of sophistication for a 17th century nobleman and the creation at Castle Huntly of a terraced garden with classical statues is tangible evidence of this aspect of aristocratic life in Scotland at this period.

In 1452 Andrew, first Lord Gray was granted a royal licence to build a castle and it is likely that construction of Castle Huntly began not long after this. Patrick, first Earl of Kinghorne bought the estate in 1613 and his son, John remodelled the house, renaming it Castle Lyon, in the 1630s as his summer seat. It was inherited by Patrick, third Earl of Kinghorne (and later first Earl of Strathmore) around 1660 and he lived there until 1670 and remodelled the interior of the house and laid out the gardens and parkland before moving on to carry out work at Glamis Castle. In 1777 the estate was sold to George Paterson who enlarged and remodelled the house in two phases in 1777-83 (Buildings of Scotland notes that the architect for this work was apparently James Playfair) and 1792-5 (see summary description above). The estate remained in the Paterson family until after the death of Colonel Adrian Paterson in 1940.

Castle Huntly appears on early maps, such as John Adair's map of 1683 where it appears under its former name of Castle Lyon. Its footprint appears largely as it is now on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, which was surveyed in 1861 and published in 1867. The three Renaissance statues which are now located on the garden terrace to the south are shown on this map laid in a different arrangement to the east of the Castle.

The Statistical Account of Scotland for Longforgan parish written in 1791-99 describes the work that Patrick, third Earl of Kinghorne carried out ' … and the whole grounds were dressed up in the all the grandeur of summer houses, statues, avenues, gates, ornamented with various orders of architecture … agreeable to the taste of the times.'

The Statistical Account of 1791-99 also explains the changes which Paterson made after acquiring the castle in 1777, ' The castle also, although completely modernised within, has assumed even a more castellated appearance outwardly than formerly. The wings, embattled walls, round tower, and corner turrets, have been given it by the present proprietor; who has restored the ancient name of Huntly, by which is was so long known while in possession of the family of Gray.'

During the Second World War it was used as a girls' probation school before being bought by the Scottish Home and Heath Department in 1946 for use as a Borstal. It was later used as a Young Offenders' Institution and it is now an Open Prison for adults.

Statutory address and listed building record revised in 2015 as part of the Scottish Prison Service Listing Review 2014-15. Previously listed as 'Castle Huntly, including Terraced Garden and Statuary and Boundary Walls'.

References

Bibliography

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland: http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore.html CANMORE ID 31728

John Adair (1683) The Mappe of Straithern, Stormont, and Cars of Gowrie with the rivers Tay and Ern at http://maps.nls.uk/view/00001006

Ordnance Survey (surveyed 1861, published 1867) Perthshire LXXXVIII. 6 inches to 1 mile 1st Edition. London: Ordnance Survey.

John Gifford (2007) Perth and Kinross: The Buildings of Scotland. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p.259-62.

Statistical Account (1791-99) Longforgan – County of Perth, Vol. 19. pp.468, 474-479.

New Statistical Account (1834-45) Longforgan – County of Perth, Vol. 10. pp.409-10.

Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Session 1959-60, Vol. 93. pp.202-16.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

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Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 09:28