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

PITSLIGO CASTLELB13884

Status: Removed

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
16/04/1971
Date Removed:
14/12/2015
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Planning Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Pitsligo
NGR
NJ 93732 66942
Coordinates
393732, 866942

Removal Reason

Dual designation

Description

Large roofless courtyard castle of varying dates with

extensive walled garden at N. Forecourt or 'pleasance' at W

abutting road approached through archway. Rubble, tooled

ashlar dressings, some grey granite and some red sandstone

dressings.

Entrance from road through round-headed and roll-moulded arch

under gabled overthrow dated 1656 to forecourt.

Principal castle defensive enclosure entered from forecourt

through W curtain wall incorporated in 2-storey range; centre

low vaulted passage flanked by former guardrooms leading to

inner courtyard.

Courtyard dominated by 15th century large 2-storey rubble

keep, a tower with off-centre round-headed entrance with large

keystone leading to vaulted undercroft; front E wall of upper

hall broken away to reveal high barrel vaulted chamber. Tall

3-stage angle drum tower at NG adjoining roof less 2 and

3-storey range fronting inner court. This range has 2 carved

coats of arms incorporated, one dated 1577 with Scottish

royal arms, the other (above entrance) dated 1603 with royal

coat of arms.

Courtyard flanked N and S with ranges abutting the outer

walls; roofless range at S; at N 2-storey range with 1st

floor approached by forestair with partially intact slated

roof, used as a farmhouse in 19th century.

Outside the central square walled enclosure at N is large,

high rubble walled garden. At S a small bothy with random

rubble N elevation and 3-bay 19th century masonry S elevation

with granite long and short dressings, end stacks and slate

roof.

Statement of Special Interest

Keep said to be 15th century and to have been built by

William Forbes (son of Sir John Forbes of Druminor) who came

into Pitsligo by his marriage with only daughter of Sir

William Fraser of Philorth. 1663 coat of arms of those of

Alexander, 2nd Lord Pitsligo. The royal coats of arms are for

James VI who was 11 in 1577; that of 1603 may commemorate

James' succession to throne of England at that date.

Scheduled Ancient Monument.

References

Bibliography

THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT (1791, Witherington and Grant ed,

vol xv, 1982), p.398. MacGibbon and Ross, THE CASTELLATED AND

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND iv (1892), pp. 294-7. J B

Pratt, BUCHAN (1858, revised 1901), pp. 75-6.

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.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

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: 28/03/2024 20:30