A large formal landscape was laid out to the designs of Alexander Jaffrey in the early 18th century. Thomas Winter, George Brown and Robert Robinson also worked at Monymusk in the early mid-18th century.
Since the mid-16th century, the House of Monymusk has been owned by only two families: the Forbes and the Grants. In 1549 Duncan Forbes obtained possession of the estate. For the previous 300 years it had been an Augustine Priory sited on an early 4th century Christian settlement. Duncan Forbes built the central tower (Monymusk Papers 1713-1755, edited by Henry Hamilton, page xi) adjacent to the old Priory. Throughout the turbulent 17th century the family prospered and even built a second tower, Pitfichie Castle, as the dower house. However, by 1712, debt forced the sale of the estate to Sir Francis Grant, 1st Baronet, Lord of Cullen, who made his son Archibald the factor on his 20th birthday in 1716.
Over the following 62 years Archibald, later 2nd Baronet, transformed the run- down property into one of the show pieces of 18th century agricultural improvements. He planted over 48 million trees and, with the help of Alexander Jaffrey, he laid out a large formal landscape and a delightful 'Paradise' garden on the banks of the Don about three miles away.
There is an unsigned plan of 1719 made prior to the alterations which depicts a grand scheme for canals and allees in woodland. Thomas Winter, a surveyor, later came from Norfolk to assist Sir Archibald in 1726. About 1730 Jaffrey produced plans for the Paradise Garden. The scale of the formal design laid out there can be seen on General Roy's plan of c.1750 and on an unsigned survey dated 1761 of 'Monymusk Land and Policies'. Another survey, dated 1774 and beautifully drawn by George Brown, shows the changes to the formal layout made during the mid-18th century. Robert Robinson was a frequent visitor and received payment in 1762 for 'Surveying, Planning or Overseeing'.
In 1782, Archibald Robertson drew three landscape views of Monymusk and, in 1848, James Giles painted a water-colour. A further unsigned plan, dated 1846, and the 1st edition OS dated c.1850, also show the remnants of the formal landscape modified under the influence of the 'romantic' or informal fashion. Although many of the trees have gone there has been little change to the formal gardens.
At the end of the 18th century Sir Archibald's grandson inherited. He had four sons, two of whom inherited the estate, and it was the youngest brother, Robert, who considered at least three schemes for remodelling the house. He also undertook improvements to the farm buildings. His second son, Francis, began to tackle the problems of the estate at the end of the 19th century. He died in 1886 before much could be done and was succeeded by a distant cousin, Sir Arthur, who rebuilt most of the cottages and farm buildings and also modernised the village.
The present laird, Sir Archibald, 13th Baronet, inherited from his father, Sir Francis, 12th Baronet, in 1966. The family has retained all the papers and plans of the house, gardens and estate for the past 260 years and these now provide an invaluable record of the 'improvements' undertaken by successive enlightened owners.