Craigievar Castle

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Craigievar Castle

Aberdeenshire


Craigievar Castle
Location
Grid reference: NJ56680949
Location: 57°10’27"N, 2°43’5"W
History
Built 1625
Information
Owned by: National Trust for Scotland
Website: Craigievar

Craigievar Castle is a harled castle or fortified country house in Aberdeenshire, six miles south of Alford in Aberdeenshire, which is today in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

This was the seat of Clan Sempill, and the Forbes family resided here for 350 years until 1963, when the property was given to the National Trust by William Forbes-Sempill, 19th Lord Sempill.[1]

The castle is known for its distinctive pink colour, which the Trust restored during work completed in 2023.[2]

History

An excellent example of the original Scots Baronial architecture, the great seven-storey castle was completed in 1626 by the Aberdonian merchant William Forbes, ancestor of the Forbes baronets of Craigievar and brother of the Bishop of Aberdeen, Patrick Forbes of Corse Castle. Forbes purchased the partially completed structure from the impoverished Mortimer family in the year 1610. He arranged for the continued construction, completing it in 1625 or 1626.[1]

Forbes was nicknamed "Danzig Willy", a reference to his shrewd international trading success with the Baltic ports.[3] Some used the nickname "Willy the Merchant", also based on the substantial profits he made while "merchandising at Dantzick", according to one source.[1]

Craigievar Castle in autumn

William's son became a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I, and this title is still extant. The Forbes Baronetcy, of Craigievar in the County of Aberdeen, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 20 April 1630 for William Forbes. He was also a descendant of Hon. Patrick Forbes, third son of the second Lord Forbes, and the nephew of the first Baronet of the 1628 creation. The fourth Baronet represented Aberdeenshire in the House of Commons. The 5th Baronet married the Hon. Sarah Sempill, eldest daughter of Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill. Their grandson, the eighth Baronet, succeeded as seventeenth Lord Sempill in 1884.[4]

Designed in the L-plan,[5] as was Muchalls Castle, which is located in the same region, Craigievar is noted for its exceptionally crafted plasterwork ceilings. Craigevar, Muchalls Castle and Glamis Castle are generally considered to have the three finest ceilings in Scotland. The Forbes family were close friends of the Burnetts of Leys, who built both Crathes Castle and Muchalls Castle. The ceilings feature plaster figures of the Nine Worthies and other family emblems.

19th century

Craigievar Castle by David Young Cameron, 1908

By the early 1800s, the tower had fallen into decay. Sir John Forbes had considered demolishing the tower and consulted the Aberdeen city architect John Smith who advised against that course of action, stating the tower was: "one of the finest specimens in the Country of the age and style in which it was built."[6] He decided to restore the building. Roof repairs were undertaken circa 1826; a timber base covered with slates was used.[1] At about the same time, "the towers were altered and raised and a new entrance door was put in, which was subsequently restored to the original entrance" according to the records of the Aberdeenshire Council.

Reconstruction of almost the entire top floor was also completed. The windows, external harling and pointing were replaced and it is likely Smith also designed the gardener's cottage.[6][7]

The castle originally had more defensive elements including a walled courtyard with four round towers; only one of the round towers remains today. In the arched door to that round tower are preserved the carved initials of Sir Thomas Forbes, William Forbes' son. There is also a massive iron 'yett'; a portcullis or gate covering the entrance door

According to the folklore of the area, the castle is haunted by one or more ghosts.[8][9]

20th century

The Forbes family also owned a large granite house at Fintray near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. This became the family's main residence for a number of years until the Second World War. During the war, Fintray House was used as a hospital for wounded Belgian soldiers.[10]

In 1963,[11] the family donated the Craigievar estate to the National Trust for Scotland which took over operation.[12]

By the late 1970s, the castle interior boasted a Great Hall that has the Stuart Arms over the fireplace;[3] a musicians gallery; secret staircase connecting the high tower to the Great Hall; Queen's Bedroom; servants' quarters and, of course, several splendid plasterwork ceilings.[13] There was a collection of Forbes family portraits inside as well as a considerable quantity of Forbes furnishings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. The castle also housed two original Henry Raeburn portraits complete with original receipts.

21st century

The castle, with new harling, in 2010

Between November 2007 and 2009, the castle was closed for its exterior to be given a new harl, returning it to what is believed to be a close equivalent of the harling put in place during the refurbishment of 1820.[14] It was reopened to the public in April 2010.[15] One report provided these specifics about the work and the state of the castle as of 2010:[11]

The tower was renovated and rehabbed ... featuring a traditional lime-based alternative to concrete-based harling and returning the castle to what would have been its original shade of pink. The castle interior boasts a Great Hall that has the Stuart Arms over the fireplace; a musicians’ gallery; a secret staircase connecting the high tower to the Great Hall; Queen's Bedroom; servants' quarters and several splendid plasterwork ceilings. The castle contains a collection of Forbes family portraits and furnishings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.

No artificial lighting was ever added to the upper floors of the castle, so the artefacts would be viewed in the same natural light as they were during the previous centuries.[16]

In 2019, a report provided this summary of the castle grounds:[17]

Little remains of the 17th century designed landscape and the grounds around the Castle date from the late-18th and early-19th centuries. Further planting, particularly of ornamental conifers, was added at the end of the 19th century. In the 1930s a rock garden was created behind the coach house and, more recently, flower borders were added around the Castle and in the kitchen garden.

In early 2019, a volunteer discovered what is apparently the original door of the property, made of oak; it was replaced in 1825 and was considered to be missing until 2019. The door was subsequently restored and put on display.[18]

A September 2020 report states that the castle "holds a foremost place among the examples of what is known as the fourth or L period, from the form of ground plan upon which nearly all the Scottish castles of that date".[1]

In popular culture

The castle is reputed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney's castle motif.[19]

Outside links

 ("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Craigievar Castle)


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Craigievar Castle, a Scottish castle full of tales of warriors and ghosts". Country Life. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/craigievar-castle-a-scottish-castle-full-of-tales-of-warriors-and-ghosts-218361. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  2. ↑ 'Craigievar castle that inspired Disney is pretty in pink again': BBC, 28 December 2023
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Prentice, Robin, ed. (1978), The National Trust for Scotland guide, Cape, pp. 59–60, ISBN 0-224-01632-6 
  4. ↑ Craigievar Castle - Listing: Inventory of Gardens & Designed Landscapes
  5. ↑ MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1887), The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century, D. Douglas, p. 104, https://archive.org/stream/castellateddomes02macguoft#page/104/mode/2up/search/Craigievar 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Miller, David G. (2007). Tudor Johnny: City Architect of Aberdeen: The Life and Works of John Smith 1781–1852. Librario. pp. 129–130. ISBN 978-1-904440-97-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=1quYSQAACAAJ. 
  7. ↑ CANMORE (RCAHMS) record of Craigievar Castle
  8. ↑ "Best of Britain > 10 Fairytale Scottish Castles". Britain Express. https://www.britainexpress.com/best/10-fairytale-scottish-castles.htm. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  9. ↑ "Haunted Scottish castles". The Scotsman. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/haunted-scottish-castles-1493527. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  10. ↑ Forbes, Ewan (1984). The aul' days. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press. ISBN 0-08-032415-0. https://archive.org/details/auldaysforb00forb. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Craigievar Castle". Clan Forbes. https://www.clan-forbes.org/craigievar-castle. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  12. ↑ "The pink Scottish castle said to have inspired Walt Disney". The Vintage News. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/06/28/craigievar-castle/. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  13. ↑ Jones, Nigel R. (2005), Architecture of England, Scotland, and Wales, Greenwood, pp. 85–87, ISBN 978-0-313-31850-4 
  14. ↑ "BBC NEWS - UK - Scotland - North East/N Isles - Castle in the pink after facelift". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8302858.stm. 
  15. ↑ "BBC News - Restored Craigievar Castle reopens to public". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8654763.stm. 
  16. ↑ "Scottish Castles | Best Castles In Scotland & Beyond". Highland Titles. https://www.highlandtitles.com/blog/top-10-castles-in-scotland-and-beyond/#Craigievar_Castle. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  17. ↑ "Cragievar Castle". Parks and Gardens. https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/craigievar-castle. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  18. ↑ "National Trust for Scotland opens door into past of Cragievar Castle with newest discovery". The Press & Journal. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1746793/national-trust-for-scotland-opens-door-into-past-of-cragievar-castle-with-newest-discovery/. Retrieved 16 September 2020. 
  19. ↑ "BBC - Craigievar Castle restoration". 23 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastscotlandnorthernisles/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8572000/8572293.stm. 
  • Tranter, Nigel (1966), The Fortified House in Scotland, Volume IV, Oliver & Boyd
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