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Mar Lodge, Ballroom

Ballroom (19th Century)

Site Name Mar Lodge, Ballroom

Classification Ballroom (19th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Mar Lodge Estate

Canmore ID 130678

Site Number NO08NE 12.02

NGR NO 09574 89945

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/130678

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Aberdeenshire
  • Parish Crathie And Braemar
  • Former Region Grampian
  • Former District Kincardine And Deeside
  • Former County Aberdeenshire

Archaeology Notes

NO08NE 12.02 09574 89945

NO08NE 12.00 NO 0963 8993 Mar Lodge

NO08NE 12.01 NO 0966 8998 St Ninian's Chapel

NO08NE 12.02 NO 0957 8995 Ballroom

NO09SE 10 NO 0997 9004 Game Larder

NO09SE 11 NO 0986 9002 Stables

NO18NW 4 NO 1022 8956 Victoria Bridge

NO18NW 15 NO 1020 8945 South Lodge

NO 095 899 A programme of archaeological recording was undertaken at the ballroom of Mar Lodge (NMRS NO08NE 12.02), in advance of refurbishment. In addition, scale elevations within the stables at Mar Lodge were also made.

The ballroom is a timber-framed 19th-century building, set on stone foundations and with a tiled hipped roof. The main ballroom is joined to the N and W by two annexes, one of which serves as a bar. The building was erected in 1883, before being taken down and re-erected in its current location in 1898. Originally used as a ballroom for the ghillies on the estate, the building has seen later uses as a cinema, part of a ski school, and a sports hall.

The building was shown to be largely of a single build, with mid-20th-century additions having altered the N annexe from an open space to a sub-divided area, possibly originally serving the ski school. However, many of the original late Victorian elements survive, including an ornate ventilation system, and impressive iron sole-plates on the exterior of the long walls, which help to anchor and support the structure. Evidence was found to suggest that parts of the 1883 ballroom were recycled, in particular to be used as sarking in the 1898 building. The roof couples seem also to have been reused, as they bear graffiti referring both to the 1883 construction, and the 1898 rebuilding episodes.

The provision of a special building for the use of the servants of the estate reflects ongoing developments on late 19th-century highland estates. A similar structure, albeit in iron, was erected at Balmoral, for example. However, the social mores of the day dictated that buildings intended solely for the staff had to be located outwith the main lodge, which at the Mar Estate was begun in 1895.

Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland

A Dunn 1999

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