Alternative Names Glenbucket Castle; Inverbuckat Castle; Glenbuchat House Policies
Site type TOWER HOUSE
Canmore ID 16780
Site Number NJ31SE 4
NGR NJ 39716 14879
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish GLENBUCHAT
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District GORDON
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Glenbucket, 1590. Commanding, if such a quietly understated mock-military country house can be so peremptory, the confluence of the Buchat and the Don. Built by John Gordon, for his wife, in rubble, but with long fancy quoins, squinch
arches carrying turnpike stairs in re-entrant angles of its Z-plan and crisp corbelling of the angle turrets all hinting at a sophisticated chateau. Good heraldry, a marriage-lintel and a variety of cupboards, one with a stone shelf, still survive. Elaborate ashlar entrance to garderobe on first floor; fine kitchen arch (also ashlar): in all, quality of facing masonry to cupboards, doors, stairs and garderobes breathes expense. Needs re-roofing, re-harling and community use. NOCHT ON EARTH REMAINS BOT FAME over doorway an appropriate Gordon epitaph?

Taken from "Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Ian Shepherd, 2006. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

Archaeological Notes

NJ31SE 4 39716 14879

For (successor) Glenbuchat House (NJ 3971 1480) and related buildings, see NJ31SE 71.00.

(NJ 3971 1487) Glenbucket Castle (NR) (In Ruins)
OS 6" map (1903)

Glenbuchat Castle - Fully described, illustrated and planned by MoPBW.
W D Simpson 1965

Glenbuchat Castle as described and planned by MoW. Name on plaque at castle.
Revised at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 29 August 1968.

This ruined Z-plan tower is situated on an E-facing shoulder at an altitude of 270m OD. It has square towers at NE and SW, square and circular angle turrets, turnpike stairs in N and re-entrant angles in trompe arches. Built by John Gordon in 1590 (formerly dated over entrance in SW re-entrant); sold 1738 by last Gordon of Glenbuchat (of Jacobite fame) to Duff family.
For restoration by Reginald Blomfield, see Builder 11 September 1886.
(GRC/AAS air and ground photographs: AHS/83/R1/15, EB24-37 and EC1-8).
NMRS, MS/712/43.

This tower-house is in Guardianship care. There is no change to the existing record.
Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 9 February 1999.

Architectural Notes

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

Architects: Rehinald Blanfield: - unexecuted design - (Builder 11th 1886)

Plans:
1/8" plans & F.S. details measured and drawn by Ruth Jackson 1825/26 of Aberdeen School of Architecture. Drawings stored in Aberdeen c. 1944 (see architectural catalogue)

National Library - Miscellany of the 3rd Spalding Club 1940

Notes and Activities

Billings, R W (1901) The baronial and ecclesiastical antiquities of Scotland, 4v. Edinburgh
Page(s): vol. 2 Held at RCAHMS D.2

Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 29

Castles of Aberdeenshire (1887) Castles of Aberdeenshire: historical and descriptive notes, Aberdeen
Held at RCAHMS D.5.11.HAY