Site type BISHOPS PALACE
Canmore ID 20219
Site Number NJ90NW 9.03
NGR NJ 9398 0877
Council ABERDEEN, CITY OF
Parish ABERDEEN
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District CITY OF ABERDEEN
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ90NW 9.03 9398 0877

(NJ 9398 0877) Bishop's Palace (NR) (Site of)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1974).

The site of the episcopal palace rebuilt c. 1459, the original having been destroyed in 1336. It was a quadrangular court with a tower at each corner and had a covered passage to the Cathedral (Kennedy 1818), as well as a back close where the offices, dovecot etc stood. (A Smith 1875). The orchard which lay between the palace and the Chaplain's Chambers (NJ90NW 9.04) remained at the end of the 19th century. The remains of the palace were removed in 1651 to provide material for the erection of fortification on the Castlehill. (Gordon 1661).
There is now no trace, the site being occupied by nursery gardens.
Visited by OS (JLD) 11 September 1952.
W Kennedy 1818; A Smith 1875; J Gordon 1661.

This building was formerly situated on top of an N-facing river cliff at an altitude of about 19m OD.
NMRS, MS/712/83.

NJ 940 087 An assessment took place in January 2002 prior to the demolition of Dunbar Halls of Residence. Evidence of three ditches, two large rubbish pits and a wall, probably the remains of the old Aberdeen bishop's palace, were uncovered. The building was constructed of ashlar sandstone. Very few finds were recovered, but they include window glass and sherds of local medieval pottery.
Archive deposited in Aberdeen City SMR and the NMRS.
Sponsor: University of Aberdeen.
A Cameron

Ten trenches were excavated in May 2005 in an area of development, in an attempt to find elements of the Old Aberdeen Bishop's Palace. Cencrete foundations, holes for trees recently planted, and a stone shaft within an undercroft were discovered. The shaft may be a well but could possibly be a 'bottle dungeon', like that of St Andrews Castle, Fife. Medieval pottery and roof tiles were found in the fill. The building above was likely a two or more-storey structure. Much of the stonework was robbed in antiquity.
A Cameron 2005

NJ 940 08 Following an assessment prior to the demolition of the Halls of Residence (DES 2002, ), a further assessment took place in May 2005 before the construction of new accommodation.
Much of the area had been scarped during the construction of Dunbar Halls in the 1960s, but a small pocket of undisturbed ground included a well-constructed basement within which a well had been
constructed. The full extent of the cellar was c 5 x 5m and it survived to a depth of 2.2m. The well was 1.8 x 2m and was exposed to a depth of 1m. The interpretation of this feature as a bell dungeon has been considered, but its size and construction makes it more likely to have been a large well serving the substantial bishop¿s palace (NJ90NW 9.03). No dating evidence was recovered from the structure, but a small number of medieval finds were recovered
from the backfill.
Archive to be deposited in NMRS.
Sponsor:
University of Aberdeen.

Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 23

Cameron, A (2002a) 'Dunbar Hall, Aberdeen City (Aberdeen parish), Bishop's Palace', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.3
Page(s): 7

Cameron, A (2005a) 'Dunbar halls of residence (Aberdeen parish), well or bell dungeon' Discovery Excav Scot, vol.6