Alternative Names Old Castle Of Balmoral; Balmoral Castle Policies
Site type CASTLE
Canmore ID 31162
Site Number NO29SE 7
NGR NO 2550 9495
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish CRATHIE AND BRAEMAR
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District KINCARDINE AND DEESIDE
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NO29SE 7 2550 9495

(NO 254 950). Balmoral Castle, the forerunner of the present castle commenced in 1853, consisted of a square tower or keep of the early 16th century. At three of the angles were turrets characteristic of the 17th century. Attached to the tower was a small courtyard enclosed by a thick wall. It was occupied by the Gordons, first as tenants of the Earl of Mar and later as owners, the earliest records of the estate being in 1451 and 1484. About 1754, attached to the original tower, there was a long steep-roofed, high-gabled house with narrow windows high in the walls, lying east to west parallel with the river. Numerous additions were made by Sir Robert Gordon between 1830 and 1852 when all the old buildings were pulled down.
J Stirton 1925; A Gibb 1884.

No trace of the original Balmoral Castle exists. At NO 2550 9495, in the lawn of the present castle (NO29NE 15.00), a marble stone is inscribed, 'This stone marks the position of the front entrance door (facing the south) of old Balmoral Castle taken down in 1855'.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (R L) 25 October 1967.

Listed.
Scottish Castle Survey 1988; N Bogdan and I B D Bryce 1991.

Visible on air photographs AAS/93/11/G23/6-7. Copies held by Grampian Regional Council.
Information from M Greig, Grampian Regional Council, March 1994.

Architectural Notes

NO29SE 7 2550 9495

For Balmoral Castle (NO 2550 9495) and related monuments, see NO29NE 15.00.

Bogdan and Bryce, N and I B D (1991) 'Castles, manors and 'town houses' survey', Discovery Excav Scot
Page(s): 32

Brown, J (1859) The new Deeside guide, by James Brown, author of 'The guide to the Deeside Highlands', with copious notes and additions, Aberdeen
Page(s): Frontispiece 'Balmoral Castle, W.Banks, Edin' Held at RCAHMS D.5.DEE.R

Gibb, A (1884) Scenery of the Dee,
Page(s): illust.