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Skene House

Country House (Period Unassigned), Tower House (Medieval)

Site Name Skene House

Classification Country House (Period Unassigned), Tower House (Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Skene House Estate; Skene House Policies

Canmore ID 76081

Site Number NJ70NE 19

NGR NJ 76793 09747

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/76081

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Aberdeenshire
  • Parish Skene
  • Former Region Grampian
  • Former District Gordon
  • Former County Aberdeenshire

Recording Your Heritage Online

Skene House, from 14th century. King Robert (Bruce) granted the barony of Skene to Robert Skene in 1318; it was held by his male descendants until 1827, during which time was erected one of the largest towerhouses in Scotland (early 14th century - reputedly the first stone-and-lime castle in Mar). Originally having three vaults, it was massive and brooding, was gutted and remodelled, 1680, and is now largely obscured by later work; a south wing in ashlar, c.1745;

and, 1847-50, an extensive baronial mansion by Archibald Simpson and (?)William Ramage for the Duke of Fife (north wing includes original tower). This scheme, reputedly on Simpson's drawing-board at his death, involved extension

of the south wing, a single-storey entrance hall with twin slim towers at gate and the replacement of the austere Georgian fenestration with larger lights and oriels.

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

Archaeology Notes

NJ70NE 19.00 76793 09747

NJ70NE 19.01 7622 0937 Mausoleum

NJ70NE 19.02 7732 0950 Gasworks

NJ70NE 19.03 7693 0970 Ice-house

NJ70NE 19.04 Centred on 76784 09702 Garden, Terrace and Ornaments

NJ70NE 19.05 7704 0979 Skene House Court (Stableblock)

NJ70NE 19.06 76947 09773 Fernlea (Cottage)

NJ70NE 19.07 76732 09969 Walled Garden with Twin Gazebos

NJ70NE 19.08 76505 09375 Crow Lodge

NJ70NE 19.09 76872 08813 South Lodge

NJ70NE 19.10 cancelled: see NJ70NE 15.21

NJ70NE 19.11 7703 0958 Curling Pond

For lodge at NJ 7744 1005, see NJ71SE 38.

For Mains of Skene (NJ 7659 1003) and Back Mains Cottage (NJ 7609 1006), see NJ71SE 39.00 and NJ71SE 39.01 respectively. For Back Mains (NJ 7614 0996), see NJ70NE 180.

For rig (centred NJ 7731 1006) within Mary's Wood in Skene House policies, see NJ71SE 103.

For rig in Howff Wood (NJ 7619 0959 to NJ 7632 0982) and Balmuir Wood (NJ 7658 0910 to NJ 7658 0932), see NJ70NE 125 and NJ70NE 126 respectively.

For rig at Back Mains (NJ 7636 0990 to NJ 7626 1008), see NJ70NE 179.

Skene House, built in its present form 1847-50. A large mansion of 3/4 storeys in fall of ground, remodelling of work of much earlier date. N part originally a tower house (14th century?) with three vaults, entering at first floor; remodelled 1680, vaults gutted out and centre part added, both rubble-built. South wing added 1745 or earlier, ashlar. Later extensions 1847-50.

SDD 1960- , no. 20.

Much altered, leaving little of the earlier work visible, and presenting a wholly different appearance to a tower-house.

N Tranter 1962-70.

Skene House/ N part originally a tower house (?14th century) with three vaults; remodelled 1680, the vaults being gutted out and the centre part added, both rubble-built. S wing added 1745 or earlier, ashlar. In 1847-50 Archibald Simpson and William Ramage (?) remodelled house to a large Scottish baronial mansion of 3/4 storeys.

Table sundial by J Williamson, Aberdeen, 1736.

(Additional bibliography and newspaper reference cited).

NMRS, MS/712/64.

Architecture Notes

NJ70NE 19.00 76793 09747

NMRS REFERENCE

Owner: Mrs John G. H. Hamilton

Architect: Archibald Simpson - additions 1827

Remodelled 1847-50. (source - Aberdeenshire 3rd statistical Account. Pub. 1960)

Activities

Photographic Survey (April 1955)

Photographic survey by the Scottish National Buildings Record in 1955.

References

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