Craigievar Castle
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Craigievar Castle is a pinkish
History
An excellent example of the original
Forbes was nicknamed "Danzig Willy", a reference to his shrewd international trading success with the Baltic states.[2] Some used the nickname "Willy the Merchant", also based on the substantial profits he made while "merchandising at Dantzick", according to one source.[1]
William's son became a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I and this title is now extant. The Forbes Baronetcy, of Craigievar in the County of Aberdeen, was created in the
Designed in the
19th century
By the early 1800s, the tower had fallen into decay. Sir John Forbes had considered demolishing the tower and consulted the Aberdeen city architect John Smith who advised against that course of action, stating the tower was: "one of the finest specimens in the Country of the age and style in which it was built."[5] He decided to restore the building. Roof repairs were undertaken circa 1826; a timber base covered with slates was used.[1] At about the same time, "the towers were altered and raised and a new entrance door was put in, which was subsequently restored to the original entrance" according to the records of the Aberdeenshire Council.[6]
Reconstruction of almost the entire top floor was also completed. The windows, external harling and pointing were replaced and it is likely Smith also designed the gardener's cottage.[5][7]
The castle originally had more defensive elements including a walled courtyard with four round towers; only one of the round towers remains today. In the arched door to that round tower are preserved the carved initials of Sir Thomas Forbes, William Forbes' son. There is also a massive iron portcullis or gate covering the entrance door which is named a yett.
According to the folklore of the area, the castle is haunted by one or more ghosts.[8][9]
20th century
The Forbes family also owned a large granite house at
In 1963,[11] the family donated the Craigievar estate to the National Trust for Scotland which took over operation.[12] Since 1990, the estate has been a Listed building of the Aberdeenshire Council.[6]
By the late 1970s, the castle interior boasted a
21st century
Between November 2007 and 2009, the castle was closed for its exterior to be given a new
The tower was renovated and rehabbed ... featuring a traditional lime-based alternative to concrete-based harling and returning the castle to what would have been its original shade of pink. The castle interior boasts a Great Hall that has the Stuart Arms over the fireplace; a musicians’ gallery; a secret staircase connecting the high tower to the Great Hall; Queen's Bedroom; servants' quarters and several splendid plasterwork ceilings. The castle contains a collection of Forbes family portraits and furnishings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.
No artificial lighting was ever added to the upper floors of the castle, so the artefacts would be viewed in the same natural light as they were during the previous centuries.[16]
In 2019, a report provided this summary of the castle grounds:[17]
Little remains of the 17th century designed landscape and the grounds around the Castle date from the late-18th and early-19th centuries. Further planting, particularly of ornamental conifers, was added at the end of the 19th century. In the 1930s a rock garden was created behind the coach house and, more recently, flower borders were added around the Castle and in the kitchen garden.
In early 2019, a volunteer discovered what is apparently the original door of the property, made of oak; it was replaced in 1825 and was considered to be missing until 2019. The door was subsequently restored and put on display.[18]
By 2013 the castle, its grounds, and an estate of over 200 acres (81 ha) of adjoining farmland and woodland were in their 50th year as a property of the National Trust for Scotland. Visits to the castle were allowed from Easter, or from the first of April (whichever is the earlier), until the end of September. In 2018, the castle was open between April and June, on Fridays to Tuesdays for guided tours; the grounds were open throughout the year. The site received 24,072 visitors in 2019.
A September 2020 report states that the castle "holds a foremost place among the examples of what is known as the fourth or L period, from the form of ground plan upon which nearly all the Scottish castles of that date".[1]
In popular culture
The castle is reputed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney's castle motif.[22][23]
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "Craigievar Castle, a Scottish castle full of tales of warriors and ghosts". Country Life. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0-224-01632-6
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Craigievar Castle (GDL00114)". Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ MacGibbon, David; Ross, Thomas (1887), The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century, D. Douglas, p. 104
- ^ ISBN 978-1-904440-97-0.
- ^ a b "Aberdeenshire HER - NJ50NE0005 - CRAIGIEVAR CASTLE". Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Craigievar Castle, Canmore ID 17471". RCAHMS. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Best of Britain > 10 Fairytale Scottish Castles". Britain Express. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Haunted Scottish castles". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ISBN 0-08-032415-0.
- ^ a b "Craigievar Castle". Clan Forbes. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "The pink Scottish castle said to have inspired Walt Disney". The Vintage News. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-313-31850-4
- ^ "BBC NEWS - UK - Scotland - North East/N Isles - Castle in the pink after facelift". news.bbc.co.uk. 12 October 2009.
- ^ "BBC News - Restored Craigievar Castle reopens to public". news.bbc.co.uk. 30 April 2010.
- ^ "Scottish Castles | Best Castles In Scotland & Beyond". Highland Titles. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Cragievar Castle". Parks and Gardens. 31 December 1799. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "National Trust for Scotland opens door into past of Cragievar Castle with newest discovery". The Press & Journal. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". www.alva.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Mixed picture for north-east National Trust attractions reopening". Evening Express. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "National Trust to open dozens of outdoor sites to the public". STV. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "BBC - Craigievar Castle restoration". news.bbc.co.uk. 23 March 2010.
- ^ "Walt Disney-inspiring castle returned to 'fairytale' pink". STV News. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019.[dead link]
Other sources
- Tranter, Nigel (1966), The Fortified House in Scotland, Volume IV, Oliver & Boyd