Crathes Castle, sundial, heraldic panels, weather vanes, doocot etc

Location

Crathes, Banchory

OS Map Reference

NO 734 968

Description

Crathes is particularly known for its ceiling paintings. Photography is not allowed in the castle but there are excellent photographs in the RCAHMS "canmore" database see: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/36693/digital_images/crathes+castle/ .
Castle; an L-plan tower-house built in the mid-16thC with a later projecting wing. It is built of granite with rounded angles and rises to four storeys and an attic. The lower storeys are plain but above the first-floor level there is a profusion of corbelling, stringcourse, angle- and stair-turrets, heraldic decoration, gargoyles, and gabling which are unique to Scottish castellated architecture. The entrance, in the re-entrant angle is protected by an iron yett. The interior is famed for its plaster & magnificent wooden painted ceilings. The castle was built for the Burnetts of Leys who received the charter for the land from Robert the Bruce in 1323. Within the castle is a jewelled ivory horn, the Horn of Leys, which is said to have been presented to Alexander Burnett by the Bruce when he received the charter. The castle came into the hands of the National Trust for Scotland in 1951. SMR
Crathes Castle NO 735 966 doocot
doocot Small square, rubble, with forestair and slated pyramidal roof. Probably early 19th century. Rebuilt on present site 1935. Inset stone from Houses of Parliament. LBR
The sundial has an interesting decoration of 4 grotesque portrait masks but I can find no record of its date or creator.

Related Information

The castle bears the dates 1553, 1554 and 1596. It was built for the Burnetts of Leys who received the charter for the land from Robert the Bruce in 1323. Within the castle is held a jewelled ivory horn, the Horn of Leys, which is said to have been presented to Alexander Burnett by the Bruce when he received the charter. The Bell family are generally thought to have remodelled the upper parts of the castle. George Bell died in 1575 and I and David Bell were at work in the early 17th century. The castle came into the hands of the National Trust for Scotland in 1951.

Era

Various

Information Source

Listed Building Record, SMR, RCAHMS etc

Categories

• Ceiling Painting
• Dovecots/Doocots
• House Signs, Weather Vanes, Follies, etc
• Sundials
• Town Crosses, Fountains, Armorial, etc

Iconography

• cock or hen
• heraldic motifs
• human face or head
• human figure

External Links

• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
• RCAHMS canmore

Photographer

• David Watson Hood

Unavailable Data

• Date
• Related Artefacts
• Creator