Description

The monument forms the substantial remains of Aberdour Castle, the adjacent walled and terraced gardens and a dovecot.

The core of the castle is represented by the basement and a substantial part of the SE wall of a 2-storeyed hall house built ca.1200 for the De Mortimer family. This was raised in height and altered internally in the 15th century to create a tower house. In the mid 16th century, a central range was added, probably by Regent Morton, together with a back courtyard containing ancillary buildings.

The last major addition was the creation of an E range built for the 7th Earl in the early 17th century. The castle was damaged by fire in the late 18th century, only the E range subsequently being repaired. This continued in use as a barrack, school room, masonic hall and dwelling until 1924.

The terraced gardens to the S of the castle consist of 4 terraces linked by stone steps and probably date to the period of Regent Morton's rebuilding programme in the 1550s. The 'beehive' dovecot which stands at their SE corner was constructed in the later 16th century. The walled garden to the NE of the castle was built for the 7th Earl in 1630s.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 185m NNW-SSE by 200m ENE-WSW, to include the castle, terraced and walled gardens and the dovecot, plus the area of the driveway which extends 140m to the WSW of the W-most point of the castle grounds. The driveway is a uniform 10m in width.

The boundary of the scheduled area follows, and includes, existing boundary walls and is defined on the S side by the N bank of the Dour Burn: all as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Excluded from this scheduling are the Custodian's building, the top 30cm of the driveway and the top 30cm of all pathways, to allow for maintenance.


Specifically excluded (in addition to and amended from current exclusions) are:



The above-ground remains of the modern structure of vestry of St Fillans church.
The above-ground elements of the modern structure of visitor facilities buildings (including the shop, toilets, kitchen and intermediate yard) and its roof, fixtures and fittings.
The top 30cm of garden ground within the walled garden and the top 30 cm of the orchard ground.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of the information it can provide on the development of castleated architecture from the 12th to the 17th century and for the information it provides on the social standing of the families who occupied the castle throughout its use. In addition, the survival of important internal decoration, architectural and artefactual evidence of the use of the monument and important information about the garden and associated pleasure grounds adds to its importance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 18 NE 8

References:

Apted, M. R. (1966) Aberdour Castle, Fife, Edinburgh, 20-1, 28-9.

CBA (1975) Archaeology in Britain 1974-5, Report No. 25 of the CBA for the year ended 30 June 1975, 55.

Mackay, J. (1970) 'Across to Aberdour', The Scots Mag, vol. 93, April, 76.

RCAHMS (1933) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Eleventh report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the counties of Fife, Kinross, and Clackmannan Edinburgh, 21, No. 17.
Historic Environment Scotland Properties
Aberdour Castle
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/aberdour-castle-and-gardens
Find out more
Related Designations

ABERDOUR CASTLEGDL00003
Designation TypeGarden & Designed LandscapeStatusDesignated

ABERDOUR, ABERDOUR CASTLE SUNDIAL (FORMERLY AT ABERDOUR HOUSE)LB3637
Designation TypeListed Building (A)StatusRemoved

ABERDOUR, ABERDOUR CASTLE INCLUDING
GARDEN TERRACES AND BOUNDARY WALLSLB6421
Designation TypeListed Building (A)StatusRemoved

ABERDOUR,ABERDOUR CASTLE WALLED GARDEN WITH SUNDIALLB3610
Designation TypeListed Building (A)StatusRemoved

ABERDOUR, ABERDOUR CASTLE DOVECOTLB3611
Designation TypeListed Building (A)StatusRemoved

ABERDOUR, ABERDOUR CASTLE WEST GATEWAYLB3609
Designation TypeListed Building (B)StatusRemoved

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/50844/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/50845/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/221816/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/120707/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland