Beldorney Castle

The property, one of the earliest Z-plan castles in the North-East, In 1545 George Gordon purchased the land from the Earl of Huntly, and the castle was built before he died in 1575. On his death it passed to his brother, Major John Grant of Dawlish, Devon. In 1830 a north wing was added. Subsequently, there has been restoration work in 1890, remodelling other floors under the supervision of Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, and in the early 1980s.

The main block of the castle lies north to south. At the north-west angle is a smaller square tower, which contains the main stair, At the south-east angle is a large drum tower, which has a rounded gable. The original entry was in the re-entrant angle with the square tower. The basement, which contains a kitchen and two cellars, is vaulted. From one of the cellars – the wine cellar – a mural stair led to the hall. Fragments of the painting of the Hall ceiling survive. It appears that the second floor also had a hall and a tower room. There is a mural stair in the turret in the re-entrant angle of the south gable; this gave access to the second floor room and the third-floor watch room. The…