Harthill Castle

Harthill Castle is a large 17th-century Z-plan castle, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north west of Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south of Kirkton of Oyne.[1]

Harthill Castle

It may also be known as Torries Castle.[2]

Harthill Castle
Harthill Castle
Coordinates57.3156°N 2.5214°W / 57.3156; -2.5214
Site history
Builtby 15th century

History

The Leiths held the property from 1531, and they probably built the castle: a date of 1601 or 1638 is disputed.[2] Patrick Leith served with James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, but was captured and beheaded by John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton. The last Leith of Harthill is believed to have set the castle on fire deliberately.[1] The Erskines of Pittodrie acquired the property.

Having been reduced to a roofless shell[2]it was restore in the 1970s and is still occupied;[2] restoration was completer in 1978.[2]

Structure

The castle has a main block comprising four storeys and a garrett. There are towers at opposite corners, a square and a round one. The walls are pierced by gunloops, while there are bartizans at the corners.[2]

Parts of a gatehouse and of a courtyard wall remain;[2] they have been incorporated in a rebuilt wall.[2] The caste entrance is in the re-entrant angle. [2]

There is a vault (architecture)|vaulted]] basement, which contained a guardroom. A turnpike stair ascends from the basement of the square tower, but there were also stairs from the kitchen and the wine cellar to the hall on the first floor. The round tower has a dome-vaulted cellar. The hall, which was a fine chamber, had stone seats and a large fireplace. Turnpike stairs in the thickness of the walls led to private chambers above and in the towers.[1]

There is a small wallhead walkway.[2]

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References
  1. Coventry, Martin (1997) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1-899874-10-0 p.200
  2. "Harthill Castle". Canmore. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
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