Castle Fraser facts for kids
Castle Fraser is a beautiful and historic castle located near Kemnay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It's known as one of the most impressive "Z-plan" castles in the country. A Z-plan castle has a main rectangular building with towers at opposite corners, making it look like the letter 'Z' from above.
This amazing castle sits on more than 300 acres (about 1.2 square kilometers) of land. This land includes pretty gardens, woodlands, and farms. There's even an old walled kitchen garden from the 1800s. Experts believe parts of an even older tower, built around 1400 or 1500, are hidden within the castle's current walls. Castle Fraser is a very important historic building, protected by law, and its grounds are also recognized as special historic gardens.
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Building Castle Fraser
The castle was first called Muchall-in-Mar. Building the detailed, five-story Z-plan castle began in 1575. It was started by Michael Fraser, who was the 6th Laird (or lord) of Fraser. The castle was built on top of an older tower and was finally finished in 1636.
A special mark, "I Bel," can be seen on the north side of the castle. People believe this was the mark of the master builder, John Bell of Midmar. He worked on the castle for many years with another master builder, Thomas Leiper.
Castle Fraser was built around the same time as other nearby castles. These include Craigievar Castle, Crathes Castle, and Midmar Castle. Many people think the Bell family of master builders also designed these other castles.
Changes Over Time
In the late 1700s, the castle was updated to a more classical style. A new entrance was added on the south side. All the old windows were replaced with modern sash windows. Elyza Fraser, who was the lady of the castle, managed this work. She also had help from Mary Bristow. Elyza also changed the castle grounds. She removed the old formal gardens and orchards. She also built the impressive octagonal stable block.
Between 1820 and 1850, the inside of the castle was completely rebuilt. Charles Fraser was in charge of this work. He used architects named John Smith and William Burn. The Library is a great example of John Smith's style from that time. It has a mix of Regency and Tudor designs. William Burn had many grander ideas for other rooms. However, most of his Gothic designs were not built. A large Gothic-style pipe organ was installed, but it has since been moved.
During this time, some changes were made outside the castle too. Two gatehouses were built, which you can still see today. A grand domed staircase and walkways were also added in the courtyard. These have since been removed.
Around 1950, new owners started to restore the castle. An architect named Dr. William Kelly helped with this. He removed many of the changes made in the 1800s. This helped to show the castle's older parts.
Today, Castle Fraser still feels like a family home. It has many original items inside. These include portraits of the Fraser family, old furniture, and collections. The rooms show different periods of the castle's history. You can see the old stone-vaulted Great Hall from the Medieval times. There's also the Regency Dining Room from the 1800s.
Who Owned Castle Fraser?
Castle Fraser was built as the home for the Fraser family. They were first known as the Frasers of Muchalls. Later, they became the Frasers of Castle Fraser. The castle was passed down through many generations of the Fraser family. It went from the Lords Fraser to the Frasers of Inverallochy. Then, it went to the Mackenzie family, who took the name Mackenzie Fraser.
In 1897, the last male Fraser from the direct family line, Frederick Mackenzie Fraser, passed away without children. In 1921, his wife, Theodora, sold the castle. She did this because there was no suitable heir and they had money problems.
The buyer was Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray. The Pearson family restored the castle. They used it as a place for hunting trips. In 1976, they gave the castle to the National Trust for Scotland. This organization now opens the castle to visitors all year. You can also visit the grounds and the walled garden. In 2019, over 56,000 people visited the site.
Castle Fraser in Movies
Castle Fraser has even been in a movie! Some scenes in the 2006 film The Queen were filmed there. The movie starred Dame Helen Mirren. Castle Fraser was used as a beautiful background in the film.
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