Ellon Castle facts for kids
Ellon Castle is an ancient building in the town of Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Today, only parts of the castle are left. These ruins are from a castle built in the 1500s, but some parts might be even older, from the 1400s! The castle ruins are a main feature in a beautiful, planned garden that is about 6 acres big. This garden was first planted way back in 1745. In the middle of the garden, there's a very old sundial from around 1700. It's so important that it's protected as a special historic building.
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History of Ellon Castle
Early Beginnings: The Motte Castle
Long ago, in the 1200s, there was a different kind of castle in Ellon. It was a timbered motte castle. A motte castle was a big mound of earth with a wooden tower on top. This first castle was on a different hill, which people later called Moot Hill or Earl's Hill.
The Comyn family owned this castle. They were powerful leaders in the area called Buchan. Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, used this castle as a main place to handle legal matters. The motte was surrounded by a deep ditch to keep it safe. A wooden tower stood on top, where the family lived. A drawbridge and a palisade (a fence of strong wooden stakes) protected the entrance. Other buildings like barns and stables were in a courtyard next to the main tower, also protected.
However, things changed when Robert the Bruce fought against Alexander Comyn's son, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan. Robert the Bruce won the Battle of Barra in 1307. After this, the area of Buchan was damaged, and Ellon Castle was burned down. The earthen mound of the motte castle stayed until the early 1800s when it was flattened. The Comyn family lost their lands, and the ownership went back to the King. Later, Robert II of Scotland gave the lands to Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan.
The Stone Castle: Old Ellon Castle
In 1413, a man named Thomas Kennedy bought land known as the Hill of Ardgith. He was a brave knight who had helped the Duke of Albany in the Battle of Harlaw. Sometime after he bought the land, a strong building was constructed. It was first called the Fortalice of Ardgith. This stone castle was probably built by the Kennedy of Kermuck family and was their home.
Historians believe that the oldest part of the castle, a basement vault, was built in the 1400s. The rest of the castle was rebuilt later in the 1500s. Famous stonemasons, John and Thomas Leiper, might have done this work. They also worked on other important castles nearby, like Tolquhon Castle and Castle Fraser.
You can still see a stone with the Kennedy family's coat of arms carved into the ruins. This stone is dated 1635 and shows a shield with the initials G. K.
Later Owners and Changes
In 1706, James Gordon bought the castle site. He later sold it in 1752 to the Earl of Aberdeen. The Earl made the castle bigger, giving it a U-shape.
Over time, the castle was taken down. A large mansion house was built in its place, but that mansion was also demolished in 1927. Today, only the old stable block still carries the name Ellon Castle.
The Beautiful Garden
The main feature of the 6-acre formal garden is a special sundial. This sundial is very old, dating from around 1700. It stands on three steps and has twenty-four different faces to tell the time!
