Kincardine Castle, Royal Deeside facts for kids
Kincardine Castle is a beautiful country house in Scotland. It's located in an area called Royal Deeside. This large home is a private residence, but it also hosts special events. You can find it about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) northeast of Kincardine O'Neil village. It's also about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Aboyne, on the north side of the River Dee, Aberdeenshire.
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A Look Back: Kincardine's History
The main part of Kincardine Castle was built between 1894 and 1896. It stands where an older building, called Kincardine Lodge, once stood. Parts of that older building, which was from around 1780, were included in the new design.
Exploring Kincardine's Architecture
Kincardine Castle was designed in a style called Scots Baronial. This style often looks like old Scottish castles. The architects were Niven and Wigglesworth, from London.
The Architects Behind the Design
David Barclay Niven learned his skills in Dundee. He later worked for a famous architect, Sir Aston Webb, in London. Sir Aston Webb designed many important buildings, like Admiralty Arch and parts of Buckingham Palace. Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth trained in Aberdeen. He then moved to London to work for Ernest George and Peto.
Niven and Wigglesworth started their own business together. Kincardine Castle was one of their first big projects. They were inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. This movement focused on traditional craftsmanship and simple forms. Because of this, Kincardine Castle mixes building styles from five different centuries.
Unique Features of the Castle
The entrance tower of the castle looks like a very old 14th-century castle tower. It has plain walls and a battlement (a wall with gaps for defense). There's even a high-up door, partly hidden by a fancy porch.
Another part of the castle has two round towers. These towers are connected by an arch. This design is similar to the Seaton Tower at Fyvie Castle, which was built in 1599. Kincardine Castle has five round turrets (small towers). It also has one square turret, much like those seen at Crathes Castle from the late 1500s.
Most of the castle shows typical Scottish Baronial features from the 17th and 18th centuries. The back of the building is simpler. It has "crow-stepped gables," which are stair-shaped roof edges. This design helps keep the building dry. Kincardine Castle is a "Category B" listed building, meaning it's an important historical structure.
Gardens and Events at Kincardine
Around 1900, a famous garden designer named T. H. Mawson thought about planning gardens for Kincardine. However, no plans were ever made.
The castle sits on a large estate of about 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares). It is not open to the public for tours. Instead, it is used for meetings, private dinners, and weddings. The estate also has beautiful private gardens. These include a Walled Garden, a Planetary Garden, and a Wilderness area.
In 2016, Kincardine Castle was featured on a TV show called Oighreachdan na h-Alba/Great Estates. This BBC Alba documentary series explored how country estates operate.
