Description

Large asymmetrical mansion, nucleus a fine L-plan 16th

century tower house, main (S) courtyard W walls, gateway and

turrets largely 17th century; circa 1826 additions by William

Burn to S and to W of tower largely demolished circa 1970;

extensive neo-Jacobean 1, 2 and 3-storey additions to N and

to W built 1878-1891 (dated throughout), some, at least, by

Wardrop and Anderson circa 1886; additions mainly comprising

open stable court, service ranges to N beyond: now run as a

holiday centre for caravan park; tower is abandoned. Small

driveway bridge to S (above fosse bridge) possibly 17th/18th

century.

TOWER: various alterations particularly at upper level and

to interior; fantastic skyline probably 18th century. 4

storeys with attic and corbelled parapets, jamb corbelled 2

storeys higher with conical roofed bartizans and 19th century

cap-house; parapet encloses slated and crow-stepped-gabled

main roof. Massively thick red ashlar walls, openings mostly roll-moulded: deep raggles and door slappings where later

ranges abutted. Rope-moulded doorway in re-entrant angle;

wide horizontal gunports at ground; some upper floor windows

enlarged.

INTERIOR: vaulted ground floor; spacious turnpike within

jamb (narrower at upper floors); central partition wall at

each level; some mural chambers.

MAIN COURTYARD: (to S and W of tower) W wall with 2-storey

drum turret at either end, that to N 17th century (upper part

rebuilt circa 1975) and vaulted at ground; roll-moulded wide segmental-arched gateway with ball finials and bellcote all

probably 17th century; gateway to S and castellated

Tudor-arched fosse bridge all probably by Burn. All rubble

and ashlar.

19TH CENTURY ADDITIONS: mostly stugged red ashlar with

polished dressings; some mullioned windows; corbelled

parapets, raised over gables. Tall gabled bay to N of tower

(with shaped and finialled skews) probably by Burn;

corresponding (1889) bay to N linked by (1889) stable (now a

bar) with cast-iron columned shelter to court: latter walled

at W, 2-storey blocks flanking gate, with dummy

machicolations, also by Burn. Service ranges to N mostly

single storey, in similar style and dated 1891.

DRIVEWAY BRIDGE: short segmental arch over stream; all

rubble-built; widened, probably circa 1826.

Statement of Interest

Category A for quality of tower.

Additions by Burn for General Sharpe of Hoddom; later work

for Brook of Huddersfield who purchased Hoddom in 1877.

Requisitioned by the military, and since unoccupied.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Hoddom Castle at Wikipedia
• Hoddom Castle official website
• Wikidata Q5875992

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)