Description

Dated variously 1546 to 1850. Castellated mansion of varying

builds and heights with 1546 Z-plan tower house as core. All

harled with tooled and polished ashlar and granite dressings

and margins.

Original entrance to castle from N flanked by 2 18th century

wings (1718 and later); re-cast to S in 1850 by Thomas

Mackenzie of Elgin. Imposing doorpiece in base of S tower

decorated with strapwork, text, armorial and monogram, dated

1546 and 1850. Further additions and re-modelling in 1850

including E wing and service court with arched E entrance.

Corbelled square cap houses to original tower house, slender

stair turrets within re-entrant angles; 19th century gabled

dormers with decorative detailing and monograms; bartizans

with slated conical roofs and apex finials. Mainly 12-pane

glazing; coped wallhead and ridge stacks; Banffshire slate

roofs.

INTERIOR: vaulted entrance hall re-modelled 1850; richly

decorated ribs spring from central column; painted ashlar

baronial chimneypiece. Wide oak staircase opens off hall,

with turned and carved balusters. Further turnpike staircase

in 1602 tower.

Former 1st floor hall entirely re-decorated in 1850 in

consciously historicist manner, with panelled walls, doors and

window shutters; nail-head detailing to window embrasures and doorpieces; ornate strapwork and pendant plaster ceiling;

marble chimneypiece with flanking caryatids, coat of arms and

monogram. Panelled library with carved chimneypiece with

marble surround.

Statement of Interest

Z-plan tower house probably built by John Grant and his wife

Barbara Gordon. Ballindalloch remained property of Grant

family until death of General William Grant in 1806, when

estate passed to George MacPherson of Invereshie, later Sir

George MacPherson-Grant. 2nd Baronet, Sir John, commissioned

Thomas Mackenzie to alter and remodel castle in 1850.

Various re-set datestones outside and inside castle.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Ballindalloch Castle at Wikipedia
• Ballindalloch Castle official website
• Wikidata Q1965099

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

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)