Description

Late 15th/early 16th century tall rectangular 5-storey tower

with 1851-52 cap-house by David Bryce, early 18th century

4-storey wing to rear; further additions and remodelling,

David Bryce, 1851-52. All rubble, ashlar dressings. Main

front faces SW with original central tower dominating the

group; off-centre round-headed entrance with cable moulded

decoration (1851-52); regular fenestration, corbelled

crenellated bartizans, square stair turret with pyramidal

roof at NW and (1851-52) cap-house with paired gabletted

dormers and coped end stacks; crenellated wallhead and cannon

water spouts.

Large 18th century Y-tracery window in 2nd floor of SE elevation

of tower. 4-storey rear addition (overlooking sea to NE)

projects as wide crowstepped gable with centre projecting

corbelled mural stair at 2nd and 3rd storey height. Square

angle, decoratively corbelled and gabled bartizans at 3rd

storey; crowsteps and apex stack.

To left and right of main front, 2-storey David Bryce

extensions; to right (SE) 2-storey gabled group, with

corbelled angle turret at 1st floor with conical roof, canted

window rising full height into corbelled gablet and

tripartite in 1st floor of main gabled front. To left (NW)

extended low 2-storey range with flat roofs and crenellated

wallhead; angle drum tower with entrance at base and slit

vents. Varied glazing patterns; rainwater goods dated 1852.

crowsteps; coped stacks: Mainly slate roofs, some modern

tiling. Interior; entrance into vaulted ground floor through

doorway with doors with ornate cast-iron hinges and fittings;

1851-2 Baronial oak staircase with pendant newels leads to

1st floor landing and to former great hall, converted to

dining room in 1851 with all decoration from that date; oak

panelling doors and doorpieces; compartmented barrel vaulted

plaster ceiling with decoration and pendants; bolection

moulded chimney pieces at both ends, that to SE in recess

with mural gallery above. SE wing contains 1st floor large

and small drawing rooms, the former overlooking sea to north

and the latter, the larger, to the park. Marble chimney

pieces in both; decorative plaster ceiling friezes. Simple

staircase and mural wheelstair to upper floors and caphouse.

Various mid-19th century cast-iron grates; Garden wall;

crenellated walls divide park from sea, stretching to right

and left of mansion, to left linking service wing with walled

garden and long low stable and carriage house range. Small

square sundial on shaped plinth.

Stable range; David Bryce; 1851-52. Extensive single storey

and attic range with centre court entered through archway

with crenellated overthrow. All rubble with tooled dressings, crowstepped gables, end and ridge stacks. Largely devoid of

original fittings.

Statement of Interest

Lands of Ackergill belonged to Cheynes family, and passed

through female line to Keiths of Inveruguie (Aberdeenshire)

circa 1350. Mention of castle by 1538. Acquired by Dunbars of

Hempriggs in 1699, in which family it still remains.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Ackergill Tower at Wikipedia
• Ackergill Tower official website
• Wikidata Q2968039

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)