Angus HER - NO55NW0002 - CARESTON CASTLE

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNO55NW0002
NameCARESTON CASTLE
NRHE Card No.NO55NW2
NRHE Numlink 34799
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. 4656
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 2
Details Mansion/castle, still in use, within a designed landscape (NO55NW0115). It was built in the late 16th century, but with many various later alterations and additions. The initial building was on an L-plan, oriented east/west, with a wing at the southwest corner, projecting west and south. A semi-circular stair-tower was also built on the north side of the mansion at this time. There were various interior alterations during the 17th century by various owners. The house was recast in circa 1700, at which time the south elevation was turned into a U-plan with a southeast wing balancing the one to the southwest. In circa 1790, a stair-hall was added to the rear, and the 16th century north corner turrets and stair-tower were embellished in a Georgian Gothic style. In circa 1880, there were further additions to the rear, and a loggia was added to the front of the main block. The U-plan south elevation has four storeys and five bays, with the windows on the top floor forming pilastered and pedimented dormers. The timber dormerheads are 19th century replacements for the 17th century stone pediments. The first and second floor windows retain their circa 1700 surrounds. Above the central opening on the first floor is a large coat of arms of the Stewart of Grandtully dated 1714. The ground floor has small windows, and the central entrance is possibly from the 18th century. The 19th century loggia has elliptical-headed arches carried on columns. The two wings at either end of the south elevation are identical, despite their different construction dates. They are both four storeys, and have a plain door and ground floor window on the inside wall, covered by the later loggia. Each wing has a pedimented two-bay gable, with three circular lights within the pediment. The top floor openings on the southwest wing are blind, and there are blocked openings on the west of the wing. At the rear of the southeast wing, filling the north inner angle, is a two-storey jamb with a piended roof. The rear of the southwest wing has a similarly placed lean-to addition, hiding the base of the 16th century stair-tower. The original roof of the stair-tower, which was probably conical, was replaced with a flat roof in circa 1790. The stair-tower and the 16th century north towers have castellated wallheads. The rear additions to the house are irregular, with two and three storey sections, and with some gabled bays and gabled wallhead dormers. The rear of the main block rises above the additions. The various roofs are slated. Inside, there is a private chapel, containing a communion table and chair dated to 1623. There are also interior carved chimneypieces, and a painted ceiling.
Last Update06/08/2024
Updated Bycsimpson
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NO55NW0002

National Grid Reference: NO 5306 5988



Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
MANSIONS  A100
CASTLES  B100
TURRETSCORNERGOTHIC REVIVALH100
LOGGIAS  I100
DORMERS PEDIMENTEDJ100
DORMERS PILASTEREDK100
DORMER-HEADSTIMBER L100
COAT-OF-ARMS DATEDM100
ARCHES EGG-SHAPEDN100
GABLES PEDIMENTEDO100
WINDOWSCIRCULAR P100
OPENINGS BLINDQ100
OPENINGS BLOCKEDR100
WINGS ENDD100
TOWERSSTAIRGOTHIC REVIVALE100
TOWERSSEMI-CIRCULAR F100
HALLSSTAIR G100
JAMBS TWO-STOREYS100
ROOFS PIENDEDT100
LEAN-TOS  U100
ROOFS FLATV100
WALLHEADS CASTELLATEDW100
DORMERSWALLHEADGABLEDX100
ROOFSSLATE Y100
CHAPELSPRIVATE Z100
TABLESCOMMUNION AA100
CHAIRSCOMMUNION AB100
CHIMNEYPIECES CARVEDAC100
CEILINGS PAINTEDC100