Aberdeenshire HER - NJ53SE0042 - WARDHOUSE

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Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ53SE0042
NameWARDHOUSE
NRHE Card No.NJ53SE15
NRHE Numlink 107675
HES SM No. NULL
HES LB No. NULL
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Incomplete
Details Remains of a 18th to 19th century designed landscape. On Roy's map of 1747-55 the mansion house (NJ53SE0008) then called Gordonhall was set in the centre of an avenue of trees with a large designed garden comprising 6 rectangular garden areas to the south and woods to the north. Substantial changes to the policies appear to have taken place in the mid 19th century, including construction of Wardhouse Home Farm. The 2nd edition OS map indicates changes to the formal grounds laid out behind the mansion house. A desk-based assessment was carried out by AOC in 2007 over part of this area in advance of proposed restoration of the mansion house (NJ53SE0008) and other buildings within the designed landscape (the Keeper's Cottage, Summer House, Coach House, an existing steel barn, and the Gardener's Bothy). This revealed that Wardhouse Estate has existed since the mid 16th Century, with the mansion house and designed landscape dating from the mid 18th Century. A walkover survey was also carried out in 2007 by AOC to assess the condition of the designed landscape. The initial visit revealed that much of the area was overgrown, especially in the vicinity of the mansion house and in the walled garden, with much of the vegetation between five and six feet in height. As such, no surviving garden features could be located. A second walkover survey was carried out later the same year, during which the Gardener's Bothy was noted as being in a greatly dilapidated state with no roof. The Game Keeper's Lodge was also identified and was in reasonably good repair. The mansion house was noted as being in a ruinous state with no remaining roof. The interior was considerably overgrown and littered with building debris. A building survey of the walled garden was carried out by Cameron Archaeology in 2015, and recorded at least two phases of construction.
Last Update11/03/2016
Updated Bycpalmer
Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Google Map for NJ53SE0042

National Grid Reference: NJ 5635 3049



Event Details

Event DateEvent TypeOASIS ID
2007 Desk Based Assessment
2007 Field Survey
2007 Building Recording
2015 Building Recording camerona1-221295

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact

Ecofact

Samples
Palynology
Ecofact Notes

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
GARDENSWALLED B100
LANDSCAPES DESIGNEDA100