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Castle Fraser, originally known as 'Muchalls', was first built in the 15th Century with later additions helping its metamorphosis from tower house to palace. The earliest part of the castle is probably a rectangular tower of 15th Century date. A round tower was added in the 16th Century to the southeast corner and a square tower added to the northwest corner, to form a Z-plan castle. The early work to the castle can be attributed to three of Aberdeenshire's finest master-masons: circa 1576, Thomas Leiper, 1614, and James Leiper 1617-18 I. (John) Bell. Two wings were extended from the towers in the 17th Century to form a courtyard to the north, by James Leiper in 1614 who paved the hall. The elaborate upper parts, with coat-of-arms, was completed by I. Bell in 1617-18. A large domed staircase and arcades were inserted in the courtyard in the 19th Century but have since been removed. The vaulted hall has a Laird's lug. The castle belonged to the Fraser family until the 19th Century when Lord Cowdray bought it in 1922 at public auction. In 1976 it was taken over by the National Trust. In 1996, a survey of the designed landscape of Castle Fraser was undertaken by AOC to identify and record all remaining features relating to the designed landscape and to provide a GIS survey of all major trees. A watching brief was carried out in 1998 by D. Hind for NTS over the laying of a new water main to the castle and stables. Several features were uncovered, including a cobbled pathway and several stone lined drains. Occasional chance finds were made, including a spear like iron implement and several pieces of post-medieval pottery. In January 2003, in the Castle courtyard a small section of flagstone flooring, composed of large granite flags, was exposed during the erection of a marquee within the courtyard area. The floor, which may well be complete below the courtyard surface, belonged to a building adjoining the northeast entrance pavilion, probably built by Charles Mackenzie-Fraser about 1815 and possibly reworked in 1826. The pavement was overlain by a mortar-rich matrix, most likely related to the demolition of the building in the early 1950s. An extensive programme of historic building recording was carried out in 2005 by Addyman Associates during a major re-wiring of the castle, including the recording of features exposed below floorboards and behind existing wall linings. This principally involved work to the main tower, where early floor structures were examined and recorded at most levels. Some early painted plaster on-the-hard interior schemes were identified, either whitewashed or yellow ochre. Examination of the roof space above the existing dining room revealed evidence for a timber (plank) barrel-vaulted ceiling, some of the armatures remaining in situ, and with silhouette evidence further preserved in wall plaster to the north and south. The recording work by Addyman Associates continued in 2006, with the mid-parts of the Michael Tower and the upper level of the northwest wing being recorded. Examination of roof structures generally has confirmed the former presence of galleries within the upper level of each wing. In the northeast wing a timber barrel vaulted chamber ran the entire length of the range, an arrangement clearly oriented so as to coincide with an eastwards view over a sequence of formal gardens in that direction. The northwest wing contained a shorter gallery, also with a wooden barrel vaulted ceiling, in it south part. At its north end was a separate chamber with the attic room above. In November 2010, a watching brief was carried out by MAS over the excavation of two test pits associated with drainage works. The remains of a probably 19th Century wall were observed in both test pits. In March 2011, prior to repaving in the courtyard at Castle Fraser, an excavation carried out by MAS revealed the foundations of a late 18th and 19th century stair block that had been demolished in 1950. In September 2011, as part of a project to renew lightening conductors at Castle Fraser, a watching brief was carried out by MAS over the excavation of small trenches for seven of the conductors around the perimeter of the building. Two to the E of the castle revealed garden earth and planting holes associated with the former 17th century Privy Garden and a 19th century flower border. Two to the south side of the castle revealed stone-built drains, possibly of late 18th century date. The final three trenches in the courtyard revealed details of buildings of 19th century date. A public dig was carried out in October 2017 led by Daniel Rhodes (NTS). A total of 27 1x1 metre trenches were excavated, with the remains of a potential 16th century Barmkin structure recorded. A watching brief in November 2017 and January 2018 (see also NJ71SW0139) included some works within the courtyard - test pits, a link trench and raising of manhole covers. No archaeological features were recorded. A watching brief was carried out my MAS in January 2018 on drainage works around the footprint of the castle. Much of the area had been disturbed by earlier drainage works and service trenches. A buried ground surface was noted extending in front of the south facade of the castle with a gap, interpreted as a pathway, in line with the central doorway. A small number of finds were recovered, these consistent with a late 18th century date. A public dig was carried out in 2018 on the lawn in front of the castle. It comprised 27 1m by 1m test trenches aimed at identifying structural remains previously uncovered in part during driveway repairs. It continued to reveal the remains of a potential 16th century barmkin structure. Archaeological recording was carried out by MAS in March 2022 after removal of plaster to examine a damp issue on the inner face of the north wall of the Great Hall revealed earlier blockings. These included the side of the arch which had formed the main entrance from the courtyard to the Great Hall: the earliest estate plan (1788) shows a central staircase leading up to this first floor entry, now blocked on its outer side, remaining as an alcove internally. Evidence for the external stair had been found during removal of paving slabs in 2011. Internally, on the west side the plaster removal exposed an arch (visible as a recess in the plaster) with rubble edging stones, and an aumbry set within the blocking. There is no evidence for this blocking on the external wall.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)