Aberdeenshire HER - NJ53SE0042 - WARDHOUSE

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ53SE0042
NameWARDHOUSE
NMRS Card No.NJ53SE15
NMRS Numlink107675
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

National Grid Reference: NJ 5635 3049


Easting: 380890, Northing: 865310

Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Event Details

Event DateEvent Type
1905 Desk Based Assessment
1905 Field Survey
1905 Building Recording
1905 Building Recording

Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact


Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

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

Google Map for NJ53SE0042


National Status

Regional Status


Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
RCMC 33064 PC Ground Black & White 01/01/1907
RCME 35507 CN Air-oblique Colour Negative 07/05/2003
RCME 35496 CN Air-oblique Colour Negative 07/05/2003

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
05651WARDHOUSE, INSCH: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT 2007  AOC 20448  2007
16512PLOT G, WALLED GARDEN HOUSE, WARDHOUSE ESTATE, KENNETHMONT, HUNTLY: REPORT ON LEVEL 1 STANDING BUILDING SURVEY 2015  CA248-2015L1 SBS 2015

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Kennethmont
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 15-20m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale Unknown
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Unknown Extent

Environment

Constraints Privately owned, access by arrangement - easy access.
Altitude220
Geology 
Topography Moderate Slope
Aspect 1 
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Agricultural
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1
Shape 2
Diameter 
Length 
Width 
Thickness 
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) A100    
18th Century B100    
19th Century C100    

Period Notes

Period Notes

Architect Details

Architect Details

Maritime Archaeology

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