Ellon Castle

Ellon Castle is the name of an 18th century house built within the grounds of an earlier castle of the Kennedy family, of which a single tower and section of wall remains. An earlier castle was to be found within the town, but was destroyed in 1308 as it was a castle of the Comyn earls of Buchan, Robert Bruce’s inveterate enemies. As such the site was ignored by William Hay when he was granted this part of Buchan.

In the 15th century Hay’s descendant granted the site of the new castle to Kennedy of Kinmuck, who founded a new castle here, which developed into a U-shaped mansion. The Kennedies fell into a bitter feud with a branch of the Forbeses nearby, resulting in their outlawry and the castle becoming Forbes property. The castle then had an uneventful life, being sold to the Earl of Aberdeen in 1752. His son largely demolished the old castle, erecting a new mansion; the house bearing the name is part of the old stables of this mansion, demolished in 1927.

HES Canmore database entry (Earl’s Hill)
HES Canmore database entry (Old Castle)
HES Canmore database entry (New Castle)
Ellon Castle Gardens official Facebook page