Drum Castle
Encyclopedia
Drum Castle is a castle
near Drumoak
in Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine
. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'.
The original 13th century tower of Drum Castle has been suggested as the work of medieval architect Richard Cementarius
, who built the Bridge of Don in Old Aberdeen
. It is believed to be one of the three oldest tower house
s in Scotland (and notably unaltered). A large wing was added in 1619 by the 9th laird
, further alterations were made during the Victorian era
.
The castle and its grounds were granted to William de Irwyn in 1325 by Robert the Bruce, and remained in the possession of Clan Irvine
until 1975. William de Irwyn (of the Irvings of Bonshaw clan) was armour
bearer/secretary (and neighbor) to King Robert the Bruce. Drum played a role in the Covenanting Rebellion
(as did nearby Muchalls Castle
) leading to its being attacked and sacked three times.
The castle is surrounded by late 18th century gardens, including a rose garden and arboretum
containing trees from all regions of the 18th century British Empire
.
Today, the castle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland
and is open during the summer months. The chapel
, dining hall and estate may be hired for weddings and corporate functions. A variety of local events such as classic car
rallies and musical fetes also occur here. There is also a small shop and tearoom within the castle.
. Roman legion
s marched from Raedykes
to nearby Normandykes
as they sought higher ground evading the bog
s of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls
. That march used the Elsick Mounth
, one of the ancient trackway
s crossing the Grampian Mountains; the situation of the Elsick Mounth terminating at a ford to the River Dee is thought to have been instrumental in the strategic siting of Drum Castle as a point to monitor traffic on the Elsick Mounth. lying west of Netherley.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
near Drumoak
Drumoak
Drumoak is a village situated between Peterculter and Banchory in North Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine
Clan Irvine
-Origins of the clan:As a surname Irvine is of territorial origins from one of two places of the same name. Firstly from Irving, an old parish in Dumfriesshire and from Irvine in Ayrshire....
. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic druim, 'ridge'.
The original 13th century tower of Drum Castle has been suggested as the work of medieval architect Richard Cementarius
Richard Cementarius
Richard Cementarius was a 13th century Scottish architect and became the first Provost of Aberdeen in 1272. He held the title of Kings Master Mason to King Alexander III of Scotland....
, who built the Bridge of Don in Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen is part of the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Old Aberdeen was originally a separate burgh, which was erected into a burgh of barony on 26 December 1489. It was incorporated into adjacent Aberdeen by Act of Parliament in 1891...
. It is believed to be one of the three oldest tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
s in Scotland (and notably unaltered). A large wing was added in 1619 by the 9th laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
, further alterations were made during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
The castle and its grounds were granted to William de Irwyn in 1325 by Robert the Bruce, and remained in the possession of Clan Irvine
Clan Irvine
-Origins of the clan:As a surname Irvine is of territorial origins from one of two places of the same name. Firstly from Irving, an old parish in Dumfriesshire and from Irvine in Ayrshire....
until 1975. William de Irwyn (of the Irvings of Bonshaw clan) was armour
bearer/secretary (and neighbor) to King Robert the Bruce. Drum played a role in the Covenanting Rebellion
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
(as did nearby Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The lower course is a well preserved double groined 13th century towerhouse structure, built by the Frasers of Muchalls. Upon this structure, the 17th century castle was begun by...
) leading to its being attacked and sacked three times.
The castle is surrounded by late 18th century gardens, including a rose garden and arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
containing trees from all regions of the 18th century British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Today, the castle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
and is open during the summer months. The chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, dining hall and estate may be hired for weddings and corporate functions. A variety of local events such as classic car
Classic car
A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
rallies and musical fetes also occur here. There is also a small shop and tearoom within the castle.
Area ancient history
Prehistoric habitation of the local area is known through archaeological sites such as BalbridieBalbridie
Balbridie is the site of a Neolithic timberhouse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated in the south Deeside near the B9077 road. This archaeological site is one of the earliest known permanent neolithic settlements in Scotland, dating to 3400 to 4000 BC...
. Roman legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
s marched from Raedykes
Raedykes
Raedykes is the site of a Roman marching camp located just over 3 miles NW of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. National Grid Reference NO 842902...
to nearby Normandykes
Normandykes
Normandykes is the site of a Roman marching camp to the southwest of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The near-rectangular site, measuring approximately , covers about of the summit and eastern slopes of a hill overlooking the River Dee and the B9077 road further south. Aerial photographs...
as they sought higher ground evading the bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
s of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls
Burn of Muchalls
The Burn of Muchalls is an easterly flowing stream in Aberdeenshire, Scotland that discharges to the North Sea. Its point of discharge is on a rocky beach set with scenic sea stacks...
. That march used the Elsick Mounth
Elsick Mounth
The Elsick Mounth is an ancient trackway crossing the Grampian Mountains in the vicinity of Netherley, Scotland. This trackway was one of the few means of traversing the Grampian Mounth area in prehistoric and medieval times. The highest pass of the route is attained within the Durris Forest...
, one of the ancient trackway
Trackway
A trackway is an ancient route of travel for people or animals. In biology, a trackway can be a set of impressions in the soft earth, usually a set of footprints, left by an animal. A fossil trackway is the fossilized imprint of a trackway. Trackways have been found all over the world...
s crossing the Grampian Mountains; the situation of the Elsick Mounth terminating at a ford to the River Dee is thought to have been instrumental in the strategic siting of Drum Castle as a point to monitor traffic on the Elsick Mounth. lying west of Netherley.