Corse Castle

Corse Castle, Aberdeenshire
Photo © Stanley Howe, 17 January 2006

CORSE CASTLE, ABERDEENSHIRE.

This ruinous castle is pleasantly situated in a retired locality about three miles north from Lumphanan Station on the Deeside Railway. The Corse Burn, which runs through the hollow adjoining, has been dammed up, and forms a fine sheet of water to the south of the castle.

The property has long belonged to the Forbeses, and the present building was erected in 1581 by William Forbes, the father of Patrick, the well-known Bishop of Aberdeen. The date and his initials are on the lintel of the entrance doorway.

This castle is a peculiar modification of the Z plan; indeed, one would almost suppose that. the castle had at first been built on this plan, and that the east wing had afterwards been added, but the details of the angle turrets, etc., seem to indicate nearly the same date for the whole building. The structure thus forms a curious and uncommon combination of the L and Z plans. The cellars are constructed under only a part of the ground floor, which is a very uncommon arrangement. The north end seems to have been the kitchen, with the hall above, but the interior is so entirely destroyed as to render the arrangements quite matter of conjecture. The south tower contained the staircase, and seems to have been carried up to a considerable height, so as to form a point for defence and observation. The features of the exterior, such as the corbelled angle turrets, etc., are those which prevailed at the time. The small lozenge-shaped windows are also characteristic of the period.

The castle, and modern mansion near it, now belong to James Ochoncar Forbes, Esq.

THE CASTELLATED AND DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTLAND BY DAVID MACGIBBON AND THOMAS ROSS, 1889