Cortachy Castle Gardens
Photo © Alan Edwards, 31 May 2009
Cortachy Castle Gates
Photo © Alan Morrison, 28 December 2008
Cortachy Castle, Angus
Photo © Ian Cleland, 23 May 2006
Cortachy Castle Gardens Photo © Alan Edwards, 31 May 2009 |
Cortachy Castle Gates Photo © Alan Morrison, 28 December 2008 |
Cortachy Castle, Angus Photo © Ian Cleland, 23 May 2006 |
--CORTACHY CASTLE, ANGUS
The splendid demesne of Cortachy Castle occupies the south-eastern portion of the parish of Cortachy. It is a peninsula, bounded by the South Esk on the north and east, and by the Prosen on the south, which unite their waters at its extreme point. The policies are enclosed, where exposed, by substantial stone and lime-built walls, and the grounds within the enclosure are from two to three hundred acres in extent.
The site upon which Cortachy Castle stands had been well chosen. It is on a level plateau, at a short distance south of the river Esk, and about a quarter of a mile to the east of the grand entrance into the grounds. The drive from this lodge to the Castle winds through a verdant lawn of fine, close, soft turf, which looks like velvet, it is so nicely kept. On the right of the drive the ground rises rapidly, and on it are several large forest trees, and some of the newer imported varieties of trees and shrubbery. On the left the ground is level, and the lawn extends for a considerable distance from the drive. Here there are a number of memorial trees, including one planted by her Imperial and Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh, on her visit to the Castle on Tuesday, 30th August, 1881. Some of these are fine specimens of the foreign novelties. In the immediate vicinity of the Castle are parterres, with a profusion of bloom, rich and elegant, which has a fine effect in the emerald sward. On the west of the Castle the ground rises to a height of about two hundred feet above the level of the Esk, from the top of which a grand view of the Castle and immediately surrounding grounds are obtained, and from this point the Castle appears a great and imposing edifice.
The original Castle of Cortachy was erected by one of the Ogilvys of Clova and Cortachy, descended from Thomas, third son of Sir John Ogilvy, first of Inverquharity, who deserted his clan at the battle of Arbroath, but the name of the baron by whom it was built and the date of erection are both unknown. Since it came into possession of the Ogilvys of Airlie many alterations and additions have, from time to time, been made to the Castle. The latest, and perhaps the greatest, of these was made by the late David Graham Drummond, tenth Earl of Airlie, after plans by the late David Bryce, R.S.A., in the Scotch baronial style, and the Castle is now a handsome structure, worthy of the noble family of Ogilvy of Airlie.
The Castle, as it now appears, is a palatial structure, of considerable elegance, its architectural features, though not all of one order, harmonising well with each other, the Scottish baronial style being predominant throughout.
A lofty square baronial tower rears its battlemented head to a great height in the centre, around which cluster the state rooms, the family everyday residence, the business and other rooms usual in a first-class mansion, and the servants' accommodation.
The interior of the Castle is commodious. The apartments are large and lofty, elegantly finished, and furnished in choice style. Fine paintings adorn the walls, including many old family portraits, some of them by famous artists; and several objects of historic interest are preserved in the Castle.
Almost the only portion of the original Castle now remaining is in the south-east corner. It consists cf a lofty circular tower, which has been kept standing, and is incorporated with the modern buildings. It bears evidence of its antiquity, but no date or other marking to tell its age. The connection between this ancient tower, dating back about four centuries, and the new Castle is so well formed that, viewed from a little distance, the whole appears to be of one age, but a closer inspection dispels this delusion.
King Charles II., in his "Start" from Perth in 1650, was entertained in this south-east tower in his way up the glen. On his return from Clova he occupied a bedroom in it. The copy of the Book of Common Prayer which the King used on that occasion is still kept there.
There are two heirlooms in the Castle of Cortachy which are highly prized by the noble family of Ogilvy. These are a silver drinking cup and a sword, which are said to have been used by Lord Ogilvy at Culloden. The earliest proprietary notice of Cortachy with which we have met is confirmation charter by King Robert Bruce, about 1319-20, to Jean Monteith. She was daughter of the, at that time, late Sir John Monteith, and spouse of Malise, Earl of Strathearn. The property had passed from her or her successors to the Earl of Douglas. In 1409 Robert, Duke of Albany, then Regent of Scotland, granted to his brother, Walter Stewart, Palatine of Strathearn, Earl of Athole and Caithness, and Lord of Brechin, a charter of the barony of Cortachy, with the advocation of the Kirk thereof, by resignation of Archibald, Earl of Douglas.
Earl Walter gave a grant of the Church and an annual of forty pounds from his lands of Cortachy to the Cathedral of Brechin, which was confirmed by the Regent Albany, 22d September, 1409, and by the Pope, 19th May, 1430. The Earl married the only child and heiress of Sir David Barclay, Lord of Brechin, and he was thereafter styled Lord of Brechin and Cortachy.
The lands and barony of Cortachy were acquired by the Ogilvys in 1369-70, but this appears to be a mistake. Earl Walter suffered as a traitor in 1437. On the death of the Earl, Cortachy, and the greater part of his other estates were forfeited to the Crown. It appears that "the King's barony of Cortachy" was given by King James II. to Walter Ogilvy of Oures, in the Mearns, by charter dated 12th May, 1473, but the grant was "revoked and annulled because the said Walter payed not the compositione thereof, blench for a reid roiess at St John's day, and for payment to the chapleines and youths at the Kirk of Brechin, and of St Marie Kirk at Killmoir, besyde Brechin, of yr yearly rents due to them out of the saids lands."
The lands and barony of Cortachy after being resigned by Walter were given to "Thomas Ogilvy of Clova for his services," and his charter of them contained the particulars related above. By the charter the rents of the said lands are reserved for the "lifetime of Anselmus Adornes, Knight." Sir Anselmus had been in possession before 18th April, 1472, as he got a charter of the barony of Tealing, &c, of that date, in which he is designed "familiari militissio Anselmo Adornes of Cortachy." This Knight was for some time conservator of the Scotch privileges in Flanders, but was deprived of that office "at the desyre of the merchands, seeing he was a stranger." He was also a Lord of Council, 28th November, 1478. Probably Sallikyn Adornes, who on 19th October, 1479, was found liable to Alexander Broune in the payment of "X merks for a hors quhilks he bocht and ressauit," was related to Anselm. It is certain that Sir Anselm Adornes had a daughter named Euphan, and that he was himself dead before 13th October, 1488.
The family of Thomas Ogilvy of Clova and Cortachy subsisted until the seventeenth century, when the male line failed, and all their possessions passed into the Airlie branch of the family of Ogilvy, who have since retained possession of the property. The property was given by Lord Airlie to one of his younger sons. We have not ascertained the date when the Airlie family acquired the property, nor the circumstances under which it was obtained.
ANGUS OR FORFARSHIRE BY ALEX. J. WARDEN VOL. 3, 1882--