Drum Castle - Banchory Aberdeenshire Scotland - 30/8/18
Today Wednesday 29th August 2018 I visited Drum Castle a 30 minute drive from my home in Aberdeen, the weather was warm with bright sunshine, I explored the castle , its grounds and its well maintained walled garden, I can highly recommend to anyone thinking of visiting this magnificent site of Scottish History that you will have a most enjoyable experience.
The site is managed by the National Trust For Scotland, a large car park is adjacent to the castle with a cafe within the grounds providing refreshments etc .
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 houses in Scotland (and notably unaltered). A large wing was added in 1619 by the 9th laird, and 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 neighbour) 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.
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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.
In the 19th century it was the home of Alexander Forbes Irvine of Drum FRSE (1818-1892).
He was responsible for restoring the chapel.
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.
Area ancient history
Prehistoric habitation of the local area is known through archaeological sites such as Balbridie.
Roman legions marched from Raedykes to nearby Normandykes as they sought higher ground evading the bogs of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls.
That march used the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways 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.
Drumoak (/drəˈmoʊk/, Scottish Gaelic: Druim M'Aodhaig, lit. the ridge of St Aodhag) is a village situated between Peterculter and Banchory in North Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Drumoak is proximate to the River Dee, with Park Bridge, named for the local Park Estate, being a local crossing; Park Estate] was formerly owned by the railway engineer Sir Robert Williams;
Sir Robert is interred at Drumoak.
There is a church, small shop, bowling green and the Irvine Arms restaurant (aptly named after the family that owned the 13th century Drum Castle). Drum Castle is run by the
National Trust for Scotland and is open to visitors. Relics and portraits of the Irvine family are kept here, and it was conferred by Robert the Bruce onto William de Irvine.
There are a number of housing developments progressing; a small primary school with about 100 pupils serves Drumoak. The Dee River gravels also attract gravel extraction on both sides of the river.
Drumoak Manse in 1638 was the birthplace of James Gregory,discoverer of diffraction gratings a year after Newton's prism experiments, and inventor of the Gregorian telescope design in 1663.
The design is still used today in telescopes such as the Arecibo Radio Telescope upgraded to a Gregorian design in 1997 giving Arecibo a flexibility it had not previously possessed. His older brother David was also born there in 1620.
Between Drumoak and Peterculter is the site of a Roman encampment Normandykes.
Drum Castle - Banchory Aberdeenshire Scotland - 30/8/18
Today Wednesday 29th August 2018 I visited Drum Castle a 30 minute drive from my home in Aberdeen, the weather was warm with bright sunshine, I explored the castle , its grounds and its well maintained walled garden, I can highly recommend to anyone thinking of visiting this magnificent site of Scottish History that you will have a most enjoyable experience.
The site is managed by the National Trust For Scotland, a large car park is adjacent to the castle with a cafe within the grounds providing refreshments etc .
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 houses in Scotland (and notably unaltered). A large wing was added in 1619 by the 9th laird, and 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 neighbour) 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.
Chieftain's Banner
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.
In the 19th century it was the home of Alexander Forbes Irvine of Drum FRSE (1818-1892).
He was responsible for restoring the chapel.
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.
Area ancient history
Prehistoric habitation of the local area is known through archaeological sites such as Balbridie.
Roman legions marched from Raedykes to nearby Normandykes as they sought higher ground evading the bogs of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls.
That march used the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways 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.
Drumoak (/drəˈmoʊk/, Scottish Gaelic: Druim M'Aodhaig, lit. the ridge of St Aodhag) is a village situated between Peterculter and Banchory in North Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Drumoak is proximate to the River Dee, with Park Bridge, named for the local Park Estate, being a local crossing; Park Estate] was formerly owned by the railway engineer Sir Robert Williams;
Sir Robert is interred at Drumoak.
There is a church, small shop, bowling green and the Irvine Arms restaurant (aptly named after the family that owned the 13th century Drum Castle). Drum Castle is run by the
National Trust for Scotland and is open to visitors. Relics and portraits of the Irvine family are kept here, and it was conferred by Robert the Bruce onto William de Irvine.
There are a number of housing developments progressing; a small primary school with about 100 pupils serves Drumoak. The Dee River gravels also attract gravel extraction on both sides of the river.
Drumoak Manse in 1638 was the birthplace of James Gregory,discoverer of diffraction gratings a year after Newton's prism experiments, and inventor of the Gregorian telescope design in 1663.
The design is still used today in telescopes such as the Arecibo Radio Telescope upgraded to a Gregorian design in 1997 giving Arecibo a flexibility it had not previously possessed. His older brother David was also born there in 1620.
Between Drumoak and Peterculter is the site of a Roman encampment Normandykes.