Esslemont Castle

About

Esslemont Castle is a ruined medieval tower house near Ellon in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is designated a scheduled monument.

Etymology: The name Esslemont may be of Brittonic origin, from a term cognate with Welsh iselfynydd ("low hill").

History: The earliest known reference to Esslemont is as the “manor of Eislemont” in the 14th century. The lands of Esslemont passed from the family of Mareschal through the marriage of the heiress Janet to Francis le Chen of Straloch in the 14th century. The castle was burned in 1493. John Cheyne obtained a licence to rebuild from James IV in July 1500. He was permitted to build a tower as high as he liked, with iron yetts, machicolations, portcullis, drawbridges, and other “strengths”. John Cheyne and his kin fought with Duncan Forbes in Aberdeen's Gallowgate in 1503. In 1564, Patrick Cheyne was created Baron of Esslemont by Queen Mary, who stayed here during her campaign against the Earl of Huntly, and a fortalice and tower were recorded in 1575/1576. The castle was then destroyed as the result of a feud between the Cheynes and the Hays. The name of the lands appears as “Essilmounthe” in Scottish records in 1609. The castle ceased to...