Description
15th/early 16th century L-plan tower house with wing to W
and with original entrance in S re-entrant angle, partially
encased and re-cast to N in 1765 to form U-plan mansion,
John Adam, architect. Squared and coursed ashlar granite N
front, harled elsewhere with ashlar margins.
Symmetrical 4-storey, 7-bay N (1765) front with centre
entrance and flanking round-headed rusticated doorway with
radial fanlight. Some front windows blind; moulded eaves
cornice; piended platform slate roof. E and W elevations
extend in decreasing height to enclose U-plan court opening
S and incorporating original tower house (with later raised
caphouse) at W. Symmetrical 2-storey, wide 5-bay W
elevation to E kitchen wing opening to court with wide
centre entrance and flanking round-headed windows, all with
blocked imposts.
S court raised above basement, closed at S by low crenellated
wall and eached by flight steps. Portion of W wing gutted
and roofless (1985).
Multi-pane glazing to sash windows; coped end and ridge
stacks; slate roofs.
Interior: simple entrance hall with restrained plaster
cornice and circular detailing with central rosette to
ceiling. Stairhall with cantilevered stone staircase with
decorative scroll cast-iron balustrade. Plaster ceiling
with cornice and centre "parasol" rosette. Dining room:
former 1st floor great hall, re-panelled circa 1765 with
similar panelling to ceiling. Modern replacement
chimneypieces each end.
Drawing and ante-room: 1765 palmette and antemion frieze and
central rosette to drawing room, floreated rosette to
ante-room ceiling.
Replacement chimney-pieces.
Library: shallow barrel vaulted ceiling panelled circa
1765; key-pattern frieze and key-pattern detailing to
chimney piece.
Strong room: small strong room with iron door and iron
window shutters in NE corner of house, 1st floor.
Statement of Special Interest
Originally a Comyn stronghold (tower at NW named Comyn
Tower). Called Freuchie castle the property passed to Grants
of Inverallan and became the stronghold of Clan Grant;
re-named Castle Grant in 1694. Enlarged and re-cast by Sir
Ludovick Grant in 1765. Sir Ludovick's grandson, Sir Lewis,
inherited the Earldom of Seafield in 1811 and assumed surname
of Ogilvie-Grant.
Castle no longer property of Seafield Estate. In process
of restoration (1985).