Historic Sites: Aberdour Castle, Aberdour, Fife, Scotland

Aberdour Castle was built by the de Mortimor family in around 1200, for a brief time it was in the ownership of the Randolph Family before passing to the Douglases in 1342, and has remained with them since.

The castle is divided into an Inner and Outer Courtyard, though the defensive wall are reduced to their foundations now. The Outer Entrance gate was dismantled in the 1890's and moved to itts present position. The Inner Courtyard contained the well. The castle was extended over many centuries, the Tower House built around 1200, though altered in height and internally in the 15th century. Most of the Tower House collapsed in the 19th century.

The Central Range was most probably begun by Regent Morton around 1550 as a new residence. The Service Courtyard contained a bakehouse and a brewhouse and other ancillary building. The East Range was the last major addition the castle built by the 7th Earl in the early 17th century.

The Terraced Gardens were probably laid out in 1550's and the beehive-shaped dovecote in the 16th century. The Walled Garden, built by the 7th Earl of Morton in 1630's contained a Summer House, though this had been demolished by 1785. The nearby St Fillians Kirk, was built by the de Mortimor Family around 1140 It was restored in 1925-6 and still serves as a parish church.

Location: Abedour, Fife.
Admission: £3

(Photographs ©2003-2008 Ryewolf)