The heavy rainfall experienced at the start of January 2016 saw many parts of Scotland suffer widespread flooding. In the north-east, the Royal Deeside area - and especially the town of Ballater - saw many homes left ruined by the torrents of water that flooded into the streets when the River Dee's banks burst. Set right beside the River Dee, Abergeldie Castle, an A-listed 16th-century tower house, teetered on the brink of collapse when the river banks were swept away forcing its owner, 76-year-old Baron of Abergeldie John Gordon and his wife, to flee for safety - and plead for support to rescue it.
Having secured £100,000 funding and with support from Aberdeenshire Council, teams worked tirelessly through the night for five days to build up the banks by the castle using tonnes of rocks to effectively prop the castle up and prevent further erosion to the banks. Thankfully, the castle is now no longer deemed at immediate risk. You can watch a fascinating time-lapse video showing the work on the Press & Journal website by clicking here .
Originally the castle stood back from the river bank - as the picture below shows - and early accounts suggest that the Dee was diverted to fill its moat. The castle has been much altered especially in the 18th century when a long, low addition was made.
Article by SCA member Brian McGarrigle.
Visit our Skills and Trades Section
Cookies make for a better user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies. [ more info | change settings | privacy policy ]
Add your comment
We'd love to hear your views. If you are a Scottish Castles Association member, please sign in below and share them with us.
Presently, there are no comments posted for this record!
Top
Comment Rules