Brechin Castle

http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hes/web/f?p=PORTAL:DESIGNATIONS:0

Type of Site

A landscape park, incorporating remnants of an early 18th century formal layout, of parkland and woodlands with an unusual and large walled garden dating from the late 18th century and woodland garden from the early 20th century.

Location and Setting

Brechin Castle is situated on the southern edge of the town of Brechin which lies approximately 6 miles (9.5km) to the west of the town of Montrose and 20 miles (32km) north-east of Dundee. Brechin Castle is set on a rocky outcrop high above the River South Esk on its north side. The river sweeps through the policies to the south of the Castle. The setting originally provided a defensible site from which extensive views can be obtained across the agricultural land to the west and south. The views from the south to the Castle have been partially obscured by tree planting but are still important from the designed landscape today. The policy wall and tree canopy are significant from the surrounding roads.

Brechin Castle stands on the edge of the north bank of the River South Esk. The designed landscape extends north to the A935 and the town of Brechin, and south beyond the river to a minor road linking the B9134 with the A933 which respectively form the west and east boundaries. Comparison of General Roy's map of c.1750 with the 1st edition OS map of 1868 would indicate that the designed landscape was extended south beyond the river between the dates of these surveys. There are some 472 acres (191ha) in the designed landscape today.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Brechin Castle, listed category A, was remodelled and enlarged in 1711 to the design of James Baine and, subsequently, Alexander Edward. It was again remodelled between 1854-63 to the design of John Henderson. A pair of detached gatepiers dating from the 19th century, listed B, form the entrance of the forecourt of the Castle. The Stable-block, listed B, dates from 1806 and stands to the north of the Castle. The Old Lodge, dated c.1806, is listed B and stands on the northern boundary. The West, South and North Lodges to the east of the old lodge on the northern boundary postdate 1868. The gatepiers on the main West Avenue are thought to date from 1711 and are listed B.

The Image Bridge was built by James Burn of Haddington in 1797 although the present ironwork replaced the original c.1890. It is listed category B and is unusual in having statuary in niches below the bridge. The Stannochy Bridge, at the west end of the policies, is dated 1825 and is listed B. An Ice House, thought to be 19th century is listed category C(S).

The Walled Garden, listed category B is thought to date originally from 1777. It is a unique, curved shape on plan; an additional 'lobe' was added to the north-west wall after 1868. The Gardener's House is incorporated within the north wall. Within the garden are other features, collectively listed category B: a fountain, dating from the late 19th century; a 17th century sundial brought from Panmure House; a 19th century sundial standing on an octagonal base; and a pair of detached columns surmounted by stone vases. In addition, there are various pieces of statuary.

Parkland

The parkland originally lay only on the north of the river and enclosed the kitchen garden and woodland which projected into the park from the Castle in the north-east corner. Ha-ha walls separate the parklands from the woodlands which enclose them, and are thought to have been constructed for horse enclosures for the Jacobite armies. Following the construction of the Image Bridge in the 19th century, a long drive was made through the park south of the river to the South Lodge. Although it is recorded that Lady Panmure had some limes planted in the parks in the early 18th century, neither the 1st edition OS map nor the 2nd edition OS map of 1903 suggests that the parks were ever well wooded, and few trees stand in them today.

The parks are farmed with the exception of an area in the north-west corner where trees are grown on for commercial purposes.

Woodland

Woodland encloses the parkland on the west and south boundaries and also flanks either side of the west drive to the south of the walled garden and either side of the south drive to the south of the river by the Image Bridge. The woods are largely a mix of coniferous and deciduous species, many of which were planted after a major loss of timber in the gale of 1953. A former deciduous area on the west boundary has recently been replanted with conifers.

On the north boundary, trees remain on the line of the Avenue planted to the design of Alexander Edward for the 4th Earl, although the oldest, which are beech, appear to date only from c.1785; others are younger, dating from c.1900 and include oak, sycamore and horse chestnut.

Woodland Garden

The woodland garden is situated between the castle and the walled garden amid a tree canopy of oak and copper beech dating from the late 18th and 19th centuries, as well as other conifers planted for shelter when the garden was established in the early 1950s by the 14th Countess of Dalhousie. Several ornamental trees, including Cercidiphyllum japonicum, were planted by the Countess outside the walled garden. A variety of Azaleas, Rhododendrons and other shrubs grown from seed have been planted by the 16th Earl. During World War II, the garden inevitably suffered some neglect; the tennis court became overgrown and birch colonized. This became an attractive feature and has since been further developed with the addition of different birch species. There are some of the earliest introductions of Douglas fir at Brechin thought to have been planted in the 1830s, together with some early planted Sequoias, introduced in the 1860s.

Walled Garden

The walled garden is undoubtedly the most impressive feature of the policies of Brechin. It is a unique, undulating shape on plan with two additional semi- circular 'lobes' added to the north side. The lobe on the west side was added after 1868. The wall on the north-east side is thought to date from 1777. A ha-ha forms the southern boundary and the garden includes some fourteen acres.

The main entrance to the garden is in the north-east wall, at the east end of the terrace walk. Broad lawns border this walk on which ornamental conifers and shrubs have been established and enclosure on the south side is provided by a magnificent clipped yew hedge, planted c.1925. The 19th century sundial closes the vista at the west end. Climbing shrubs cover the inner side of the north-east wall beyond which, in the north-east 'lobe', are early 19th century glasshouses and cold frames. In the north-west 'lobe', are beds of Rhododendrons in grass, dominated by conifers including Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. The area along the west side of the garden was where fruit was grown before it was replanted as a tree nursery. It has recently been cleared and is planned to be developed as an extension of the ornamental garden.

The Gardener's House is a fine greenhouse which stands overlooking the garden between the two 'lobes'. Rhododendron dalhousiae is grown in the greenhouse named after Lady Dalhousie who was vice-reine of India in the early 19th century. There are also two Rhododendrons grown from Hooker seed which must date back to the middle of the 19th century, inside the walled garden.

From the top terrace, the garden slopes down across lawns where shrub beds and specimen trees have been laid out informally in grass replacing the earlier formal layout. Two cedars planted by Lady Panmure, which dates them at more than 250 years, stand on the slope. A gravel walk extends parallel with the top terrace along the low side of the garden, at the east end of which is a circular lily pond. The pond itself is encircled by box hedge compartments which are planted for summer colour. South of the pond is the Autumn Garden; specimen trees include several Acers for autumn colour, Embothriums and a collection of rowans (Sorbus spp.). To the north of the pond, the path rises to a steep bank along which the Spring border has been established. Steps up the bank, flanked by statuary, return to the top terrace walk. Looking back down the path, the vista leads the eye to the pond and a seat beyond framed by yew hedges.