Crimonmogate estate

Crimonmogate, also known as Crimon-Mogat or Crimmond-Moggat,^[1] is an estate near Crimond, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Dating back to the 14th century, it formed part of Lonmay parish, and was included in the lands owned by the powerful Earls of Erroll. The estate was sold by Mary Hay, 14th Countess of Erroll, in the 1730s.

Major development began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, after the land was bought by the merchant Patrick MilneWealthy Scottish merchant, politician, and landowner; commissioned Aberdeen architects to design two houses.. The estate is now best known for Crimonmogate HouseGreek Revival style Category A listed mansion in Aberdeenshire, Scotland., designed by the Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson for Milne. The Greek Revival building is protected as a Category A listed buildingStructure of particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection., and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

After Milne’s death the estate passed to the Bannerman family, who continued to develop the lands and completed the construction of the mansion, also adding a mansard roof later. Simpson was commissioned to design further structures within the estate. Eventually, through marriage in the 20th century, the estate returned to the Errolls. Almost at the turn of that century, in 1996, the estate was purchased by Christopher Monckton, who began restoration work on the mansion. As a publicity stunt, Monckton falsely claimed in 2000 that he was having to offer it for sale to pay the prize money after his Eternity puzzle was solved years sooner than he anticipated. In 2001 the estate was bought by a former Chanel model and her husband, Viscount Petersham, who continued the renovation work and use the property as a function and wedding facility.

History

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Crimonmogate means the “road through the cow pasture by the peat moss” and the estate dates back to the 14th century. The road referred to is no longer in use, but marks the edge of the southern perimeter of the estate.^[2] There is a large stone circle on the estate.^[3]

Papers of James VI, dated April 1592, show the land ratified in favour of the Laird of Urie, John Hay.^[4] In legislation dated April 1689, signed by William II and Mary II, the estate is recorded in the possession of Thomas Gordon.^[5] By July 1698 legislative papers of William II list William Hay of Crimonmogate.^[6] In October 1700 William II ratified the lands in favour of John Hay, Earl of Erroll and Lord High Constable of Scotland.^[7]

The Earls of Erroll were an affluent family and continued to be major Aberdeenshire landowners in the 18th century. Financial constraints in the 1730s could have caused the sale of Crimonmogate to the Abernethy family.^[8] This was during the time of Mary Hay, 14th Countess of Erroll who inherited the lands following the death of her unmarried brother, Charles, in 1717.^[9] Plans and illustrations produced during the Abernethys’ ownership of the Crimonmogate estate around forty years later in 1776 depict a barren landscape devoid of trees with a simple three-storey house. This laird’s house with three storeys and three bays was later demolished.^[8]

Development

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Many new settlements were established in the Buchan area after the middle of the 18th century and this continued into the early 19th century, bringing more wealth to the area. Landowners began to invest profits in the construction of stylish mansions.^[10] By this time the estate was owned by the Aberdeen merchant, Alexander Milne. He was a partner in the linen company Gordon, Barron & Co.^[11] and the Porthill Company that later became Milne, Cruden, & Company.^[12][13] These companies had extensive factories in Aberdeen and Donside.^[14] Milne’s son, PatrickWealthy Scottish merchant, politician, and landowner; commissioned Aberdeen architects to design two houses. (sometimes referred to as Peter), inherited the estate; tax records of 1797–98 show he was levied various taxes on the number of clocks and watches, dogs and male servants he had.^[15][16][17]

Milne had a healthy income from overseas business ventures^[8] and he commissioned the Aberdeen architect, John SmithJohn Smith (1781 – 22 July 1852) was a Scottish architect who contributed significantly to the architecture of Aberdeen. to design a townhouse for him in Union Street, Aberdeen in 1810 that he also called “Crimonmogate”.^[18][a]During 1959 initial submissions were made for the townhouse to be demolished with the work finally carried out in 1963/1964.^[19] He was involved in “electoral chicanery” in 1807 but successfully stood as a Member of Parliament representing the Elgin burghs from 30 October 1812 until 11 July 1818.^[20][21]

Another Aberdeen architect, Archibald Simpson, was commissioned by Milne to design a new houseGreek Revival style Category A listed mansion in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. as the centre-piece of the estate at Crimond. Milne died at the Crimonmogate House, Union Street, Aberdeen on 16 May 1820,^[22] before the house was completed in 1825.^[2] He died unmarried and without issue, bequeathing all his property to his first cousin once removed, Charles Bannerman, the 8th Bannerman Baronet.^[20] Bannerman had a simple granite obelisk erected in memory of Milne in the garden of the estate in 1821.^[23]

Bannerman continued the development of the estate, planting trees and cultivating parkland. He continued to use Simpson’s services and had several ancillary buildings designed and added. Among these were a game larder built from rubble, an octagonal-shaped dairy and laundry, all constructed in 1825. Ten years later in 1835 an eight-sided dovecote, a quadrangular stable block and walled garden were included.^[8][24] Bannerman’s son, Alexander (1823–1877) the 9th baronet, progressed with further upgrading and he added a third storey with a mansard roof featuring dormer windows to the mansion around 1860. In the last quarter of the 19th century, he kept a record of the work, both before and after the renovations, in the form of glass negatives.^[25] The land around the estate comprised mainly peat moss; some pedigree and half-bred sheep were also grazed in the area.^[26]

The 9th baronet’s first wife, George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr’s daughter Arabella-Diana, died in 1869 and is buried at Lonmay. He remarried in 1874 to Katherine, the fourth Earl of Ashburnham’s daughter. It was through Bannerman’s daughter from his first marriage, Ethel Mary Elizabeth’s marriage to Charles Carnegie, 10th Earl of Southesk in 1891 that the estate passed to the Carnegie family. On the Countess of Southesk’s death in 1947, she bequeathed the estate to her second son, Alexander Carnegie. The estate was then inherited by Carnegie’s son, Raymond who was the second husband of Diana Hay, 23rd Countess of Erroll. She inherited the Erroll title after her father, Josslyn Hay, 22nd Earl of Erroll, was murdered in Kenya.^{[2][25][27][28]} The Countess died suddenly on 16 May 1978 and the estate passed to their son, Jocelyn.^[2][29]

During the Second World War managerial staff of the Fraserburgh-based Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company lived in the mansion.^[30] The company manufactured parts for Spitfire aircraft, Bofors guns and bayonets.^[31] Parts of the estate were sold off during the 20th century, and there was a gradual decline in the condition of the estate.^[8]

Recent times

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The estate was bought by the former Chanel Allure perfume model Candida Bond and her husband, William Stanhope, Viscount Petersham and son of Charles Stanhope, 12th Earl of Harrington, shortly after their marriage in 2001.^[32] The property is now used to host functions, and was one of the first places in Aberdeenshire to be licensed for civil ceremonies.^[33]

In February 2013, Aberdeenshire Council approved plans to convert some disused estate buildings including the steadings, the Piggery, Creamery and Laundry, to hotel rooms, a spa, a gym and a restaurant.^[34]

Gardens and other structures

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Several other buildings and structures within the estate are listed as Category B and C.^[35] Already mentioned are the Category C listed single-storey game larder, which has a flat roof and is constructed using rubble;^[36] a Category B listed octagonal-shaped dairy;^[37] and laundry, all constructed in 1825. Ten years later in 1835 an eight-sided dovecote, a quadrangular stable block and walled garden were included.^[8][24]

The grounds were included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland in 2011, which categorises the gardens as of high importance in five of its seven criteria; the mansion and other structures are classified as “outstanding”. Various garden areas surround the mansion and there is a walled garden to the west and an artificial lake. At the time the estate was listed it was noted a long-term renewal programme was being undertaken.^[8]