Walled Garden, Sandford Lodge

A large walled garden of around half a hectare, constructed of large blocks of coursed and snecked local granite rubble. Contemporary with and located to the immediate north of Sandford Lodge (listed separately), the walled garden is rectangular in plan with an elliptically curved east wall incorporating a roofless structure with a corner fireplace. A further small bowed outshot is set within the north wall, and the walls are topped with coping stones. There are three pedestrian openings - the opening nearest the house having ashlar gatepiers with polished ashlar pyramidal capstones.

Adjoining the west wall is a multi-phase, L-plan farm steading range including a small single-storey cottage. These farm buildings are of standard design and construction and have been substantially altered. They are excluded from the listing.

Historical Development

The earliest known mention of the walled garden at Sandford Lodge is in 1833, although it was likely constructed with the Lodge, in around 1800. An advertisement for the sale of the estates of Boddam and Sandford notes the gardens of the mansion-house on the south side of Sandford Bay are in full bearing (Aberdeen Herald, 1833).

The house and walled garden of Sandford Lodge are depicted in detail on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1868. The layout of the walled garden and Sandford Lodge has remained largely unaltered since that survey.

The house and grounds fell out of use after 2006. There have been no substantive changes to the walled garden since that time (2025).