Arnage Castle

Arnage Castle is a late 16th century building, possibly begun by Thomas Leper, with alterations primarily to the gables in the late 17th or early 18th century when straight skews were added and an entrance on the south side was removed. The castle is two storeys high, with a vaulted ground floor and, before 1860, a dormerless attic. A notable feature is the treatment of the stair turrets set into the corners. An original 16th century door is now blocked in the southeastern re-entrant angle, while a later door, now enclosed, is located at the end of a corridor in the south gable. The building displays triplicated gunloops, drawing comparisons to Tolquhon and Schivas castles. A 17th century addition is present with a turreted entrance bay, and a northeastern wing was remodelled. The northeastern re-entrant angle was later filled in, and in 1860, James Matthews enlarged the first floor windows and inserted dormers. A further addition to the south wing was made by D.C. Stewart in 1964. Originally harled, the exterior is now exposed pinned rubble.

The castle was originally built by the Cheyne family and passed out of their ownership around 1630. In 1702, it was purchased by the Rosses of Auchlossan. A plain rectangular walled garden lies to the south of the house; it has been significantly altered recently and possesses no special features.

References to the castle appear in C. & D. Arch v. IV, with an illustration and plan attributed to around 1650, and in Giles’s Castles of Aberdeenshire. A plan drawn by James Matthews is in the possession of D.C. Stewart.