Hatton Manor

Hatton Manor is a two-storey, L-plan mansion house of 17th-century origin, substantially remodelled and extended between the mid-18th century and early 19th century. The building is harled with red sandstone ashlar dressing at openings.

The north wing contains a skewputt dated 1694 and may incorporate fabric from an earlier fortified castle that occupied this location. The principal south elevation features a central moulded doorway flanked by two additional doors and two small windows, with four large windows at first floor. The first-floor windows and the doors flanking the central entrance are likely to be original openings that were enlarged during the mid-18th to early 19th-century extensions. The rear elevation to the north has a small window at ground floor and some small openings and arrow slits on its semi-circular projection.

The southeast wing, dating from around the late 18th to early 19th century, partially obscures the southeastern bays of the original range. Its east elevation is two storeys, seven bays, and nearly symmetrical. The west elevation facing the former courtyard is four bays with lower openings of smaller size. A further central single elliptical window is present at first floor on the south gable.

Windows are predominantly six-over-six timber sash and case. The roof is slated with red sandstone scroll-moulded skews. The skewputt on the front elevation contains the initials W.M. Four rectangular chimneystacks are present: two at the west and south gable-ends and two at the roof junction.

The interior of the northern range includes rooms with black bolection-moulded fireplaces, some early moulded wooden panelling, and surviving window shutters. At the time of listing, two original panelled rooms at the first floor of the northern range were recorded. The east wing interior was partly renewed with lime plaster.

Historical sources indicate that Hatton Manor was initially built as a castle and later replaced by a mansion. The blank north façade with its extruding semi-circular staircase and gunloops is likely part of the earlier towerhouse or castle. Owned by the Dempster family in the 16th century, the manor subsequently passed through various hands before being sold to the Duff family in 1709. The Duffs were prominent landowners in northeastern Scotland in the 17th century. They lived at Hatton Manor for some years before purchasing the lands of Balquhollie in 1723, renaming them Hatton and building Hatton Castle as their main residence in 1814.

An 1813 Plan of Manor Place of Hatton by John J Roy depicts a U-plan structure with the northern block slightly extruding to the west, showing the north range had already been extended with two wings, including the southeast wing that survives today. Two detached rectangular buildings were shown to the southeast and southwest, with a walled garden flanking the manor to the north and east, and an offices yard of four linear buildings situated further southwest along the road.

The Ordnance Survey six-inch first edition map (surveyed 1869–71, published 1873) labels the building as 'Manorplace'. The Ordnance Survey Name Books of 1865–1871 describe Manorplace as a large farm steading occupied by Mr A. Wilson and the property of the late G.W. Duff of Hatton. The U-plan manor was visible at this time except for its northwestern corner, which appears to have been removed. The southwest wing appears separate from the north block and linked to the southeast wing by a wall creating a courtyard open to the south.

The southwest wing is shown in ruins on the Ordnance Survey second edition map (revised 1900, published 1902), and the walled garden appears to have been removed. The southwest range ruins and outbuildings north of the manor were demolished in the 20th century; currently only the base of the south courtyard wall remains. A Canmore image from 1968 shows only the north and southeast wings, indicating the southwest range, walled garden, and outbuildings had been demolished by that date.

Hatton Manor suffered a fire in 2022, resulting in damage to historic fabric including the complete loss of the southeast wing interior and roof. The northern range sustained lighter damage with limited roof collapses and some window damage.