Baron of Abergeldie
| Baron of Abergeldie dynastic title same family for 21 generations | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Creation date | 1482[citation needed] |
| Creation | Baronage of Scotland |
| Created by | James III of Scotland |
| First holder | Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar |
| Present holder | John Seton Howard Gordon, 21st Baron of Abergeldie |
| Status | extant |
| Seat(s) | Abergeldie Castle (sold) |
The Baron of Abergeldie is a Scottish noble title in the Baronage of Scotland, historically associated with Abergeldie Castle and the surrounding estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The barony has been held by the Gordon family since its creation in 1482, making it one of the oldest family-held estates in Scotland.[2][3][4][5]
History
[edit]The title of Baron of Abergeldie was first created in 1482 when Sir Alexander Gordon of Midmar, the son of the 1st Earl of Huntly, acquired the lands. He built Abergeldie Castle, which served as the seat of the barony for more than 500 years.[6]
The Gordon family held the estate through generations, withstanding periods of conflict and the Jacobite risings. The castle itself was besieged during the first Jacobite rising of 1689 and was garrisoned during the 1715 rising. The estate's proximity to the Royal Family's Balmoral Castle led to a long-standing relationship between the Gordons and the Royals. In 1848, Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, leased Abergeldie Castle for the Royal Family to use as a hunting lodge. This lease remained in place until 1970.[7]
The most recent Baron of Abergeldie, John Seton Howard Gordon, the 21st Baron, inherited the estate in 1963 and retained ownership until the estate and castle were sold in 2021 for approximately £23 million. This sale marked the end of the Gordon family's direct ownership of the castle, but Gordon retains the title of Baron of Abergeldie.[8][9][10]
In January 2016, the castle was threatened by rising flood waters from the River Dee, which washed away much of the land behind the building, leaving it on a precipice over the river, thus forcing the then 76-year-old Baron to flee. For a time, authorities were uncertain if the castle could be saved if the flooding continued. A few days later, structural engineers were confident that shoring efforts would prevent imminent collapse.[11][12]
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Abergeldie Castle
[edit]Abergeldie Castle is a Category A listed building that remains a significant historical site. The castle, a turreted square block tower house, was built around 1550. It has undergone various modifications over the centuries, including the addition of an ogee-roofed belfry in the 19th century.[13]
Despite the sale of the estate, Abergeldie Castle remains a symbol of the long-standing history of the Barons of Abergeldie and the connection between the Gordon family and the surrounding area.
Modern Holder
[edit]The most recent titleholder, John Seton Howard Gordon, the 21st Baron of Abergeldie, sold Abergeldie Castle and the estate in 2021, but he retains the title of Baron of Abergeldie. The sale included around 4,703 hectares of land near the Royal Lochnagar Distillery and stretches of farmland, woodland, and wilderness.[14]
Notable Barons
[edit]- Sir Alexander Gordon, 1st Baron (1482)
- John Seton Howard Gordon, 21st Baron (1963–present) was 21st Laird up to (2021) [15]
References
[edit]- ^ "Abergeldie". holeousia.com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Scottish Barony Register". Scottish Barony Register. 25 June 2024.
- ^ Glenbervie), Sir Robert Douglas (of (1798). The Baronage of Scotland, Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Gentry of that Kingdom. Colected from the Public Records and Chartularies of this Country, the Records and Private Writings of Families and the Works of Our Best Historians. Bell & Bradfute, W. Creech, J. Dickson, E. Balfour, P. Hill, W. Laing, A. Guthrie, J. Watson, Manners & Miller, And A. Constable: And By Cadell & Davies, London.
- ^ Murdock, Meghann (29 September 2021). "11,500-acre estate for sale for first time since it was bestowed by King James". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Elgot, Jessica (4 January 2016). "Baron Abergeldie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Abergeldie Estate In The Highlands Goes On Sale For The First Time In 500 Years". 6 October 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Abergeldie Castle, Crathie, United Kingdom - SpottingHistory". www.spottinghistory.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Sampson, Annabel (7 October 2021). "Be the Queen's Balmoral neighbour, as the Abergeldie Estate goes on sale for a princely sum". Tatler. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Wade, Mike (21 September 2021). "Abergeldie estate to fetch a princely sum as it goes on sale for first time in 500 years". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "The Feudal Baronies of Scotland". debretts.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Abergeldie Castle saved from collapse". The National. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Queen's neighbour's castle 'overhanging 12ft drop to river' - Telegraph". web.archive.org. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Abergeldie Castle | Scottish Castles Association". scottishcastlesassociation.com. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Burke's Peerage & Gentry International Register of Arms, Volume 1 (Volume 1 ed.). Martin S. J. Goldstraw. 2011. ISBN 9780956815712.
- ^ Burke's Peerage 107th Edition (107th ed.). Hugh Preskett. 2003.