Masterplan for new chapter in Fyvie’s 800-year story

Once the first phase is complete, attention will then move onto the next phases of the project, including further fundraising and works related to:

• Protecting and showcasing the ‘treasures of Fyvie’ – an internationally significant collection of art, antiquities, objects and furniture, including an outstanding collection of works by Henry Raeburn and the famously stylish portrait of General William Gordon by Batoni, along with a rare Tiffany glass lamp, suits of armour and the death mask of a murderer. We will re-display sculptures that have not been seen by the public for decades due to conservation requirements, and we will reintroduce the lost tradition of art and sculpture into the landscape.
• A major programme of conservation repairs to the castle will stabilise structural issues in the castle’s main façade, along with work to upgrade essential building services and to protect the fragile interiors. The visitor experience at the castle will also be brought to life with new storytelling and interpretation, in honour of the property’s long history of warmth and hospitality.
• Significant work will take place around nature conservation, protecting and enhancing the estate. We will provide wider access through an improved and extended footpath network, with areas created for play, learning and discovery.
• We will improve the property’s environmental sustainability through adoption of renewable technology, along with a reduction in consumption and emissions through designed and nature-based solutions. This is in response to the Trust’s commitment to help address climate change through carbon reduction.
• And we will deliver a programme of skills training, learning and engagement as part of the project delivery, reconnecting the estate to local and regional communities as well as creating connections with national and international visitors alike.

Phil Long OBE, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland, said:

‘Fyvie Castle is celebrated in legend and song, and represents the story of Scotland written in stone.

‘It has been at the centre of Scottish powerplay for much of its eight centuries: hosting formidable dynasties, siege and intrigue; serving for a time as a royal nursery; as well as being caught up in the civil strife of the troubled 17th century when a battle was fought in its grounds and it was later occupied by Cromwellian troops.

‘Each of the five owning families evolved the castle’s architecture, changing its appearance and purpose. Beginning as a royal stronghold, it eventually became the home and playground of the locally born Alexander Forbes-Leith who, with his American wife Marie-Louise and the fortune they acquired through their business in the USA, restored and expanded the building. They filled it with treasures, which now make it home to one of the great art collections of Scotland.

Phil continued: ‘This is one of the major projects the Trust is committing to as we approach our centenary in 2031. Fyvie is one of the pre-eminent places in Scotland’s heritage; people come here from around the world. It is inspiring to think about the connections between this place and one of our other key projects – Mackintosh Illuminated – as it has been said that Charles Rennie Mackintosh was influenced by the castellated appearance of Fyvie Castle when creating his own ground-breaking architecture.’

Iain Hawkins, the National Trust for Scotland’s Regional Director for North East Scotland, said: ‘Situated in beautiful countryside on the road between Aberdeen, Elgin and Inverness, Fyvie Castle’s militarily strategic location positions it well to attract visitors locally from Aberdeenshire and from further afield.

‘It’s now time to realise the full potential of this historic gem and engage more people in its fascinating story, as well as the abundance of nature and beauty to be found in its 123 acres of designed landscape, including a walled garden, extensive lawns, ornamental drives, acres of forests and an 18th-century constructed lake. We’ll be creating new trails around the estate, which, along with the castle and gardens, will be accessed from a new visitor hub at the Old Home Farm.

‘Once complete, Old Home Farm will arise from its current semi-ruinous condition to become a centre for visitor orientation, education, gallery spaces, and high-quality retail and catering offers.

Annie Robertson, the National Trust for Scotland’s Project Director for Fyvie, added:

‘The masterplan for Fyvie Castle, Garden & Estate sets out a grand vision that touches upon every aspect of this place.

‘There is a tremendous need for essential conservation, as well as visionary improvement work, to be undertaken over the next decade – including saving Old Home Farm, protecting the castle and its important collection, and providing learning, play and discovery to visitors, young and old. We are also entrenching sustainable practices and systems into the project that will contribute to the Trust’s net-zero ambitions and protect it for future generations.

Annie continued: ‘It’s our aim to ensure that the reimagined Fyvie Castle will provide considerable benefit to the regional economy and local community, and that we have the opportunity to offer skills training and employment as we move ahead.’

John Brown, Director at Page\Park, said: ‘Page\Park is delighted to have been selected by the National Trust for Scotland to design the strategic masterplan for Fyvie Estate, and develop the conservation proposals for Fyvie Castle.