Ury House

Ury House viewed across the Cowie Water
The main front of Ury House.

Ury House is a large ruined mansion in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, built in the Elizabethan style in 1885 by Alexander Baird. It is situated on the north-east coast about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Stonehaven in the former county of Kincardineshire. Originally the estate belonged to the Frasers, then the Hays starting in 1413, but eventually became the property of the Earl Marischal. Over the years Ury has been rebuilt three times.[1] In early times the property was known as Urie. In the 17th century Ury was established as the North East Scotland headquarters of the Quaker organisation by David Barclay.

Today the house is derelict and the dangerous condition of the structure limits entry. In March 2007, FM Developments lodged an amended planning application for a golf and leisure complex on the estate as the previous housing development was rejected in October 2006.[2] There have been earlier proposals for its restoration, including a 2004 planning application, which was rejected by the local Community Council.[3] The estate in now owned by The FM Group who have recently lodged a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council for the creation of a world-class 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Championship Golf Course as part of the redevelopment of Ury Estate.

Ancient history

Bronze Age cists have been found at the site of the Ury House. Roman legions marched from Raedykes to Normandykes Roman Camp nearby as they used higher ground evading the bogs of Red Moss and low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls. That march used the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways crossing the Mounth of the Grampian Mountains,[4] lying west of Netherley.

Related proximity historic features

There are several notable historic structures and sites close to the Ury House, including:

Natural features

Ury Estate is bounded on the west by Fetteresso Forest. Within about 150 metres south of Ury House is the confluence of the Burn of Monboys into the Cowie Water. Cowie Water has generally alkaline pH as tested at the perimeter of the Ury Estate, although its pH is somewhat lower above the confluence with the Burn of Monboys, explained by Lumina Tech as due to more acidic drainage from upland moorland peat areas in the Burn of Monboys watershed.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gordon Smith (2004). "The Barclays of Stonehaven". Stonehaven - still thriving. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  2. ↑ Frank Urquhart (2007). "Golf and leisure complex plans to go before council". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  3. ↑ M Haddock (2006). "Appendix A: Application for Outline Planning Permission for Residential Development, Land At Ury Estate, Stonehaven for Fm Property and Leisure Limited" (.doc). Aberdeenshire Council. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  4. ↑ C. Michael Hogan, Elsick Mounth, Megalithic Portal, editor: Andy Burnham (2007)
  5. ↑ C.M. Hogan, History of Muchalls Castle, Natural History Section, Lumina Tech, Aberdeen (2005)

Coordinates: 56°58′49″N 2°13′58″W / 56.9804°N 2.2328°W