Thornton Castle

Nearest town: Laurencekirk

Site type: garden

Access: Private

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Aberdeenshire

Country: Scotland

Grid ref: NO6878871815

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 16-Jan-16

Recorded by: Judy Dowling

Protection & responsibility: owner

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 4m-5m

Notes: Thornton Castle is a listed building just on the edge of Aberdeenshire. The castle is the family home of Clan Strachan, of which the owner is a member. The oldest part of the castle dates from the 1300s, with another part built in the 1500s and further additions in the 1700s and early 1900s. The yews are located behind the castle so are not visible from the road. However this was the original entrance to the castle and the trees would formerly have been seen by all who arrived at the castle. The positioning suggests that they might well have once been part of a row of three, or even in a hedgeline. The trees are seen in a photo c1900 and as they appear today. One of the pair was identified as female and it is thought that the second is also female.