Ardgrain

Extract from the JG Bartholomew & Son, Half-Inch to the Mile maps of Scotland, 1926-1935. Showing Ellon and the surrounding areas, including Ardgrain. This colour map was first published in 1933. Read more »

Gibb Map of Ellon 1858 (detailed)

Gibb Map of Ellon

Extract from the 1858 Gibb map of the North-Eastern districts of Aberdeenshire. A wider view shows Ellon and the surrounding areas. Read more »

Gordon Map of Ellon 1640 (detailed)

Gordon Map of Ellon

Detailed view of the Gordon map, dating from 1640. Ardgrain is shown to the north of Ellon. Note the barony symbol beside Ardgrain, which distinguishes it from the normal sites. A wider view shows more of the Formartine area. Read more »

Bartholomew Map of Ellon 1912 (detailed)

Bartholomew Map of Ellon

Extract from J.G. Bartholomew's 'Survey Atlas of Scotland', 1912, centred on Ellon and showing Ardgrain towards the top of the map. A wider view of Formartine shows a larger area of the map, including Udney, Newburgh and Foveran. Read more »

The Slaughter of Watertown

Not long after constructing Ardgrain, the Kennedies became embroiled in a bitter land dispute, which later became locally known as the slaughter of Watertown.

Clan Rivalry

Thomas Forbes, whose stately mansion with courtyards and stables was built beside the Ythan river to the east of Ellon, was in his middle years, with nine sons and daughters. John Kennedy, the hereditary constable of Aberdeen (this title tied to the Ardgrain site some years earlier) was the latest of a long line of Kennedies of Ellon. Read more »