Ury House, Stonehaven

Country house by John Baird ("no 1") of Glasgow, 1855, wing added 1884 by an unidentified architect. Now (1990) a roofless shell, the roof having been removed in post-war period. Ashlar, with sculptured detailing. ORIGINAL HOUSE: in revived English Tudor/Jacobean style, with off-centre tall square entrance tower with porch-cochere; otherwise 2/3 storeys; variety of window openings, mostly hood-moulded, often mullioned some canted/oriel windows, enormous mullioned and transomed window right hand of tower may have lit large hall; gabled dormer heads reach above eaves, bays set forward from main wall-planes are also gabled; engaged angle shafts, parapets, stacks. Double-gabled, return elevation to right is almost villa-like.WING: is on left-hand side of main front where front wall is breached; one pair gables crow-stepped; front wall. Buttressed, stepped, channeled and rock-faced terrace wall. (Historic Scotland)

22 December 1989: The Aberdeen Evening Express reports that a Building Preservation Notice has been served, after Ury Estates Ltd planned to demolish the house. 7 February 1990: The Aberdeen Press and Journal reports on the history of the house. March 1990: The house is B-listed as a result of the Building Preservation Notice. May 1990: External inspection reveals the house to be roofless and ruinous. August 2001: External inspection reveals no change. April 2002: The house and grounds are sold to F.M. Developments Ltd. February 2003: SCT receives information that trees are being removed from the surrounding grounds and the walled garden. 7 March 2004: The Sunday Times reports that the house is to be rebuilt to house new apartments, with 9 houses built in the surrounding grounds. April 2004: Historic Scotland reports that a planning application has been submitted. October 2006: SCT has had a chat with owner re proposals for the site. December 2006: Press and Journal report that the proposed £40 million restoration and redevelopment of Ury and surrounding land has been turned down by councillors stating that the proposed 138 houses was over ambitious.

December 2007: External inspection finds the property to be a consolidated ruin with the risk of ongoing structural deterioration and collapse. Planning Permission and LBC has been applied for the Mansion, Footbridge, Road Bridge, Ice House and Associated Structures to new use as a Hotel with Ancillary Uses and Golf Club House with all Associated Car Parking, Landscaping and Engineering Works. Ref: APP/2007/2011.

May 2008: BBC News website reports plans for a hotel, golf course and homes at the Ury Estate have been approved and will be submitted for approval to Aberdeenshire Infrastructure Services Committee and Scottish Ministers.

June 2008: The Scotsman reports that plans for the hotel, leisure and housing development have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council‘s Infrastructure Services committee. Comprising golf course, hotel, leisure facilities and 238 houses. Restoration of Ury House will be financed through this enabling development.

August 2008: Mearns Leader reports that the development company plan to restore Ury House and create the golf course as priority. The housing development is to carried out later.

February 2009: BBC Scotland reports that the company behind the development has gone into administration but hope remains to sell the estate and continue with the proposals.

September 2010: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit. The property continues to deteriorate.

27 April 2012: BBC news website reports the Ury Estate has been bought from administrators appointed after the collapse of FM Developments. The article notes the new owner's intention to concentrate on the agricultural use of the land initially, with an aim to a later restoration of Ury House with a possible commercial development of the land, should the economic climate be supportive.

14 August 2013: External inspection finds the site boundary has been secured, otherwise, the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously.

30 May 2014: Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for Alterations and Reinstatement of Derelict Mansion House, Associated Car Parking, Landscaping and Engineering Works, Refurbishment of Footbridge, Road Bridge, Ice House and Refurbishment and Alterations to Walled Garden are currently being sought ref: APP/2014/1711 & APP/2014/1714.

10 August 2015: The property is currently scaffolded to allow masonry repairs to be carried out ahead of full restoration and conversion to hotel use. Moved to Restoration in Progress.

3 January 2020: The Press and Journal website reports that the developers of the project, FM Group, has revised its existing plans to redevelop the upper floors of the property into a hotel. It will now convert the property into flats, with a golf clubhouse being created on the lower ground floor. Listed Building Consent for alterations and reinstatement of derelict mansion house to form 19 flats on ground, first and second floors was granted subject to conditions on 30 December 2019 (APP/2019/2378).

15 October 2021: Planning permission (APP/2021/0925) and listed building consent (APP/2021/0926) conditionally granted for part change of use of former mansion house to sales and marketing suite (Class 1), formation of car park, erection of timber fence and formation of access ramp. Listed building consent (APP/2021/2300) also being sought for installation of temporary access ramp.