Birkenbog House Flanking Range, Fordyce

Flanking buildings to Birkenbog House. Mainly 2-storey range at right angles to house on N side of garden.Rubble, some harling. Centre, earliest building is 3-bay house with tooled ashlar margins. Blocked 1st floor centre window; 16-pane glazing in surviving 1st floor windows, varied glazing elsewhere. Single storey former detached kitchen abuts E gable of house; 2-storey, 2-bay gig house continuous at W gable with brick-faced segmental-headed gig house entrance and 2 1st floor windows. Coped end stacks; Banffshire slate roofs throughout.

Birkenbog the home of the Abercrombie(y) family of Birkenbog. In 1790-1 it was recorded that 'Sir George Abercrombie has pulled down the old family seat and has not yet re-built it' after destruction by fire in 1790. The drum tower at the rear was obviously part of this 'old family seat'; so too may have been the studded plank door closing the N entrance to the walled garden. Re-set armorial bears the Abercrombie arms, the motto 'Merci is my desir' and the date 1693. It is said to have come from Glassaugh (also Abercrombie).

The plan form of present house is early rather than late 18th century and may, like the more obvious drum tower, have been a wing of the earlier mansion. As the Abercrombies of Birkenbog inherited Forglen, near Turriff in 1803, there was no need for a large family mansion at Birkenbog after that date and the rehabilitation of surviving ranges sufficed. (Historic Scotland)

October 1996: External inspection reveals the flanking range to be vacant and derelict, with its openings unsecured. The main block is not at risk. January 2005: External inspection reveals no change.

February 2008: External inspection finds the range of buildings in very poor condition given their A List status. There are holes in the roof, missing windows and broken glazing. The property lacks security and appears unused. The range does not appear to be undergoing regular maintenace and is vulnerable to accelerating dilapidation.

October 2010: External inspection finds the buildings remain in a very dilapidated state and in need of extensive repairs.

14 December 2012: Local planners report the council has approached the building's owner. The range is understood to remain At Risk.

24 October 2013: External inspection finds the range remains in much the same condition as seen previously.