Race to save castle on edge of collapse
THE race to save a flood-hit 16th century castle from collapsing into the River Dee was stepped up yesterday, as contractors attempted to shore up the crumbling embankment.
Workmen desperately tried to stabilise the historic tower house, which has been teetering on the edge of the riverbank since the area flooded a week ago.
They used a large digger to tear down trees which were then placed on top of tons of scree before the mixture was poured down the muddy embankment.
Among those who witnessed their struggle was the Laird of Abergeldie Castle, John Gordon. The 76-yearold and his wife were forced to flee their home after floods carved out several yards of the riverbank.
It is understood his Royal neighbour Prince Charles, whose garden
‘The imminent risk
is over’
at Birkhall was also destroyed by Storm Frank, is helping to keep the castle out of the water.
The f our- f l oor property near Crathie, Aberdeenshire, also neighbours the Balmoral estate.
The Scottish Business in the Community charity, of which the prince is president, is understood to have put £100,000 towards helping to preserve the castle.
It has also worked with companies to provide food and home supplies to flood victims in Ballater, just a few mile away.
The Laird has also held talks with Aberdeenshire Council to find a way to save the A-listed historic building. Council engineers have visited the site over the past few days.
Vincent Docherty, from Aberdeenshire Council, said: ‘At the moment our structural engineers are working with both the owner and insurers to make sure that they’re able to prop that castle up and make sure it doesn’t fall into the Dee.’ He added: ‘The information that I’ve received today is that the imminent risk to the castle is over and the building can probably be saved.’
But yesterday, as work got underway, a section of what appeared to be a garden wall could be seen sinking into the river.
On Monday a friend of the couple said: ‘John has pretty much reconciled himself to losing his ancient seat built by his forebears in the mid-15th century, but he’s said the most important thing is that he and his wife escaped unscathed.
‘They bailed out when they heard the roar of one of the walls of their walled garden being swept away.’