Crathes Farmsteading, West Range (Stables), Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire: Historic Building Recording Report

AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by the National Trust for Scotland to undertake a measured survey and historic building record of the redundant west range of the Crathes Farmsteading within the Crathes Castles Estate. Crathes Castle Farmsteading was constructed in the early 19th century with later buildings added to the west side in the later 19th century, including some cottages, a rifle range and a kennels. The west range has always served as a cart shed and (later) as a stable block, with cart entrances facing the courtyard on the east side. There are five distinct spaces within the building which include a former bothy/forge, a larger stable block, and three former cart sheds, now converted to machine storage and general storage. Later blockings of original cart openings occurred at some point a stables block was created within the building in the position of a former cart shed. Some of the original stone cobbled flooring has also survived in three of the former cart sheds. In 2011, renovations to the farm buildings saw the exterior re-harled and the north and east wings of the farmsteading converted to a café.