Esslemont Castle
Located in Aberdeenshire west of
Ellon, Esslemont was passed by
marriage from the family of Mareschal
to the Cheynes of Straloch in the 14th
century. The castle was then
destroyed as the result of a feud
between the Cheynes and the Hays.
Later the hall was rebuilt but lost to
the Earls of Errol during the
reformation. It was sold in 1728 to
Robert Gordon who abandoned it in
favor of a new structure in 1769.
Pictured right is the Gordon of
Esslemont tartan. Formerly identified
incorrectly as Ancient Gordon,
research by Captain Wolrige-Gordon
of Esslemont made the correct
identification. From correspondance
between the Duke of Gordon and the
weaver, Forsyth of Huntly, it was
found that three versions of the
proposed tartan for the Gordon
Fencibles Regiment (later used by the
Gordon Highlanders Regiment) were
made for the Duke's choice. The Duke
chose the version with one yellow
stripe over-check. He then offered the other two versions to the Cadet branches,
Esslemont chose the three stripe version.
