The Knights Templar

Maryculter House has been 800 years in the making. We can trace our history right back to the time of the Great Crusades, when the Knights Templar were granted part of the land of Culter, on the south side of the River Dee, by King William the Lion in 1187.

Between 1221 and 1236, the powerful Bisset family, the Lords of Aboyne, founded the Preceptory, or College, of the Knights Templar on the site of Maryculter House. All that remains of these buildings today are the stone vaulted chambers located underneath the Great Hall, and the somewhat enchanting burial grounds and chapel ruins in the grounds next to the hotel.

Dating back to 1460, our atmospheric Great Hall is the most ancient part of the hotel, and is redolent with historic grandeur. Indeed it is probably one of the oldest continually inhabited dwellings in the area.

The Knights of St John of Jerusalem remained at Maryculter for over 200 years, until the eve of the Reformation. In 1312 Pope Clement V and Philippe Le Bel, King of France, suppressed the Knights Templar, as did King Edward II. With that,the order of the Templars was abolished, and their lands on Deeside confiscated.

The Thunder Hole

One of the most famous legends surrounding the Knights Templar at Maryculter revolves around a certain Godfrey Wedderburn. As a young man he fought in the Middle East during the Crusades, but was badly wounded in combat with one of the Saracen leaders. His daughter secretly nursed the young Godfrey back to health, giving him a ring which could only be worn by those who were pure of heart.

Godfrey eventually made his way back to Maryculter with a group of Templars. Several years later he spotted his saviour, who was miraculously in Maryculter, and they embraced. Unfortunately the Grand Master refused to believe their story. An enraged Godfrey struck the Master and was sentenced to death by his own hand.

As he plunged the dagger into his heart, the woman snatched the ring she had given him and forced the Master to wear it. Instantly a blinding light flashed and a blue bolt of fire struck deep into the earth as the Master disappeared. Legend has it that to this day, on the anniversary of the tragedy, the huge hole in the ground shines with a pale blue light.

The Jacobites

Maryculter House has strong links with the Jacobite rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his father in the 18th century. A turbulent period of Scottish history, it has captured imaginations around the globe, thanks in no small part to the small screen phenomenon that is Outlander.

While Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall are fictional characters, Maryculter House was home to a very real, prominent Jacobite in the form of William Menzies. A descendant of the Menzies clan who bought the land of Maryculter House in 1535, he was Laird of the estate during the first half of the 18th century. In 1720 he had to contend with a great fire which ravaged the building.

A renowned Jacobite, Menzies was part of the group which sought to restore the exiled Stuart monarchy to the British thrones. He was a staunch supporter of the ‘Old Pretender’ – James Edward Stuart – and fought for his cause in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. At least 6 of his (many) sons fought for Prince Charles in the Jacobite uprising of 1745, and the following year in the last – and bloodiest – battle to be fought on British soil – the Battle of Culloden.

The Victorians

In 1811 the last Laird, John Menzies sold the Maryculter estate to the HonourableGeneral William Gordon of Fyvie, who added substantially to the property during his tenure. He used to travel from the village to Maryculter with a team of ox wagons carrying his luggage and servants. In fact, you can still see the stone stables for the oxen near the mains of Maryculter. Also dating from this period is the weather cock above the Great Hall featuring the Gordon family crest – a bow and arrow in an archer’s grasp.

When William Gordon died in 1847, single and childless following the rejection of his one and only suit, he left the property to his cousin, Captain William Cosmo Gordon.

The last Gordon Laird, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, bought the estate soon after surviving the Titanic disaster before selling it to various different owners some 20 years later. During the Second World War, Maryculter House was used as a training ground for the fire service, before becoming a hotel soon after the armistice.

The here-and-now

Currently the hotel is privately owned by a family who are passionate about ensuring our guests enjoy their time with us. Maryculter House has been renowned for welcoming travellers throughout its long and fascinating history, and it’s a tradition we are proud to continue.