URY HOUSE
A brief history
The Ury Mansion has had a colourful history.
The original property burnt down in 1645, before being completely rebuilt as Ury House in 1855 by architect John Baird.
Ury was acquired in 1648 by Colonel David Barclay, whose son Robert used the mansion as the North East Scotland headquarters of the Quakers.
In the 1730s, David's great-grandson James joined the banker Joseph Freame in his business in London, from which Barclays Bank traces its origins.
Recent development history:
22 December 1989: The Aberdeen Evening Express reports that a Building Preservation Notice has been served, after Ury Estates Ltd planned to demolish the house.
7 February 1990: The Aberdeen Press and Journal reports on the history of the house.
March 1990: The house is B-listed as a result of the Building Preservation Notice.
May 1990: External inspection reveals the house to be roofless and ruinous.
August 2001: External inspection reveals no change.
April 2002: The house and grounds are sold to F.M. Developments Ltd.
February 2003: SCT receives information that trees are being removed from the surrounding grounds and the walled garden.
7 March 2004: The Sunday Times reports that the house is to be rebuilt to house new apartments, with 9 houses built in the surrounding grounds.
April 2004: Historic Scotland reports that a planning application has been submitted.
October 2006: SCT has had a chat with owner re proposals for the site.
December 2006: Press and Journal report that the proposed £40 million restoration and redevelopment of Ury and surrounding land has been turned down by councilors stating that the proposed 138 houses was over ambitious.
December 2007: External inspection finds the property to be a consolidated ruin with the risk of ongoing structural deterioration and collapse. Planning Permission and LBC has been applied for the Mansion, Footbridge, Road Bridge, Ice House and Associated Structures to new use as a Hotel with Ancillary Uses and Golf Club House with all Associated Car Parking, Landscaping and Engineering Works. Ref: APP/2007/2011.
May 2008: BBC News website reports plans for a hotel, golf course and homes at the Ury Estate have been approved and will be submitted for approval to Aberdeenshire Infrastructure Services Committee and Scottish Ministers.
June 2008: The Scotsman reports that plans for the hotel, leisure and housing development have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council‘s Infrastructure Services committee. Comprising golf course, hotel, leisure facilities and 238 houses. Restoration of Ury House will be financed through this enabling development.
August 2008: Mearns Leader reports that the development company plan to restore Ury House and create the golf course as priority. The housing development is to be carried out later.
February 2009: BBC Scotland reports that the company behind the development has gone into administration but hope remains to sell the estate and continue with the proposals.
September 2010: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit. The property continues to deteriorate.
27 April 2012: BBC news website reports the Ury Estate has been bought from administrators appointed after the collapse of FM Developments. The article notes the new owner's intention to concentrate on the agricultural use of the land initially, with an aim to a later restoration of Ury House with a possible commercial development of the land, should the economic climate be supportive.
14 August 2013: External inspection finds the site boundary has been secured, otherwise, the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously.
30 May 2014: Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for Alterations and Reinstatement of Derelict Mansion House, Associated Car Parking, Landscaping and Engineering Works, Refurbishment of Footbridge, Road Bridge, Ice House and Refurbishment and Alterations to Walled Garden are currently being sought ref: APP/2014/1711 & APP/2014/1714.
10 August 2015: The property is currently scaffolded to allow masonry repairs to be carried out ahead of full restoration and conversion to hotel use. Moved to Restoration in Progress.