Abergeldie Castle – could it be saved from the Dee?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/flooding/12079203/Floods-threaten-castle-of-Queens-Balmoral-neighbour.html

What if anything could be done at the eleventh hour to save the castle? Sixty feet of the garden was washed away overnight, it doesn’t look promising.

Unfortunate, but I’m more concerned about Invercauld Bridge

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/734781_552903947293_8933415928515663282_n.jpg?oh=8a2b65d55315ba9a7b4b5a365444bd68&oe=56FFCB5E

A line of sheet piles would be my suggestion. Not cheap though, but would be fairly quick and would allow for something more substantial when it dries out a bit.

A nice building but he should receive the same support as ordinary folk who have also lost their homes. Time to look again at SEPA funding at renewable energy and at land use/management

The Mirror has better photos

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/historic-castle-teeters-brink-disaster-7110323

I think it’s **** Jim

Actually, that castle looks like it’s about to fall into the river. There should be a planned demolition to make sure it doesn’t as the debris and rubble could cause further flooding and damage downstream.

https://www.facebook.com/andy.kay.1485/videos/10207067247733201/?theater

Looks likes his mates need to get there hands in there pockets and Bail him out.

It was a long way from the river earlier this year when we paddled past…

And invercauld bridge 😯

Aye, that’s the bridge closed “for several months”. Bit of a detour required.

In the end the poor soul was in such an awful position that his only hope was to go to one of his other houses, A true tragedy.

sweepy – Member
In the end the poor soul was in such an awful position that his only hope was to go to one of his other houses, A true tragedy.

What an unpleasant thing to say. You do come across as a nasty little person. I hope it never happens to you – you won’t be deserving much sympathy.

scotroutes – Member

Aye, that’s the bridge closed “for several months”. Bit of a detour required.

I wonder if some kind of bailey bridge could be used in a situation like this.

He’s not a very nice person http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/queen-s-friend-facing-legal-action-over-royal-deeside-right-to-roam-1-1032339

I’m sure he’s not short of a bob or two, but no doubt somehow the taxpayer will fund this repair.

Frankly couldn’t give a damn. Have far more sympathy for the thousands of uninsured folk South of the Border.

and those in the Deeside valley

@bruneep – read the article. So not a nice guy. Fair enough – thanks for the heads up. Still not going to hope that a listed building falls down, though.

sounds like he’ll have to sell off some of the 11700 acres!!

Frankly couldn’t give a damn. Have far more sympathy for the thousands of uninsured folk South of the Border.

Why are people uninsured?

sounds like he’ll have to sell off some of the 11700 acres!!

Oh the horror!

Why are people uninsured?

Quite hard to get flood insurance in some places now. And many people can’t afford insurance.

If the river wants to evict him or Abergeldie Castle no power on this earth will be able to stop that …

I am afraid time is up for him and his castle to go as nature does not want him there anymore.

😛

And there’s a simple solution here – he can donate the castle to the nation. It’s a nice building, I’m sure Historic Scotland would be happy to look after it, and the government can cough up enough to stabilise the banks.

I don’t need your approval or sympathy Julian, and I’ll save mine for people that really need it.

If insurers deem your property at risk from pluvial flooding then you will be an unacceptable risk to insure.

bencooper – Member

And there’s a simple solution here – he can donate the castle to the nation. It’s a nice building, I’m sure Historic Scotland would be happy to look after it, and the government can cough up enough to stabilise the banks.

Waste of money and time that is …

Demolish it using tower bomb and let nature claim back the land.

😮

edit: recycle the stones as I think they are good castle stones …

Thats actually very sad situation he faces, like most in this winter of ours there are a lot of folks loosing their home, their possessions and most likely a helluva lot of memories.
I’d hazard a guess that if that goes over into the river, that there will be a lot of personal possessions going with it too.. Doubt that they’ll be able to salvage much from it..

My sympathies lie with anyone forced into this situation due to circumstances well beyond their control.

surely a bit of rip rap would sort that out

>and those in the Deeside valley<

Are there any uninsured masses in the Deeside Valley? If so then yes, for sure.

The castle doesn’t seem to have much specific historical or architectural importance, is that fair? A-listed but not outstanding or unique… And also, not open to the public. Which altogether, makes it a shame but a private matter for the landowner. Though it’s a nonissue clearly since anyone who’s so keen to keep the public off his land certainly wouldn’t accept any public funding to fix his house.

The bridge is just down the road from the bit of the A93 that collapsed into the river, isn’t it? I had it mixed up with another one further up on the tomintoul road I think

Reckon that could be a goner

the government can cough up enough to stabilise the banks.

Hang on. Didn’t they do that already? 😆

properbikeco – Member
sounds like he’ll have to sell off some of the 11700 acres!!

surely its a bit less now…

450 year old? Doesn’t owe him anything. Demolish and use the stone for a new hoose further from the river. A better long term plan than spending a fortune stabilising the river bank.

Though it’s a nonissue clearly since anyone who’s so keen to keep the public off his land certainly wouldn’t accept any public funding to fix his house.

Sadly, that.

Land owner needs too sheet pile out into the river, excavate the slop out to good ground, infill and compact suitable material. I’d say he needs to get cracking to. I’d give it a week until his house collapses.

The castle doesn’t seem to have much specific historical or architectural importance, is that fair? A-listed but not outstanding or unique…

?

Category A
Buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic; or fine, little-altered examples of some particular period, style or building type. (About 8% of total listed buildings.)

If insurers deem your property at risk from pluvial flooding then you will be an unacceptable risk to insure.

While I understand your point, Insurance shouldn’t really work like this should it.

Sadly Nickc, insurance is a profit making exercise, and that will mean you won’t get insurers signing up to guaranteed or acceptable losses.

Living alongside the Falls of Dochart for years meant we had no flood or subsidence insurance available, bar a couple of specialist insurers who wanted thousands a year and a £10k or £20k excess. The site has never flooded in 600 years of a village being there, and the house was built into and directly on bedrock….

Well, I don’t know what it’s like further up river but it’s certainly rising again further down. Not as bad as last week (yet) but we’ve another 36 hours of heavy rain forecast. Reckon I best be to getting everything I can up off the floors again.

As for uninsured in the Dee valley I heard of one woman last week. As it was from the estate factor she’ll be a tenant (like me). I’m sure there’ll be more. Not everyone here is landed gentry (or oil oligarch’s). Just ordinary people trying to get by (like everywhere else).

Sadly Nickc, insurance is a profit making exercise, and that will mean you won’t get insurers signing up to guaranteed or acceptable losses.

Indeed, but the whole point is that risk should be spread amongst policy holders for the benefit of the policyholders, not the shareholders… Should be something that is looked at alongside better flood protection and resilience. Won’t be though.