page_title: Oyne
section_title: Harthill Castle
hierarchical_section_title: Oyne / Harthill Castle
context_page_description: Oyne is a small village in rural Aberdeenshire at the bottom of Bennachie in Scotland.
context_section_description: Of note is the ancient seat of the family of Leith of Harthill, Harthill Castle (sometimes called 'Torries'), which stands close to the parish church. It dates from at least the 15th century and was extensively restored in 1638 by John Leith, the "violent laird". The castle was set on fire in the late 17th century, possible by John's son, Patrick Leith, to prevent it from falling into the hands of Leith creditors. It stood as a ruin for the next 300 years.
  Ann Tweedy Savage purchased the castle in 1975 and with Slessor Troup, one of the area's top master masons, restored it between 1975 and 1977. The restoration work won the Saltire Award in 1977.
  Harthill Castle is a pink-washed Z-plan twin-tower building, seven storeys (77 ft or 23 m) high, made of solid granite, and set in woodland and farmland in Oyne at the foot of Bennachie. The ground floor is vaulted and has arrow slits and musket holes for windows. The next two storeys are partially vaulted. There are circular staircases in each tower, each rising counter-clockwise. The Great Hall has a 17-foot (5.2 m) fireplace that predates the building and was probably brought to the property by the Leiths from their previous home.
  In 2001, the owner of Harthill made a steading which is located in the same area. The owner lets the local children go in once a year for a little party for the youth club.
caption: Harthill Castle
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