House & Family History: George, 5th Earl Marischal, founded Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1589. George, 10th and last Earl Marischal (1692-1778), was a major player in the 1715 uprising; as a result, he lived most of his life in exile on the Continent, serving Frederick II of Prussia as his ambassador in Madrid and Paris. John Keith played the crucial role of protecting the Scottish regalia (crown jewels) during the siege of Dunnottar Castle by Cromwell's troops during the winter of 1651-52 (Keith secretly removed the regalia from the Castle and hid them in Kinneff Church); in reward, upon the Restoration, he was appointed knight marischal of Scotland and created 1st Earl of Kintore by Charles II. In 1661 the new Lord Kintore purchased the chartered lands of Caskieben, which he renamed Keith Hall. The once-huge Estate of Keith Hall was reduced to 635 acres by 1965, down from 18,000 acres in 1914. Keith Hall is a traditional Scottish Baronial style Z-plan house of four stories with a 16th century core and a South Façade of the late 17th century. Kit Martin purchased the House in 1985 and converted it into 14 condos.

Collections: Some contents of Keith Hall were sold by Christie's on March 18, 2009.

Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds of Keith Hall contain the Pictish Stone, originally found in the River Don; this symbolic stone stands on top of a mound known as Caskieben, the original name of the House.

Vitruvius Scoticus: Adam, W., pls. 143-145, 1810.

House Listed: Category A

Park Listed: Listed

Past Seat / Home of: William Keith, 4th Earl Marischal, 16th century. Francis Alexander Keith-Falconer, 8th Earl of Kintore, 19th century; Keith family here from 1660 until 1985.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No