Crimonmogate
The estate formed part of Lonmay parish, dates back to the 14th century, and was included in the lands owned by the powerful Earls of Erroll.
After Milne's death the estate passed to the Bannerman family, who continued to develop the lands and completed the construction of the mansion, also adding a mansard roof later.
As a publicity stunt, Monckton falsely claimed in 2000 that he was having to offer it for sale to pay prize money after the Eternity puzzle was solved years sooner than anticipated.
In 2001 the estate was bought by a former Chanel model and her husband, Viscount Petersham, who continued the renovation work and use the property as a function and wedding facility although bookings for weddings were discontinued at the end of 2016.Crimonmogate means the "road through the cow pasture by the peat moss" and the estate dates back to the 14th century.
The road originally referred to is no longer in use but marks the edge of the southern perimeter of the current estate lands.
[3] Papers of James VI, dated April 1592, show the land ratified in favour of the Laird of Urie, John Hay.
[6] In October 1700 William II ratified the lands in favour of John Hay, Earl of Erroll and Lord High Constable of Scotland.
[9] Plans and illustrations produced during the Abernethys' ownership of the Crimonmogate estate around forty years later in 1776 depict a barren landscape devoid of trees with a simple three-storey house.
[18][a] He was involved in "electoral chicanery" in 1807 but successfully stood as a member of parliament representing the Elgin burghs from 30 October 1812 until 11 July 1818.
[19][20] Another Aberdeen architect, Archibald Simpson, was commissioned by Milne to design a new house as the centre piece of the estate at Crimond.
[8][27] Bannerman's son, Alexander (1823–1877) the 9th baronet, progressed with further upgrading and he added a third storey with a mansard roof featuring dormer windows to the mansion around 1860.
[22] The 9th baronet's first wife, George Sackville-West, 5th Earl De La Warr's daughter Arabella-Diana, died in 1869 and is buried at Lonmay.
[25][31] During the Second World War managerial staff of the Fraserburgh based Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company were resident in the mansion.
Oh, and at the top of the house, there was a 45ft beehive.In the course of the renovations Monckton had 170 window frames replaced, roof repairs done, corrected the damp issues by installing storage heating and had the infestations eradicated.
[35][36] In 2000, Monckton claimed he had to sell the mansion and estate after Eternity, a puzzle he invented, was solved within months rather than the anticipated years and he needed to raise funds to pay a proportion of the £1 million prize money.
[44] In February 2013, Aberdeenshire Council approved plans to convert some disused estate buildings including the steadings, the Piggery, Creamery and Laundry, to hotel rooms, a spa, a gym and a restaurant.
[42] Constructed with granite from Kemnay, the mansion house has a Greek Doric three-quarter height portico with six columns set to the centre of the south-facing front elevation.
[49] At this time a one-storey extension—intended as a dining room that could also be used as a ballroom—was added to the east front with a broad bay window facing looking out to the garden.
[48] The hall is described by McKean as: "a perfect cube, its proportions emphasised by tall, fluted Corinthian columns which lead up to a magnificent cornice and a coffered ceiling, a glazed dome at the centre.
