Stenton Estate

Stenton Estate History

The main house of Stenton Estate is a stunning Victorian mansion, with the original Laird’s house forming the modern day family rooms.

 

The building dates from the 18th century and has a well planned south facing aspect. Built of stone under a slate roof the house has been altered and added to during Victorian times to include among other things a dowager house.

 

The private gardens and grounds cover some six acres with the formal gardens to the East and lawns sweeping down towards woodland and the River Tay where fly fishing can be enjoyed. The land also includes an ancient Pictish fort known as Kemp’s Hold, which has been scheduled as an ancient monument.

 

 

Kemp's Hold

 

Kemp's Hold is what remains of a pictish fort on the ridge above the Craig of Stenton, widely thought to be an outpost of the Caledonian army. The area was planted with trees in 1777, and at this time some weapon fragments were recovered from the site.

 

Nothing remains of the actual structure today but the fort was understood to have measured approximately 85 x 20 metres with either ditches or cliffs on all sides. Remnants of the defensive ditches are visible to this day.