Huntly Arms Hotel Gazebo, Charlestown Road, Aboyne

Single storey, octagonal-plan rustic gazebo, with tall swept roof overhanging to form shelter; located to the S of Huntly Arms Hotel (see separate listing). Vertically boarded central cabin with latticed leaded fixed-pane windows. Rustic timber quoins and columns supporting roof. Grey slate swept octagonal roof with lead ridges and timber finial; decorative patterns to each face.

The gazebo appears on the 1st Edition OS Map linked to an informal arrangement of garden paths. Most garden buildings of this date stand within the policies of private houses - this is an unusual example belonging to a hotel. The decorative roof slating pattern on the gazebo depicts the heart, spade, club and diamond motifs of a deck of playing cards, referring to the laird and the hotelier who were in the habit of gambling together. (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry)

23 September 2022: Nominated for the Register by local planners. The gazebo and associated hotel has been disused for several years and are of concern to the local community as they are becoming dilapidated and have been the target of vandals. The gazebo has had security fencing installed around it. The council has approached the owner to progress repairs at the site but none have yet taken place. For Investigation.

26 September 2022: Local planners nominate the building for the Register along with the associated former hotel. Both buildings have been disused for several years and the gazebo has suffered vandalism, including an attempt at fire-raising. Desk-based assessment using photographs supplied by Aberdeenshire Council, taken in June 2022.
The structure, which lies in open garden ground to the south-west of the hotel alongside the public road, has had security fencing erected around its perimeter. The roof appears to be in fair condition - leadwork is intact as in the finial. Slates are intact on most pitches but a couple are now missing to two pitches. Beneath eaves, wood paneling has been lost, exposing insulation material (horsehair?). The timber walls are generally in fair condition and retain their painted finish. The evidence of an attempt at fire-raising is evident adjacent to the entrance. The timber posts are intact, some have narrow but full height cracks. The leaded glass windows have protective installed but much of the glazing has been broken. The entrance is secured with a decorative iron gate, the interior is visible behind and wall paneling and seating appears to remain intact but insulation on the floor suggests paneling to the ceiling has been damaged. Empty bottles lie on the floor. Overall the building remains in fair overall condition but at high risk of further vandalism, fire being of particular concern. Move to At Risk.

3 February 2023: Local planners report that repair works, as specified within an Amenity Notice (COMP/2022/039) served by Aberdeenshire Council in November 2022, are underway at the associated hotel and are expected to complete shortly. The gazebo does not form part of these works.