Vandals have caused more than £100,000 of damage to an A-listed building that has housed schoolgirls, RAF servicemen and the elderly.
Culter House at Milltimber, which dates back to the 16th century, was targeted earlier this summer with the culprits smashing the windows, spraying graffiti on the walls and damaging antique banisters and stairways.
Police have been unable to find the vandals, and have now launched an appeal to the public to help track them down.
The property – which was latterly a care home until 2004 – was broken into at about 7pm on August 16.
Constable Lee Buckley last night appealed for anyone with information to get in touch about the incident, which caused severe damage to the ancient building.
He said: “Extensive inquiries have been carried out but we are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact us. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious is asked to come forward.”
Culter House was first built more than 300 years ago to be the seat of the powerful Cumin family – who were essentially the lairds of Culter.
Although the building itself was previously damaged in a fire in the early 1900s, large portions of the it still stand as they did when it was first constructed in the late 16th century and it features a number of “irreplaceable” architectural elements.
After the fire, it was sold to celebrated north-east architect Marshall MacKenzie, who designed Aberdeen Art Gallery, Crathie Church and Marr Lodge.
The building later was used in World War II, then as a boarding house for St Margaret’s School for Girls, until 1983, when it was taken over as a care home.
It is understood to now be owned by tycoon Tom Cross, founder of Parkmead Group. He declined to comment last night.
Historian Chris Croly, of Aberdeen University, said it was a great shame the “tremendously important” building had been targeted by vandals.
He said: “The development of Culter as we know it today was entirely fundamentally linked to the Cumin family.
“The house still has the at least 17th century carving of the coat of arms adorning it, which is irreplaceable as it was put there by the family on their building.
“It definitely deserves its A-listing, there are not many houses of this vintage in the Scotland, especially with its 18th century walled garden, it is tremendously important historically.”