In a survey made in about 1715 Cherdon is referred to as an `ancient pile'. Earlier documents, from the 13th century, record Sir David Lindsay as having land at Chirdon and only a few years before he was said to be building a tower house. Although this tower was once thought to have stood at Chirdon, there is no trace of any such building and the tower is now believed to have been Dally Castle and not Chirdon.