Gelston Castle

A ruined Adam-style country house in Dumfries and Galloway. Gelston Castle lies amongst woodland 2½ miles (4 km) south southeast of Castle Douglas. It takes the form of a toy fort and was constructed in red sandstone c.1805 for Sir William Douglas (1745 - 1809), founder of Castle Douglas. Comprising three storeys, the entrance front (to the south) features a square central bay between round corner tower and once had a grand stairway rising to the entrance on the principal floor. Identical corner towers to the rear frame an unusual garden elevation comprising a pair of curving bays either side of a central octagonal tower. The architect was probably Richard Crichton (c.1771 - 1817), a pupil of the Adam brothers. The castle passed to his niece Mathilda, who into the Maitland family. It later passed to the Galliers-Pratt family. Requisitioned during the Second World War, it served as a home for boys evacuated from Glasgow. Having become to expensive to maintain, its roof was removed in the 1950s and in the 1970s the estate was acquired by the Scott family. Despite its condition, the building was A-listed in 1990. The nearby B-listed stable block has been converted into housing and is let as self-catering holiday accommodation.


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