Ogle Castle

Ogle Castle is a house, likely the hall block of a former castle, dating primarily to the early 16th century, with medieval origins and a 16th-century west wing. Mid-20th century restoration and minor additions have also occurred. The main block is constructed of squared stone with cut dressings, while the west wing is of large rubble construction. Both have stone slate roofs. The building is arranged in an L-shape.

The south elevation is divided into two sections. The main block is two storeys high with four bays, exhibiting an irregular arrangement. It features a studded door within a chamfered surround and hoodmould. There are two 3-light windows on the left and one on the right at ground level, with 2-light windows above. A sundial above the door bears the inscription "1717, SK". All windows are leaded casements in double-chamfered surrounds, some of which have been renewed, with 4-centred-arched lights and hollow-chamfered hoodmoulds. The right-gable has coped gables with a stepped and corniced stack, and a double stack runs along the ridge. A slightly projecting, cross-gabled three-storey bay is on the left, featuring similar 3-light windows and a transomed upper window, alongside a smaller 2-light window on the second floor. The left return of the wing shows a projecting stack with a corbelled-out projection to the left, alongside scattered 20th-century fenestration, and a two-storey 20th-century bay on the far left.

The rear elevation of the main block reveals 16th-century first-floor windows consisting of two 4-centred-arched lights on either side of a small 20th-century stair wing. The inner return of the wing on the right is characterized by two original 2-light windows; the upper one lacks its mullion.

Internally, the dining room (hall) features a large fireplace with a moulded surround, partially removed. The sitting room (kitchen) has a large, segmental-arched fireplace with a rounded arris. The Oak room in the wing has a smaller, moulded fireplace which has been re-set from the first floor. Contemporary ceilings incorporate hollow stop-chamfered beams and grooved joists. Numerous doorways have chamfered surrounds, and both doorways and windows have segmental rear arches. A pair of 2-centred-arched doorways are where the north wall joins the wing—one with a chamfered arch, the other blocked, with a stepped arch. A segmental arch above a newel stair begins on the first floor, where remnants of the stairwell and two square-headed doorways remain. Smaller 16th-century fireplaces are found on the first floor. The roof of the main block shows seven principal-rafter trusses with collars, possibly re-set, and a chamfered single-light window now opens into the roof of the wing.

Historical records suggest the house may have been the hall of a castle with a curtain wall and half-round towers. A license to crenellate was granted to Robert de Ogle in 1341. Hutchinson’s history in 1776 documented the remains of a circular tower to the east of the house, which was demolished during rebuilding of the gable end and the addition of farm buildings. 20th-century extensions on the north side are not of particular architectural interest.