Huntly Castle Hotel

The Huntly Castle Hotel, originally known as Sandiestone, is a substantial building with a complex history of construction and alteration, primarily dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The earliest part of the house is a three-story block at the east end, built in 1752. It is harled (rough cast) and has a tall, sloping roof. Around 1757, a two-story addition was made to the south front, constructed from squared granite. This addition appears to have been extended and improved further around 1813-1827, likely on behalf of the Duchess Elizabeth, as indicated by historical records. A large, symmetrical three-story addition of ashlar granite was probably built around 1800 or 1814-1820. It features a four-window central section flanked by canted bays containing one, two, and one windows respectively (the ground floor bays are configured 1/3/1). The building has a plain parapet and lacks a cornice. "Minor Works" were carried out by Archibald Simpson in 1822. A two-story rear wing, including a porch with a simple architraved doorpiece, was added by Archibald Simpson around 1832. The interior and exterior present a very severe aesthetic. Sculpted details recovered from the nearby Huntly Castle have been incorporated into the north wall of the original house. The dates of construction are somewhat uncertain, with varying records and no explicit documentation in the Gordon family archives. Historical accounts suggest the south front addition was hastily extended following the marriage of the Dowager Duchess Katherine in 1756, and later enlarged and improved for the Duchess Elizabeth. Further work may have been undertaken by George Burn around 1800, and potentially by Simpson in the 1832 rear wing. Records suggest possible redecoration work occurred in 1837/8.