Gelston Castle

Gelston Castle is an important country house built circa 1805, attributed to Richard Crichton on stylistic grounds. It is constructed in the Adam castellated style and, although now roofless and gutted, remains complete to wallhead. The house has a square plan with round towers at each corner and slightly ramped walls. It comprises two stories over a raised basement, with a three-story advanced central bay to the front elevation, creating a tower-like effect. The walls are of finely tooled and droved red sandstone. Built for Sir William Douglas of Castle Douglas, it forms a group with Gelston Castle Stables, Coach House and Gatepiers.

The front elevation has a 1-3-3-3-1 bay arrangement, with round towers to the outer bays. It features single-light bays, and a castellated central bay with narrow lights in advanced clasping towers, flanking a recessed, wider centre bay. A curved perron stair, now demolished, previously oversailed the raised basement and provided access to a tripartite entrance with round-arched openings. All ground floor windows are round-arched. The side elevations have plain single-light windows. The garden front has a complex 1-3-3-1 bay arrangement with three-light bowed bays flanking a central three-light canted bay. The windows were originally sash and case with 12-pane glazing. Band courses run above the basement and at the first and first-floor cill levels. A corbelled crenellated parapet tops the building, with diminutive turrets atop each round tower.

Much of the interior is destroyed; internal walls were constructed using brick, and the basement has brick vaulting. A cantilevered oval service stair was located to the left of the hall, and fragments of timber panelling, doorpieces and chimneypieces remain. The design is strongly influenced by the Castle style of Robert Adam and demonstrates masonry of the very highest quality.