Arbigland House

Arbigland House is a grand Classical mansion house, built in the 18th century for and likely designed by William Craik of Arbigland. The chimneypiece, dated 1755, may indicate the approximate date of the house's construction. It is two storeys high with a raised basement, and demonstrates a symmetrical design with projecting flanking wings. The house has undergone alterations and additions over time.

The exterior is constructed of coursed and squared rubble, accentuated by contrasting red ashlar dressings and rusticated quoins. The south elevation features five bays, with the central three bays projecting and topped with a pediment. Giant Ionic pilasters are prominent on this section, and the ground floor is slightly forward with a corniced square porch added in the second quarter of the 19th century. This porch incorporates a pedimented doorcase and rusticated quoins. The outer windows are framed with lugged architraves, while the ground floor windows have segmental pediments and aprons. Upper-floor windows are characterised by bracketed sills. A base course and cornice run along the façade, topped with urn finials to the low parapet. Dormers are present, and symmetrically placed stacks are integrated into the design. The flanking wings feature canted fronts and facetted roofs, each crowned with apex urn finials. These wings are linked to the main house via single bays incorporating alcove niches. The house has three-bay flanks; the inner bays of the north elevation also project and are pedimented. A bow window was likely added in the late 18th century, and the fenestration has been altered, with some windows now mullioned. A single wooden oriel window is also present, along with square additions extending to the east and west of the main house, which are linked to the wings. The roof is slated.

William Craik was a competent architect, and it is likely he designed several of the 18th-century buildings on the estate, including his own home. A sketch from 1833, held by the National Records of Scotland, depicts the front of the house before the later additions, showing a perron (a formal staircase leading to an entrance). These later additions are documented on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1851.

The well-maintained gardens, which are open to the public, include architectural features such as a wellhead with a decorative iron pulley bracket, and a loggia within a walled area, believed to mark the site of an earlier house. The group value extends to Arbigland House, the former stables, gatepiers, and the walled garden.