Freswick Castle

Freswick Castle is a late 17th century house that underwent significant changes in the late 18th century. This tall mansion features three storeys above a raised basement and is situated on a mound. The north front is symmetrical with five bays, highlighted by an advanced and gabled centre bay topped with an apex ball finial. A single bay rear wing rises to full height at the southeast.

The exterior is harled, with ashlar margins and dressings made from Eday stone from Orkney. To the southwest corner of the main house, there is a roofless, harl pointed rubble, two-storey, irregular six-bay range that extends south, forming the west side of a high-walled courtyard. This courtyard is accessed through a round-headed entrance with channelled jambs and features a dummy portcullis. To the right of the main entrance, there is a segmental-headed carriage house entrance, along with two doorways and three narrow slit vents.

The principal doorway is located on the south front of the house within the courtyard, accessible via a splayed flight of steps with a coped rubble balustrade. Additional secondary entrances are found in the west elevation of the centre bay, the north front, and in the southeast wing, all at raised basement level. The windows decrease in size on the upper storeys and feature lying pane glazing. The building has a moulded eaves cornice, skewputts, and crowsteps on all but the south gable of the southeast wing. The end and ridge stacks have been renewed, and the roof is covered with Caithness slate.

Inside, there is a vaulted basement wheel stair and an imported marble chimney piece in the drawing room. Some panelled doors remain, but much of the interior has been modernized.

The courtyard is enclosed by high coped rubble walls to the east and south, extending to the east towards the steading.