Newton Castle

Newton Castle is a substantial, mid-16th century house of Z-plan design, incorporating a vaulted circular west tower and a square east tower. Minor alterations occurred in the 18th century, and a wing was added to the northwest in 1883, potentially by Lake Falconer. Dormer windows were likely added around 1820 and a doorpiece and screen wall were constructed in the 1920s by G F M Ogilvy. The interior features decorative details dating to around 1700 and the late 18th century. The exterior is whitewashed with stone margins. The building is constructed of sandstone, with pedimented and moulded red sandstone used for the doorpiece and dormerheads. Features include corbels, crowstepped gables and dormerheads.

The northeast (entrance) elevation is four-bay, with a tall three-storey and attic block to the left of centre. This block features a doorway with a coat of arms displayed on a pediment above, alongside two windows on each floor and a small attic window to the right. A square stairtower projects to the left outer side, featuring gunloop openings and a small stair turret corbelled out over the second floor. A carved human face is present on the lowest corbel projecting from the re-entrant angle to the right. An 1883 wing extends to the right, with a window in the centre at ground level, alongside a smaller window to the right and regular fenestration to each floor above, with second-floor windows breaking the eaves into pedimented dormerheads. A further low extension is located to the extreme right.

The southeast (original entrance) elevation includes an advanced stair tower to the right, with three vertically-aligned small windows. A door is set in a re-entrant angle to the left, accompanied by a splayed gunloop immediately to the right and a further small window abutting the eaves. The set-back face to the left is two-bay and displays asymmetrical fenestration, with an additional small window at the second floor level and two pedimented dormers rising from the wallhead.

The southwest elevation features a gabled bay to the right of centre, with three small gunloop openings to the left. A round tower projects from the left side with three vertically-aligned windows; the first-floor window has red sandstone quoins, and the second-floor window features a semicircular stone cill and corbelled setting. A wallhead dormer, dated '18' '20?', is positioned above a set-back square face, along with three further windows to the first, second floor and attic, returning to the right.

The northwest (rear) elevation is asymmetrically fenestrated and altered, incorporating a single-storey wing projecting from the circular tower and a cobbled courtyard formed by a low two-storey extension. A door is located to the left ground of a largely blank gabled centre bay.

The windows are timber sash and case with multi-pane glazing. The roof is covered with grey slates, and the stacks are coped and harled, featuring thackstanes and some cans.

Inside, a fine decorative scheme remains, including a first-floor drawing room with pine panelling dating to around 1700, a moulded corniced fire surround with a panelled overmantel and flanking Ionic pilasters. A smaller drawing room within the round tower has similar panelling and a moulded fire surround. Spiral stone staircases provide access, as does a small private stair within the wall thickness, leading to bedrooms from the drawing room. The main bedroom (above the dining room) has curved doors. The second floor contains three interconnecting bedrooms. A passage leads through an 8-inch thick wall to a vaulted ground-floor chamber of the circular tower, featuring a stone-flagged floor. A library, located in the later north wing, features a carved timber fire surround and panelled dado.