Glandyfi Castle

Glandyfi Castle is a country house in castellated style, built in rubble stone with slate roofs and some ashlar dressings. It has an irregular plan and elevation, rising to one, two, and three storeys, with embattled parapets and round and square turrets. The chimneys are castellated.

The entrance front comprises two principal sections. The left section is of two apparent storeys in an L-plan arrangement, with the porch set in the angle. This section contains the entrance hall and staircase, the latter expressed by a long three-light stair window to the right of the porch, with a small triple casement above. The porch itself is castellated with an octagonal angle turret to the left of the door, which has a segmental pointed head in three steps. The main range behind the porch is windowless, with a raised pier breaking through the battlements.

To the right of the stair is a three-storey, two-bay range. An embattled round turret or chimney occupies the south end, and an external chimneybreast rises on the north side. Two three-light windows appear to each floor, with those on the first floor larger and featuring hoodmoulds. The second-floor windows are smaller and set under a parapet stringcourse. The ground floor has a three-light window to the left; the right window appears possibly altered with a four-light window and door. The windows throughout are timber with Tudor heads to the lights.

A low service range extends to the north, which was not inspected. A 1906 catalogue lists stabling with two stalls, a harness room, and a coach-house for two carriages.

The west front presents a complex composition. A two-storey, one-bay large square block occupies the southwest, with a substantial southwest corner diagonal buttress that is raised and capped as a minor tower (a feature also found at Stanage Park). To the left stands a large three-storey octagonal corner tower. Set further back to the left is the rear of the three-storey section, terminated by a plainer square corner tower at the northwest angle. The southwest block features a large cross-mullion window on both the west and south sides at each floor, with small-paned timber glazing and Gothic tracery to the top lights, chamfered surround, and hoodmould. The octagonal tower has similar windows to the ground and first floors on its west face, with a smaller window at the second floor. An embattled parapet tops the structure, with an embattled circular chimney on the southeast side.

The set-back range to the left is windowless, though the angle tower at its corner has plain pointed openings. It has an embattled top and a taller embattled chimney. A single-storey range at the south end appears to be a later addition, though if so it predates 1906. It tapers to a low rounded tower and has a three-light window on the west.

The interior could not be inspected. It is said to contain imported old panelling and fireplaces. A 1906 catalogue describes the following rooms: an entrance hall with a lofty mullion window and an oak staircase rising in two flights to a wide landing, also lit by a lofty mullion window; a dining room measuring 18 feet 6 inches by 15 feet (excluding a recess with a Gothic oak buffet), fitted with a marble mantel and grate and a plasterwork ceiling with three column supports and two windows; an octagonal library of Gothic character with a stone mantel and grate, a plaster ceiling in panels with clustered column supports and capstones, two windows with stained glass heads, and four recesses with bookcases; a lofty drawing room lit by two windows with views south and west, the arched heads fitted with stained glass, measuring 18 feet 6 inches by 15 feet 6 inches, with a coved ceiling and cupboards; and a smoking or gun room with a Gothic latticed window, stone mantel, and two cupboards.

The service range contained a butler's pantry, large kitchen, larder, large scullery or second kitchen with bake oven and boiler, and knife and boot houses. The service yard included a dairy, store, laundry, two toilets, and basement cellars. Upstairs were four best bedrooms and dressing rooms (one octagonal), three maids' bedrooms, and on the second floor, six bedrooms and dressing rooms.