The Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry | Goblinshead | A comprehensive guide to 4,100 castles, towers, historic houses, stately homes and family lands
The Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry | Goblinshead | A comprehensive guide to 4,100 castles, towers, historic houses, stately homes and family lands
The Castles of Scotland
The Castles of Scotland 

Oxenfoord Castle

Lothians: About 3.5 miles east and south of Dalkeith,  1 mile north-west of Patthead, on minor road east of the A68 at junction with B6372, west of the Tyne Water, at Oxenfoord Castle.

 

Private   NT 388656   OS: 66   EH37 5UB

 

OPEN: Available for corporate events, weddings or private parties/activities. 
Tel: 01875 3208844   Web: www.oxenfoord.co.uk

Oxenfoord Castle is a magnificent mansion incorporating an old castle, long held by the Macgills (Makgills) and then the Dalrymples, set in fine grounds some miles south of Dalkeith in central Scotland. Oxenfoord Castle (1911)

Set in 68 acres of fine grounds and parkland, Oxenfoord Castle, also recorded as Oxfurd, is a large baronial mansion with turrets and a crenellated parapet, built in 1780-85 by the architect Robert Adam. 

Oxenfoord Castle is a magnificent mansion incorporating an old castle, long held by the Macgills (Makgills) and then the Dalrymples, set in fine grounds some miles south of Dalkeith in central Scotland. Oxenfoord Castle (McCallum, 1912)

The building was enlarged by William Burn in 1842, but incorporates a 16th-century L-plan tower house of four storeys (which is completely obscured by later work). There was a stair-tower in the re-entrant angle of the tower, and bartizans crowned the corners.

Oxenfoord Castle is a magnificent mansion incorporating an old castle, long held by the Macgills (Makgills) and then the Dalrymples, set in fine grounds some miles south of Dalkeith in central Scotland. Oxenfoord Castle (1788)

‘Nether Cranston’ (now Oxenfoord) and ‘Over Cranston’ (known as Cranston – also see that entry) are both marked on Blaeu’s map of The Lothians. ‘Cranston’ is marked twice on Adair’s map of East Lothian, both in enclosed wooded policies on either side of the Tyne Water.

Oxenfoord Castle is a magnificent mansion incorporating an old castle, long held by the Macgills (Makgills) and then the Dalrymples, set in fine grounds some miles south of Dalkeith in central Scotland. Oxenfoord Castle (old postcard)

This was a property of the Riddells, but passed to the MacGills (or Mackgills) in the 12th century, one of whom was David MacGill of Oxenfoord, King’s Advocate in 1582. The family were made Viscounts Oxfurd in 1661. The property passed by marriage to the Dalrymples of Stair in 1760, and was the seat of the Earls of Stair. James Boswell stayed here in 1786. It was used as a girls’ private boarding school from 1931, although this closed in 1984. It is still held by the Dalrymples and is now a private residence again.

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