History of Oxenfoord

The original core of the castle is the old tower of the MacGills, and was inherited by Lady Dalrymple in 1779.  A year later, Sir John Dalrymple commissioned Robert Adam to enlarge the tower in his 'Castle Style' with corner turrets and intermediate bow windows mainly in three stories.

The Earl of Stair engaged William Burn to update the house in 1840 with additions and alterations to the Adam original.  Burn's alterations to the house are described by Colin MacWilliams (Buildings of Scotland - Lothian) as "weighty and... solid, undoubtedly the convenience of the times, have taken precedence over the 18th Century clarity".

The north-east elevation has a single storey and basement addition while the south and west fronts had the bat windows altered with a 'Tudor' style, full-height bay added to the west.  The interior of the principle floor boasts a Library and Drawing Room on the south side, of the "most magnificence", and a Dining Room to the west with carved woodwork dating from 1750 and an ornate Robert Adam ceiling.

Members of the family turned the castle into a girls' school in the early part of the 20th century; more recently they have made it available for weddings, corporate events and private parties.