Is it a Castle? Is it a Tower-house?

Amongst the wonders of western Kirkcudbrightshire is this marvellous edifice which dominates the skyline just north of Borgue and Kirkandrews.  It's an imposing castellated structure which looks like some kind of Gothic country pile.

In reality, it's a dairy!

Dubbed the 'Coos' Palace' by locals, it was the work of an eminent industrialist, James Brown, who lived in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century.  It dates to the early 1900's, and was inspired by Warwick Castle.

Here's another view:-

Purists no doubt scoff at its pastiche 'Gothick' qualities, but I love it!  It's quirky, it's unique, and it's one of several structures attributed to Mister Brown that make this part of the world seem like a strung out Portmeirion, with all sorts of architectural oddities dotted around the landscape.

I can't find any reference to it in the Listed Buildings Register, but I'm inclined to think this is because I haven't got the right address - I refuse to believe it's not listed, especially since it forms a rather loose group with other buildings associated with Mister Brown!!  It doesn't even seem to be mentioned in CANMORE, the web-mounted National Monuments Record for Scotland, which I again find hard to believe...  I'm sure the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Monuments of Scotland have done a photographic survey of the site, because it featured in a recent book they published on Scottish farmsteadings.  I'd hoped I'd be able to give you a link showing pictures of the interior, which is equally palatial, but unfortunately you'll have to make do with the exterior shots.

Sadly, this poor building is suffering the ravages of time.  It's not quite in as bad a state as poor Plunton Castle, but it's travelling along that same slippery slope.  You can't exactly blame the owners - ornate structures like this are a liability in a modern farming context.  I don't think it's even being used for anything at the moment - I think the farmers are concentrating on beef production these days.

Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to another building which forms part of James Brown's architectural legacy, the exquisite little church at Kirkandrews...

Is it a Castle? Is it a Tower-house?

Amongst the wonders of western Kirkcudbrightshire is this marvellous edifice which dominates the skyline just north of Borgue and Kirkandrews.  It's an imposing castellated structure which looks like some kind of Gothic country pile.

In reality, it's a dairy!

Dubbed the 'Coos' Palace' by locals, it was the work of an eminent industrialist, James Brown, who lived in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century.  It dates to the early 1900's, and was inspired by Warwick Castle.

Here's another view:-

Purists no doubt scoff at its pastiche 'Gothick' qualities, but I love it!  It's quirky, it's unique, and it's one of several structures attributed to Mister Brown that make this part of the world seem like a strung out Portmeirion, with all sorts of architectural oddities dotted around the landscape.

I can't find any reference to it in the Listed Buildings Register, but I'm inclined to think this is because I haven't got the right address - I refuse to believe it's not listed, especially since it forms a rather loose group with other buildings associated with Mister Brown!!  It doesn't even seem to be mentioned in CANMORE, the web-mounted National Monuments Record for Scotland, which I again find hard to believe...  I'm sure the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Monuments of Scotland have done a photographic survey of the site, because it featured in a recent book they published on Scottish farmsteadings.  I'd hoped I'd be able to give you a link showing pictures of the interior, which is equally palatial, but unfortunately you'll have to make do with the exterior shots.

Sadly, this poor building is suffering the ravages of time.  It's not quite in as bad a state as poor Plunton Castle, but it's travelling along that same slippery slope.  You can't exactly blame the owners - ornate structures like this are a liability in a modern farming context.  I don't think it's even being used for anything at the moment - I think the farmers are concentrating on beef production these days.

Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to another building which forms part of James Brown's architectural legacy, the exquisite little church at Kirkandrews...