The house was built between 1856 and 1860, and is a two-story, five-bay, L-shaped Gothic Revival style dwelling.

The house was enlarged considerably around 1920 through a large addition to the west end for expanded service areas.

In April 1862, Melrose was occupied by Union soldiers during the American Civil War, and later served as a hospital.

[4] A visit to Melrose Castle inspired mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart to write her first bestselling novel, The Circular Staircase (1908).

This article about a property in Fauquier County, Virginia on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.