Redhouse Castle
Encyclopedia
Redhouse Castle is a ruined tower house
castle
, 2 km east of Longniddry
, East Lothian
, Scotland
, UK, on the B1377, close to Spittal
. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, and as a scheduled monument.
transferred the estates of Ballencrieff and Gosford to his mistress Christian de Ramsay to provide for her and their children.
The castle, a four storey manor house in red sandstone, remained in the hands of the Douglas family, but it was sold in 1607 to John Laing, the Keeper of the Signet. His initials and those of his wife Rebecca Dennistoun are carved into the pediment
. He died in 1614 and is buried in the churchyard
of Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
.
Not long after, Laing's daughter Jeane married into the Duke of Hamilton
's family, and Sir John Hamilton extended the keep into an L-plan, with a lectern
-style doocot built into the gateway.
After the 1746 Jacobite rebellion
, the Hamiltons forfeited the castle. It remained empty for some time until, in 1755, it was bought by Lord Elibank in 1755 who preferred to live in his townhouse in the High Street in Edinburgh
. The market garden was (and is) a going concern, but he was unable to sell or rent the castle economically.
After having been abandoned for many years, Redhouse Castle was incorporated into the estates of the Earl of Wemyss
who resided at Gosford House
close by.
Unlike other castles, Redhouse Castle was fortunate in that it was not exploited as a quarry. However, the same red sandstone from which it was built was also used for the foundations of Gosford House.
is "Nisi Dominus Frustra", translated "If God does not build the house, the labour is in vain".
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, 2 km east of Longniddry
Longniddry
Longniddry is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, with a population of 2,613 .Longniddry is primarily a dormitory village for commuters to Edinburgh, with good transport links by road and rail to the capital...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, UK, on the B1377, close to Spittal
Spittal, East Lothian
Spittal is a hamlet or small village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK, on the B1377, east of Longniddry, south-south-west of Aberlady and to the west of Garleton and north of Gladsmuir...
. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, and as a scheduled monument.
History
The first version of the castle appears to have been a religious institution, probably a hospice for pilgrims and travellers, belonging to the Douglas family. In April 1421 the Earl of DouglasArchibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas
Archibald Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and General, son of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas and Margaret Stewart, eldest daughter of Robert III...
transferred the estates of Ballencrieff and Gosford to his mistress Christian de Ramsay to provide for her and their children.
The castle, a four storey manor house in red sandstone, remained in the hands of the Douglas family, but it was sold in 1607 to John Laing, the Keeper of the Signet. His initials and those of his wife Rebecca Dennistoun are carved into the pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
. He died in 1614 and is buried in the churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
of Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
Not long after, Laing's daughter Jeane married into the Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage , and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas...
's family, and Sir John Hamilton extended the keep into an L-plan, with a lectern
Lectern
A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon...
-style doocot built into the gateway.
After the 1746 Jacobite rebellion
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
, the Hamiltons forfeited the castle. It remained empty for some time until, in 1755, it was bought by Lord Elibank in 1755 who preferred to live in his townhouse in the High Street in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The market garden was (and is) a going concern, but he was unable to sell or rent the castle economically.
After having been abandoned for many years, Redhouse Castle was incorporated into the estates of the Earl of Wemyss
Earl of Wemyss
Earl of Wemyss and Earl of March are two titles in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1633 and 1697 respectively, that have been held by a joint holder since 1826. The Scottish Wemyss family had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century. In 1625 John Wemyss was created a...
who resided at Gosford House
Gosford House
Gosford House is the family seat of the Charteris family and is situated near Longniddry in East Lothian, Scotland. It was recently the home of the late Rt. Hon. David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss and 8th Earl of March, chief of the name and arms of Charteris.Gosford was built by the 7th Earl of...
close by.
Unlike other castles, Redhouse Castle was fortunate in that it was not exploited as a quarry. However, the same red sandstone from which it was built was also used for the foundations of Gosford House.
Motto
The motto carved into the pedimentPediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
is "Nisi Dominus Frustra", translated "If God does not build the house, the labour is in vain".
External links
- Redhouse Castle, Gazetteer for Scotland
- Redhouse Castle, Andrew Spratt's site of castles