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Abercorn Castle (site of)

Abercorn Castle dated back to the 12th century however nothing of it now remains above ground.

The lands of Abercorn were originally held by the Avenel family but they passed to Sir Henry Graham of Dalkeith, along with the baronies of Kilbucho and Newlands in Peeblesshire and the barony of Eskdale in Dumfriesshire, who was married to the daughter and heiress of Roger Avenel, who died in 1243.

Their eldest son, Sir Nicholas Graham of Dalkeith, Abercorn and Eskdale, succeeded and following his death was succeeded by his eldest son Sir John de Graham of Dalkeith, Abercorn and Eskdale.

Sir John’s eldest son, also Sir John de Graham, was the last of Dalkeith, Abercorn and Eskdale. He resigned Dalkeith in favour of Sir William Douglas de Laudonia in 1341 and following his death was succeeded in Abercorn by his sister, Sybilla Graham, who was married to Sir Reginald de Mure, Lord Chamberlain of Scotland.

Around 1350 John de Graham, “lord of Torboltoun and of Roberestoun in Conyggam”, confirmed charters to his uncle, Henry de Graham, of “the lands of Menarstoun and of Philipstoun in the barony of Abyrcorn and of Blyth in the valley of Twed”. Henry had received the lands from his father, Sir John de Graham, who was the grandfather of John de Graham.

William de Mure, the son of Sybilla Graham and Sir Reginald de Mure, died without male issue and Abercorn passed to his daughter, Christina or Christian, who married Sir John Lindsay of the Byres and Abercorn passed into the Lindsay family.

In 1603 James VI granted the barony of Abercorn, which the John Lindsay, 8th Lord Lindsay of the Byres, had resigned to him, to James Hamilton, creating him the 1st Earl of Abercorn. Included in the grant were the lands of Alexander Drummond of Midhope.

In 1650 James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn, resigned the lands and barony of Abercorn to George Seton, 3rd Earl of Winton, and George’s son, Alexander Seton, was created Viscount Kingston by Charles I the following year. In December 1661 Viscount Kingston assigned the lands and barony of Abercorn to Walter Seton who paid the Viscount £3000 Sterling and received a charter of confirmation in January 1662.

Sir Walter Seton struggled to afford the upkeep of his estates and in 1678 sold the barony of Abercorn and the Sheriffdom of Linlithgow to John Hope of Hopetoun.

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Alternative names for Abercorn Castle

Abcorn; Abircorne; Abyrcorn; Old Castle of Abercorn

Where is Abercorn Castle?

Abercorn Castle is in the parish of Abercorn and the county of West Lothian.

Grid reference:NT 0828 7928

Lat / long:55.997716,-3.472059

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OS Map for Abercorn Castle

OS map 350
Edinburgh (Musselburgh & Queensferry)
OS Explorer map 350


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Directions to Abercorn Castle

Enter a starting point

Weather at Abercorn Castle

10°C
max 10°C / min 9°C
35km/h SW
1029mb
77%
75%
08:03 16:51

Broken clouds
Weather observed at Limekilns at 11:52

References (books)

The Armorial of Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount, Volume 2
Alex Maxwell Findlater
Edinburgh, 2018
The Scots Peerage (Volume 6)
James Balfour Paul
Edinburgh, 1909

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Abercorn Castle

Midhope Castle

1.2km away

Staneyhill Tower

1.2km away

Blackness Castle

2.9km away

Duntarvie Castle

2.9km away

House of The Binns

3.3km away

Mannerston House

3.6km away

Rosyth Castle

3.8km away

Dundas Castle

4.3km away

Niddry Castle

5.1km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Abercorn Castle

Hopetoun Wood standing stone

1.8km away

Huly Hill barrow and standing stones

7.8km away

Lochend standing stone

7.9km away

Cammo Stone standing stone

10.3km away

Gormyre standing stone

11.6km away

Castlethorn standing stones

12.7km away

Castlethorn fort

12.8km away

Gala Braes standing stones

13.3km away

Kaimes Hill fort

13.6km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Abercorn Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

17.6km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

18.5km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

18.5km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

21.7km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

22.5km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

31.3km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

31.4km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

31.5km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

31.8km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Abercorn Castle

Borland silver chain

33.2km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

33.9km away

Norrie's Law hoard

43.1km away

Haddington silver chain

43.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

50.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

51.9km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

65.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

72.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

132.6km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Abercorn Castle

Dakota Forth Bridge
hotelSouth Queensferry
4.4km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
4.4km away
Queensferry Hotel
hotelNorth Queensferry
4.5km away
Elgin Hotel
hotelCharlestown
4.7km away
Orocco Pier
hotelQueensferry
4.8km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Airport (Newbridge)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
4.8km away
Boreland Lodge hotel
hotelInverkeithing
6.3km away
Best Western Keavil House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCrossford
6.9km away
King Malcolm Hotel
hotelDunfermline
7.1km away
Pitbauchlie House Hotel
hotelDunfermline
7.4km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Abercorn Castle

Premier Inn Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
4.4km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh Airport (Newbridge)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
4.8km away
The Two Bridges
restaurantSouth Queensferry
5.4km away
Best Western Keavil House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barCrossford
6.9km away
Craigie’s farm deli and café
caféSouth Queensferry
8.0km away
Macdonald Houstoun House
hotel, restaurant, barUphall
8.5km away
Hostival – Carnival Camp
hostel, campsite, barEdinburgh
9.0km away
Norton House Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
9.1km away
Auld Mill House Hotel Bar and Restaurant
hotel, bar, restaurantDunfermline
9.6km away
Premier Inn Livingston (M8, Jct3)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
9.8km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
Inveraray Castle and standing stone
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A doocot, a castle and a beach in East Lothian
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
A pair of castles on the River Tweed
Dunbar harbour and castle
Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 12th of June 2011 at 11:25 am. Updated on the 14th of January 2021 at 12:09 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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