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Sydserf House


Sydserf House is a 17th century (or earlier) fortified laird’s house.

Variously described as being on an L-plan or a T-plan, it consists of a main block running approximately east to west, with an off-centre wing projecting north to south. The two wings were built in two almost contemporary stages, and both were two storeys in height. The main entrance was on the north wing at the north-east re-entrant angle.

The house certainly dates back to the 17th century, but possibly even earlier than that, with the site thought to have been the seat of the Sydserf family from the late 15th century. It is marked on Hondius’ and Blaeu’s mid-17th century maps as a tower named Syidserf and on Adair’s late 17th century map as a tower named Sideserfe.

Sydserf House

A new description of the shyres Lothian and Linlitquo
Hendrik Hondius, Amsterdam, 1630map image courtesy of NLS

Sydserf House

Lothian and Linlitquo
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654map image courtesy of NLS

Sydserf House

East Lothian
John Adair, 1682map image courtesy of NLS

The property remained home to the Sydserfs until around 1700, when that branch of the family seems to have died out. It was then owned by the Aitchison family from around the late 17th century, and by the Waddell family in the late 18th century.

By the early 19th century Sydserf House was being used as accommodation for farm workers, around which time a forestair seems to have been added in the north-west re-entrant angle.

The house was used as a residence until the start of the Second World War, following which it was used as a fertiliser and agricultural equipment store. Huge metal cattle sheds were built to the east of the house in the 1960s, completely overwhelming the property.

Other alterations include the bricking up of all the ground floor windows, the gutting of the interior, and the installation of large double industrial doors in the east wall of the north wing, destroying the original entrance, having latterly been used as an store. By the mid-1990s the house was in a dilapidated state and it was re-roofed in 1996.

In 2006 planning permission was obtained to restore Sydserf House, and to reconstruct a 19th century steading with a view to providing five new residential properties (later changed to four). The steading complex would replace the modern farm buildings immediately to the east of the main house.

As part of the sympathetic restoration of Sydserf House, carried out between September 2006 and January 2007, the roof was raised and a second floor was added, with dormer windows installed to provide light for the new floor. The architects, Groves-Raines Architects, are to be commended, as the new floor looks as if it was always there.

The overall impression is not dissimilar to many 17th century castles and fortified laird’s houses across Scotland, and comparing before and after photos it is clear that the restoration has saved this building from ruin.

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Alternative names for Sydserf House

Sideserfe; Syidserf

Clans associated with Sydserf House

Sydserf

Surnames associated with Sydserf House

Sydserf

Where is Sydserf House?

Sydserf House is in the parish of North Berwick and the county of East Lothian.

Grid reference:NT 54126 81717

Lat / long:56.026221,-2.737460

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Sydserf House

OS map 351
Dunbar & North Berwick (Musselburgh & Haddington)
OS Explorer map 351


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Directions to Sydserf House

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Weather at Sydserf House

5°C
max 6°C / min 4°C
37km/h WSW
1025mb
71%
74%
07:50 16:59

Broken clouds
Weather observed at North Berwick at 09:58

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore

Castles near Sydserf House

Fenton Tower

0.4km away

Congalton (site of)

1.6km away

Balgone House

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Fenton Barns (possible) (site of)

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Waughton Castle

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Dirleton Castle

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Leuchie House

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North Berwick Castle

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Gilmerton (possible) (site of)

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Ancient sites near Sydserf House

North Berwick Law fort

2.9km away

The Chesters fort

4.8km away

Hanging Craig fort

5.1km away

Seaton Law fort

5.2km away

Kae Heughs fort

5.9km away

Drylawhill cursus

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Pencraig Hill standing stone

6.4km away

St Baldred's Cave cave

6.9km away

Preston Mains cursus

6.9km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Sydserf House

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

21.8km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

21.8km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

21.8km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

21.8km away

Largo Class II cross slab

24.7km away

The Coves, Caiplie Class I symbols

24.8km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

24.9km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

24.9km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

25.0km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Sydserf House

Traprain Law silver chain

8.1km away

Haddington silver chain

8.6km away

Norrie's Law hoard

28.8km away

Hoardweel silver chain

32.8km away

Whitlaw silver chain

34.1km away

Borland silver chain

59.4km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

61.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

95.1km away

Dunnicaer fort

108.4km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Sydserf House

Fenton Tower
hotelNorth Berwick
0.4km away
Nether Abbey
hotelNorth Berwick
3.5km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
3.7km away
No12 Quality Street
bed and breakfastNorth Berwick
3.8km away
Sawmill Cottage
self-catering cottageTyninghame
7.5km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
7.9km away
Maitlandfield House Hotel
hotelHaddington
8.4km away
Letham House
hotelLennoxlove
9.6km away
Bell's Bothy Bunkhouse
hostelHaddington
9.6km away
Colstoun House Hotel
hotelHaddington
11.0km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Sydserf House

Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
3.7km away
Smeaton Nursery Gardens & Tearoom
caféEast Linton
6.1km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
7.9km away
Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
8.7km away
Station Buffet Bar
barElie
19.0km away
Carberry Tower
hotel, bar, restaurantMusselburgh
21.5km away
Kilconquhar Castle Estate
hotel, restaurant, self-catering cottagesElie
21.5km away
Symphony Craw's Nest Hotel and Restaurant
hotel, restaurant, barAnstruther
21.6km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Musselburgh)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
21.6km away
The Birdcage
restaurant, barMusselburgh
22.3km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 28th of March 2011 at 11:50 pm. Updated on the 22nd of December 2021 at 2:13 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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