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Athelstaneford Castle

Nothing now remains of Athelstaneford Castle itself, although a solitary doocot hints at what once stood nearby.

Athelstaneford Castle

The doocot is said to have been built in 1583 by George Hepburn, but Athelstaneford Castle predated that.

Athelstaneford Castle

Athelstaneford Castle

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

Athelstaneford Castle may have been destroyed by Oliver Cromwell following his victory at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 when he is known to have sacked Dirleton Castle, Hailes Castle, Innerwick Castle, and Tantallon Castle.

Athelstaneford Castle

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

In 1655 the lands were bought by Sir Francis Kinloch along with the estates of Gilmerton and Markle.

Athelstaneford Castle

East Lothian
John Adair, 1682map image courtesy of NLS

In 1851 Athelstaneford Castle was still standing and was described as “a plain old edifice, situated at the east end of the village burying-ground, and not many yards from the foundation of a ruined church” and “stands about a hundred paces back from the main-street of the hamlet, and is principally distinguished by a great projecting chimney or ingle lum. It consists of two stories, and occupies a prominent situation on rising ground.”

This would seem to place it to the rear of the plot on which Oaklea cottage now stands. A substantial house aligned east to west is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1894 to the east of the church but isn’t shown on the 1907 map.

Athelstaneford Castle

Haddingtonshire V.15 (Athelstaneford; Haddington; Prestonkirk)
Ordnance Survey, 1894map image courtesy of NLS
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Alternative names for Athelstaneford Castle

Athelstan foord; Athelstaneford House; Athelstanfoord; Athelstonefoord; Athelstonford; Athelstounford; Atholstonsford; Ethilstanefurd

Clans associated with Athelstaneford Castle

Hepburn

Kinloch

Surnames associated with Athelstaneford Castle

Hepburn

Kinloch

Where is Athelstaneford Castle?

Athelstaneford Castle is in the parish of Athelstaneford and the county of East Lothian.

Grid reference: NT 53361 77366

Lat / long: 55.986994, -2.749109

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

OS Map for Athelstaneford Castle

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


Directions to Athelstaneford Castle

Enter a starting point

Weather at Athelstaneford Castle

13°C
max 14°C / min 12°C
21km/h WSW
1025mb
79%
100%
03:23 21:00

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Haddington at 21:35
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References (books)

Memoirs and Adventures of Sir John Hepburn
James Grant
Edinburgh, 1851
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Athelstaneford Castle

Barnes Castle

0.9km away

Gilmerton (possible) (site of)

1.6km away

Kilduff Tower

1.7km away

Garleton Castle

2.5km away

Stevenson House

2.8km away

Congalton (site of)

2.9km away

Bothwell Castle (possible) (site of)

3.7km away

Kinloch House (possible)

3.8km away

Byres Castle

3.8km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Athelstaneford Castle

Hanging Craig fort

0.7km away

Seaton Law fort

0.8km away

Kae Heughs fort

1.9km away

The Chesters fort

2.7km away

Pencraig Hill standing stone

4.8km away

Traprain Law fort

5.4km away

Drylawhill cursus

5.6km away

Preston Mains cursus

6.6km away

North Berwick Law fort

7.2km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Athelstaneford Castle

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

26.1km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

26.1km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

26.1km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

26.1km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

27.3km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

27.3km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

27.3km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

27.3km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

27.7km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Athelstaneford Castle

Haddington silver chain

4.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

5.6km away

Whitlaw silver chain

29.7km away

Hoardweel silver chain

30.8km away

Norrie's Law hoard

32.4km away

Borland silver chain

56.3km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

58.5km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

91.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

112.8km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Athelstaneford Castle

Maitlandfield House Hotel
hotelHaddington
4.0km away
Fenton Tower
hotelNorth Berwick
4.8km away
Letham House
hotelLennoxlove
5.6km away
Bell's Bothy Bunkhouse
hostelHaddington
5.7km away
Colstoun House Hotel
hotelHaddington
6.6km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
7.4km away
Nether Abbey
hotelNorth Berwick
7.9km away
Sawmill Cottage
self-catering cottageTyninghame
7.9km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
8.1km away
No12 Quality Street
bed and breakfastNorth Berwick
8.2km away

Accommodation search

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Athelstaneford Castle

Smeaton Nursery Gardens & Tearoom
caféEast Linton
6.2km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
7.4km away
Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
7.8km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
8.1km away
Carberry Tower
hotel, bar, restaurantMusselburgh
18.7km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Musselburgh)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
19.1km away
The Birdcage
restaurant, barMusselburgh
20.0km away
Best Western Kings Manor Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
22.1km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Newcraighall)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
22.3km away
The County Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDalkeith
22.3km 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 22nd of November 2010 at 11:13 pm. Updated on the 22nd of December 2021 at 6:20 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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