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Redhall Castle

Redhall Castle is thought to have been built in the 13th century, but the last remains of it were removed and used to build Redhall House in the mid-18th century.

Also known as Reidhall, Redhall Castle was the principle building in the old barony of Redhall, and stood on a promontory overlooking the Water of Leith. It was defended on three sides by steep slopes, the only convenient access onto the promontory being from the east.

It isn’t clear what form the castle took, however in 1929 it was apparently possible to see the footings of a semi-circular tower around 2.1m in diameter, with walls 0.7m thick. This really doesn’t give much of a clue as to what Redhall Castle looked like.

By the 16th century Redhall Castle was owned by the Otterburn family, having been inherited by Sir Adam Otterburn of Auldhame in 1533.

Adam Otterburn was a lawyer and diplomat, King’s Advocate from 1524 until 1538, and was the Lord Provost of Edinburgh several times between 1522 and 1547.

Following the death of Sir Thomas Otterburn early in the 17th century (some time between 1609 and 1620), Redhall Castle passed to the Hamilton family through marriage. Anne Otterburn, a daughter of Sir Thomas, had married Sir James Hamilton of Hoprig, and their sons Sir James and Andrew were styled Hamilton of Redhall.

In August 1650 Redhall Castle was attacked by Oliver Cromwell, who had set up his guns across the Water of Leith at what is now Dovecot Grove. Sir James Hamilton of Redhall, together with sixty men, held Redhall Castle for two days. It wasn’t until they ran out of ammunition that Cromwell’s troops were able to get close to lay charges at the entrance and blow it up on the 24th of August. It seems that Redhall Castle was never rebuilt following this attack, as soon after it had fallen into ruin.

Redhall Castle was sold in 1672 by Andrew Hamilton of Redhall, the brother of Sir James, although to whom is unclear, possibly to Sir John Maitland, the 1st Duke of Lauderdale, or perhaps to John Chiesley of Gorgie. In 1681 Redhall seems to have been bought by James Brand of Baberton.

In 1755 George Inglis of Auchendinny bought the estate, and commissioned the architect James Robertson to build Redhall House.

Redhall Castle was demolished and the stone used in the construction of Redhall House, which was finished in 1758 at a cost of £928 17 shillings and 9 pence. A hexagonal dovecot was built nearby at a cost of some £40, and a heraldic panel from Redhall Castle, bearing the arms of Adam Otterburn, was installed above the door on the north side.

In the 20th century Redhall House was acquired by the Edinburgh Corporation, and in 1944 it became a children’s home. Two schools were built in the grounds in 1978, but by 2007 both had closed and Redhall House and the surrounding land were sold to a developer.

A new housing estate was built, and the dovecot restored, although plans to convert Redhall House into flats have not yet been carried out. Throughout this time the site of Redhall Castle seems to have remained relatively untouched, and the promontory is now just covered with rough grass.

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Alternative names for Redhall Castle

Red Hall; Redhall Tower; Reidhall; Ridehal; Ryddhall

Where is Redhall Castle?

Redhall Castle is in the parish of Edinburgh and the county of Midlothian.

Grid reference: NT 2183 7021

Lat / long: 55.918968, -3.252865

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OS Map for Redhall Castle

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


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Directions to Redhall Castle

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Weather at Redhall Castle

10°C
max 13°C / min 10°C
3km/h NNE
1028mb
70%
6%
04:02 20:16

Clear sky
Weather observed at Colinton at 17:53

References (books)

Cromwell's Scotch campaigns
William Scott Douglas
London, 1898
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near Redhall Castle

Craiglockhart Castle

0.9km away

Colinton Castle

0.9km away

Stenhouse

1.2km away

Meggetland (possible) (site of)

1.7km away

Saughton Hall (site of)

1.7km away

Craig House

1.7km away

Dreghorn (site of)

2.2km away

Old Comiston House

2.7km away

Corstorphine Castle (site of)

2.7km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Redhall Castle

Wester Craiglockhart Hill fort

1.0km away

Buck Stane standing stone

2.9km away

Caiy Stane standing stone and rock art

3.1km away

Cat Stanes (site of) cairns

3.3km away

Camus Stone (site of) standing stone

3.6km away

Edinburgh Castle fort

4.6km away

Samson's Ribs fort

6.1km away

Cammo Stone standing stone

6.2km away

Arthur's Seat fort

6.4km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Redhall Castle

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

4.6km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

5.0km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

5.0km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

29.4km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

29.5km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

29.8km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

29.9km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

34.6km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

35.5km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Redhall Castle

Borland silver chain

28.7km away

Haddington silver chain

29.8km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

30.4km away

Whitlaw silver chain

35.8km away

Traprain Law silver chain

36.8km away

Norrie's Law hoard

41.7km away

Hoardweel silver chain

57.8km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

64.5km away

Dunnicaer fort

132.5km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Redhall Castle

Ture Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
0.5km away
Alvar House
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
1.2km away
15 Merchiston Gardens Bed & Breakfast
bed and breakfastEdinburgh
2.3km away
Best Western Braid Hills Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.5km away
Royal Ettrick Hotel
hotelEdinburgh
2.6km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
2.7km away
Dalmore Lodge Guest House
hotelEdinburgh
2.7km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
2.8km away
Murrayfield Apartment
self-catering apartmentEdinburgh
2.9km away
Murrayfield Hotel and Lodge
hotelEdinburgh
3.1km away

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bed and breakfasts
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self-catering lodges
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Redhall Castle

Best Western Braid Hills Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
2.5km away
Caley Sample Room
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
2.7km away
Ardmillan Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
2.7km away
The Waiting Room
barEdinburgh
2.7km away
Morningside Glory
barEdinburgh
2.8km away
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
2.8km away
Merlin
barEdinburgh
2.9km away
Hampton Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.1km away
Montpeliers Bar & Brasserie
bar, restaurantEdinburgh
3.3km away
Cumberland Hotel
hotel, barEdinburgh
3.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

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Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
Garden of Cosmic Speculation plus castles
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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 14th of May 2010 at 2:00 pm. Updated on the 3rd of February 2013 at 5:37 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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