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Redhouse Castle

Redhouse Castle is a late 16th century tower which was extended in the 17th century and is now roofless and in ruins.

Prior to the 15th century the lands here belonged to the Douglas family, and some kind of religious institution was built nearby, giving rise to the name of Spittal or Spittel. In 1421 or 1422 Archibald Douglas, the 4th Earl of Douglas, seems to have granted these lands, along with his estates of Ballencrieff and Gosford, to his mistress Christian de Ramsay, who had borne him at least three sons.

It seems likely that there was a defensible building here at this time, and it may have been known as the Red House or Red Castle of Spittal. Although most histories of Redhouse Castle state that it was built in the very late 16th century by John Laing, the Keeper of the Signet, a row of 19th century cottages around 50m to the east of the castle are said to have been built on the site of old vaults, perhaps signifying that an earlier castle once occupied the site.

The existence of an castle seems to be backed up by its appearance on maps that pre-date the supposed late 17th century construction date, with it being marked as Spittell in Blaeu’s Atlas in 1654, Spittel on Jansson’s map of 1659, and finally as the seemingly well-established property of Ridehous on Adair’s map from 1682.

Some time after Douglas’ grant to Ramsay the Laing family seem to have come into possession of what was by then known as Redhouse, as an earlier John Laing, Bishop of Glasgow from 1474 and Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1482 until his death in 1483, is described as being from the family of Laing of Redhouse in Aberlady parish.

Redhouse Castle today is an impressive and imposing ruin, rising to four storeys above a vaulted basement level. It is believed to have initially consisted of a tall rectangular tower, probably built in the.

Originally it consisted of a five storey tower house, which now forms the south range of the castle. On the ground floor there is a large vaulted kitchen to the west, with the doorway to the east giving access to a spiral staircase.

Laing had his arms carved on the pediment over the door, along with the initials MIL and RD for himself (Master John Laing, John being spelt Ioannes in Latin) and for his wife Rebecca Dennistoun. On the door lintel itself is the motto “Nisi Dominus Frustra” (without God, all is in vain).

Above the kitchen on the first floor was the main hall, and the floors above that would have divided into various living accommodation.

The tower house was at the north-west corner of a an enclosed courtyard, with an arched gateway in the centre of the south wall.

John Laing died in 1612 and his tomb can be seen in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh (although the tomb mistakenly states his death to have been in 1614). The castle passed into the Hamilton family through the marriage of his daughter, Jean Laing, to Sir Andrew Hamilton.

Redhouse Castle is thought to have been extended to the north around this time with the addition of a further range of rooms. By 1640 the castle was owned by a Sir John Hamilton – possibly the brother of Sir Andrew. He is thought to have been responsible for adding a new square tower projecting from the north-west corner of the main castle, with a round turret staircase on the upper two floors.

Hamilton is also thought to have added the doocot to the south-east corner of the courtyard wall.

The Hamiltons forfeited Redhouse Castle and its estate in 1746, and it remained empty for several years. It was bought by George Murray, the 6th Lord Elibank, in 1755, but his main residence was a townhouse on the High Street of Edinburgh, so it stayed unoccupied.

After falling into disrepair, it was incorporated into the Earl of Wemyss’ Gosford Estate, and its former ornamental gardens are now occupied by a market garden. The castle itself still stands to its original height, and is more or less complete except for floors and a roof.

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Alternative names for Redhouse Castle

Red Castle; Red Spittal; Redspittell; Reidspittal; Ridehous; Spittel; Spittell

Clans associated with Redhouse Castle

Charteris

Surnames associated with Redhouse Castle

Charteris

Hamilton

Laing

Where is Redhouse Castle?

Redhouse Castle is in the parish of Aberlady and the county of East Lothian.

Grid reference: NT 46264 77070

Lat / long: 55.983553, -2.862754

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OS Map for Redhouse Castle

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


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Directions to Redhouse Castle

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Weather at Redhouse Castle

15°C
max 17°C / min 13°C
11km/h ENE
1024mb
71%
11%
03:53 20:22

Few clouds
Weather observed at Longniddry at 10:19

References (books)

The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland Volume 4
David MacGibbon
Edinburgh, 1892
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wikipedia
Redhouse Garden Centre

Castles near Redhouse Castle

Gosford House

1.7km away

Longniddry Castle (site of)

2.0km away

Elvingston (site of)

2.7km away

Ballencrieff Castle

2.8km away

Kilspindie Castle

3.0km away

Byres Castle

3.3km away

Luffness House

3.6km away

Garleton Castle

4.7km away

Letham House

4.8km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Redhouse Castle

The Chesters fort

4.6km away

Kae Heughs fort

5.6km away

Hanging Craig fort

6.8km away

Seaton Law fort

7.0km away

The Chesters fort

9.7km away

North Berwick Law fort

11.7km away

Pencraig Hill standing stone

11.9km away

Traprain Law fort

12.0km away

Westfield cursus

12.7km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Redhouse Castle

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

20.7km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

20.7km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

21.5km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

23.2km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

23.2km away

Jonathan's Cave Class I rock carving

23.3km away

Sliding Cave Class I rock carving

23.3km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

25.8km away

Largo Class II cross slab

26.7km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Redhouse Castle

Haddington silver chain

6.3km away

Traprain Law silver chain

12.2km away

Whitlaw silver chain

29.4km away

Norrie's Law hoard

30.7km away

Hoardweel silver chain

36.7km away

Borland silver chain

50.4km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

52.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

86.2km away

Dunnicaer fort

115.5km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Redhouse Castle

Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
2.8km away
Seton Sands Holiday Park
holiday parkPort Seton
4.4km away
Letham House
hotelLennoxlove
4.8km away
Anchorage B&B
bed and breakfastPort Seton
6.0km away
Maitlandfield House Hotel
hotelHaddington
6.4km away
Wintonhill Farmhouse
self-catering cottagePencaitland
7.3km away
Winton Cottage
self-catering cottagePencaitland
7.7km away
Colstoun House Hotel
hotelHaddington
8.1km away
Fenton Tower
hotelNorth Berwick
9.5km away
Fa'side Castle
bed and breakfast, self-catering apartmentTranent
10.4km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Redhouse Castle

Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
2.2km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
2.8km away
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNorth Berwick
11.4km away
Carberry Tower
hotel, bar, restaurantMusselburgh
12.4km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Musselburgh)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
12.5km away
The Birdcage
restaurant, barMusselburgh
13.2km away
Smeaton Nursery Gardens & Tearoom
caféEast Linton
13.2km away
Best Western Kings Manor Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
15.1km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Newcraighall)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
15.5km away
The County Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDalkeith
16.1km 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 14th of May 2010 at 2:00 pm. Updated on the 4th of September 2016 at 9:19 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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