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Seton Castle

Seton Castle, or Seton Palace as it was also known, was built in the 15th century by George Seton, the 4th Lord Seton, although its origins may go back to the 12th century.

In 1424 Sir William de Seton died at the Battle of Verneuil in France. His daughter, Catherine Seton, married Sir Alan Stewart of Darnley, 2nd Lord of Aubigny and Concressault.

In 1449 George Seton, 3rd Lord Seton, granted lands on the east side of Longniddry, where John de Galaway used to live, to Katherine Seton, second wife and widow of John Seton, 2nd Lord Seton, in exchange for the third part of the lands of Lowstoun and Kynwed in Perthshire.

John Stewart, Lord of Dernele and son of Catherine Seton and Sir Alan, wrote to Lord John de Seton in 1456 granting him the lands of Leynefene or Lenfene.

The 3rd Lord Seton’s grandson, George, 4th Lord Seton, sold the lands of Monyvy, Lowstoun and Kynvaid to Robert Vaus, burgess of Edinburgh, in 1493.

By the late 16th century Seton Castle consisted of an L-plan house with a tall square tower projecting from its centre. A range of buildings were enclosed by a courtyard wall, at the corners of which were tall round towers. The entrance consisted of a small doorway flanked by two massive round towers.

When George Seton, the 5th Earl of Winton supported the Jacobites in 1715 he forfeited his estates, including Seton Castle and Winton Castle. The now ruined Seton Castle was sold to the York Buildings Company, who sold it on to Lt Col Alexander Mackenzie of the 21st Dragoons.

Lt Col Mackenzie commissioned Robert Adam to design a new house for him, and in 1789 Seton Castle was demolished to make way for the new building, which was completed the following year.

Some time after the death of Lt Col Mackenzie in 1796 the house passed into the hands of the Earl of Wemyss.

In the mid-19th century it was apparently possible to still see the remains of the castle’s prison to the west of the later house, with a chamber measuring 2.7 metres by 2.1 metres with walls some 1.4 metres thick.

Seton Castle is now a private residence, but several heraldic panels from Seton Castle are now on display in the grounds of the neighbouring Seton Collegiate Church (managed by Historic Scotland).

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Alternative names for Seton Castle

Seaton Castle; Seton House; Seton Palace

Where is Seton Castle?

Seton Castle is in the parish of Tranent and the county of East Lothian.

Grid reference: NT 41734 75084

Lat / long: 55.965221, -2.934943

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

OS Map for Seton Castle

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


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Directions to Seton Castle

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Seton Castle

15°C
max 16°C / min 13°C
2km/h WNW
1024mb
83%
100%
03:24 21:01

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Cockenzie at 21:48
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References (books)

The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland A.D. 1424-1513
James Balfour Paul
Edinburgh, 1882

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Seton Castle

Tranent Tower

2.4km away

East Adniston

2.5km away

West Adniston (site of)

2.5km away

Preston Tower

2.9km away

Longniddry Castle (site of)

2.9km away

Hamilton House

3.0km away

Northfield House

3.0km away

Prestongrange House

4.1km away

Dolphingstone Castle (site of)

4.2km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Seton Castle

Westfield cursus

7.8km away

The Chesters fort

9.5km away

Kae Heughs fort

10.1km away

The Chesters fort

11.3km away

Hanging Craig fort

11.4km away

Seaton Law fort

11.6km away

Costerton (site of) fort

12.2km away

Costerton souterrain

12.5km away

Crichton Mains souterrain

13.3km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Seton Castle

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

16.0km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

16.0km away

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

16.7km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

23.1km away

Doo Cave Class I rock carving

23.1km 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

26.8km away

Largo Class II cross slab

28.4km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Seton Castle

Haddington silver chain

9.9km away

Traprain Law silver chain

16.6km away

Whitlaw silver chain

28.4km away

Norrie's Law hoard

32.2km away

Hoardweel silver chain

39.9km away

Borland silver chain

45.7km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

47.8km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

81.5km away

Dunnicaer fort

119.1km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Seton Castle

Seton Sands Holiday Park
holiday parkPort Seton
0.8km away
Anchorage B&B
bed and breakfastPort Seton
1.5km away
Wintonhill Farmhouse
self-catering cottagePencaitland
5.2km away
Fa'side Castle
bed and breakfast, self-catering apartmentTranent
5.7km away
Winton Cottage
self-catering cottagePencaitland
6.0km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
6.7km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Musselburgh)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
7.7km away
Carberry Tower
hotel, bar, restaurantMusselburgh
7.7km away
Letham House
hotelLennoxlove
7.8km away
Queen Margaret University
hostelMusselburgh
9.4km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Seton Castle

Gosford Bothy Farm Shop
caféAberlady
5.8km away
Ducks at Kilspindie House
hotel, restaurant, barAberlady
6.7km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Musselburgh)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
7.7km away
Carberry Tower
hotel, bar, restaurantMusselburgh
7.7km away
The Birdcage
restaurant, barMusselburgh
8.3km away
Best Western Kings Manor Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barEdinburgh
10.3km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A1 (Newcraighall)
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
10.6km away
The County Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDalkeith
11.4km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh East
hotel, restaurantEdinburgh
12.7km away
Premier Inn Edinburgh A7 (Dalkeith)
hotel, restaurantDalkeith
13.2km away
more food.... / more drink....

Related pages

Dirleton Castle in East Lothian
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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 1st of March 2021 at 5:30 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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