Clan Rising

Dunglass Castle

Dunglass Castle was the historic seat of the Home family near the mouth of the Dunglass Water in East Lothian. The medieval castle was rebuilt and enlarged by the Homes and served as a royal lodging before being destroyed by an explosion in 1640; no upstanding masonry of the medieval castle survives today. The site also preserves the medieval Dunglass Collegiate Church and the earthwork outline of a mid-16th-century artillery fort.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Its prime

1636

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1636

What Dunglass Castle looked like in its prime.

A multi-range stone manor-castle occupying craggy bedrock above the Dunglass Water near the coast, its upper floors including a long gallery running along one side and windows looking out over enclosed gardens and terraces (the 'Priest's Yard'). The principal ranges form an arranged domestic silhouette rather than a towered keep; low earthwork ramparts and the outline of a mid-16th-century artillery fort sit on a nearby hill overlooking the older castle. The building appears intact and in regular use.

Its story

The story of Dunglass Castle.

The first medieval castle at Dunglass was built by the Pepdie family in the 14th century and passed, on the marriage of Nicola Pepdie to Sir Thomas Home of Home, into the Home family. Rebuilt and enlarged by the Homes, it became their seat and a royal lodging, frequently visited by the Stewart kings.

Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home, allied with Margaret Tudor against Regent Albany, was persuaded to meet Albany at Dunglass and arrested; though he later made an alliance with the Earl of Arran, he was executed in 1516 and the family forfeited, the castle passing for a time to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus. In the winter of 1532 the English under Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, besieged and slighted it.

In September 1547, during the Rough Wooing, the Duke of Somerset's forces captured Dunglass from George Douglas of Pittendreich, refortified and garrisoned it, and built a new artillery fortification nearby, set out by Richard Lee, its earthwork outline survives. The castle itself was destroyed by an explosion in 1640; no upstanding masonry remains, though the medieval Dunglass Collegiate Church at the site is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1636.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Dunglass Castle, including 3 interiors: long gallery, great hall / banquet chamber, dunglass collegiate church (exterior and interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from Dunglass DeanLong GalleryPriest's Yard and kitchen gardensGreat Hall / banquet chamberDunglass Collegiate Church (exterior and interior)Mid-16th-century artillery fort earthworksCentral courtyard and entrance front

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Dunglass Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1636, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Dunglass Castle.

The families that held Dunglass Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Pepdie

    The Pepdies built the first medieval castle at Dunglass in the 14th century.

  • Home

    Seat of the Homes from the marriage of Nicola Pepdie to Sir Thomas Home of Home; forfeited after 1516, when the castle passed for a time to the Earl of Angus.

From the archive

Dunglass Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Fig. 238.—Dunglass Castle. View from South-West., Dunglass Castle

Fig. 238.—Dunglass Castle. View from South-West.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Fig. 239.—Dunglass Castle. North-West Turret., Dunglass Castle

Fig. 239.—Dunglass Castle. North-West Turret.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Fig. 240. — Dunglass Castle. Tower., Dunglass Castle

Fig. 240. — Dunglass Castle. Tower.

1889 · MacGibbon & Ross, vol. 3 (1889)

Public domain

Questions about Dunglass Castle

What is the history of Dunglass Castle?

Dunglass Castle began as a medieval castle built by the Pepdie family in the 14th century. It passed to the Home family through the marriage of Nicola Pepdie to Sir Thomas Home, was rebuilt and enlarged, and became a royal lodging. English forces besieged and slighted it in 1532, while an explosion destroyed the castle in 1640.

What is inside Dunglass Castle and what can you see in it?

Documented interiors at Dunglass Castle include the Long Gallery and the Great Hall or banquet chamber. The Dunglass Collegiate Church also has documented exterior and interior spaces. The castle itself was destroyed by an explosion in 1640, and no upstanding masonry of the medieval castle survives.

Why was Dunglass Castle built, and what was it used for?

Dunglass Castle was built as the seat of the Home family and later served as a royal lodging. The Homes rebuilt and enlarged it, and Stewart kings frequently visited. During the Rough Wooing, its military role changed when English forces captured, refortified and garrisoned it, while a nearby artillery fort was built on higher ground.

Where is Dunglass Castle?

Dunglass Castle is in East Lothian, near the mouth of the Dunglass Water. It stands near the coast at Dunglass, beside Dunglass Dean. The site includes the medieval Dunglass Collegiate Church and the earthwork outline of a nearby mid-16th-century artillery fort.

When was Dunglass Castle built?

Dunglass Castle was first built in the 14th century, although its first-raised year is not recorded. The medieval castle was later rebuilt and enlarged by the Home family. A separate artillery fortification was built nearby in the mid-16th century during the Rough Wooing.

Was Dunglass Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Dunglass Castle was besieged and slighted by English forces under Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, in the winter of 1532. In September 1547, forces of the Duke of Somerset captured it from George Douglas of Pittendreich, then refortified and garrisoned the site. The English garrison later surrendered the nearby fort to the French in March 1550.

Which family or clan held Dunglass Castle?

The Pepdie family built the first medieval Dunglass Castle in the 14th century. The castle and lands passed to the Home family after Nicola Pepdie married Sir Thomas Home of Home. The Home family held it until forfeiture after Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home, was executed in 1516; it then passed for a time to the Earl of Angus.

What did Dunglass Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Dunglass Castle was a multi-range stone manor-castle on craggy bedrock above the Dunglass Water. Its principal ranges formed an arranged domestic silhouette rather than a towered keep, with upper floors including a long gallery and windows overlooking enclosed gardens and terraces known as the Priest's Yard. Nearby earthwork ramparts marked the mid-16th-century artillery fort.

Is Dunglass Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Dunglass Castle is a ruin, and no upstanding masonry of the medieval castle survives. It was destroyed by an explosion on 30 August 1640 while held by Covenanters under Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington. The medieval Dunglass Collegiate Church remains at the site, and the nearby artillery fort survives in outline earthworks.

More castles of Scotland

Cumbernauld Castle, ScotlandCumbernauld CastleKilmartin Castle, ScotlandKilmartin CastleEdinample Castle, ScotlandEdinample Castle
All castles of Scotland · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.