Clan Rising
Niddry Castle today

Scotland · Restored

Niddry Castle

Niddry Castle is a sixteenth-century Scottish tower house (an L-plan, four-storey tower) near Winchburgh in West Lothian. Built around 1500 for the Seton family, it retains its tall rectangular tower block with corbelled parapet and an angle turret added in the 17th century; the building was restored in the 1990s and is a private residence.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1500

Its prime

1680

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1680

What Niddry Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact four-storey L-plan tower of coursed grey sandstone rubble and ashlar, rising as a tall rectangular block with a shorter wing forming the L. The wall faces are punctured by small rectangular and slit windows set deep in thick walls. A corbelled parapet runs around the roofline and a small turret occupies the re-entrant angle. The roof is steeply pitched and slate-covered; the base sits directly on a low grassy platform with traces of a surrounding barmkin wall.

Its story

The story of Niddry Castle.

Niddry Castle, near Winchburgh in West Lothian, was built around 1500 by the Lord Seton, historically Niddry Seton or West Niddry, to distinguish it from Niddry Marischal and Longniddry. It is an L-plan tower house of four storeys, its tall rectangular block finished with a corbelled parapet and a 17th-century angle turret.

George, Lord Seton garrisoned the castle for Queen Mary in 1572 during the civil war, the Edinburgh Castle garrison attacking Merchiston as a diversion in its support. Margaret Seton married Claud Hamilton here in 1574 with "great triumphs", and in May 1590 Peder Munk, Great Admiral of Denmark, stayed at Niddry with the Danish commissioners taking possession of Anne of Denmark's lands before riding on to Linlithgow.

Around 1680 the castle passed to the Hope family and became part of the Hopetoun estate; the Hopes, later Marquises of Linlithgow, were granted the additional title Baron Niddry in 1814. Left between two oil-shale bings beside the Union Canal, the tower was restored in the 1990s by Peter Wright and is once again a private residence.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1680.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Niddry Castle, including 2 interiors: vaulted basement, first-floor hall. 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 across the grassy bankClose view of a main wall face with slit windowsTurret in the re-entrant angleCorbelled parapet and rooflineBarmkin yard and enclosing wallVaulted basementFirst-floor hallTop of tower lookout

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Whose castle

Clans who held Niddry Castle.

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

  • Seton

    Built by the Lord Seton around 1500 and held by the Setons until about 1680; garrisoned for Queen Mary in 1572.

  • Hope

    Held by the Hopes from about 1680 as part of the Hopetoun estate; granted the title Baron Niddry in 1814.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Niddry Castle.

Forth Bridge, ScotlandBridgeForth Bridge6 km awayDunfermline Abbey, ScotlandMonasteryDunfermline Abbey13 km awayMurrayfield Stadium, ScotlandStadiumMurrayfield Stadium13 km away

Questions about Niddry Castle

What is the history of Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle is a sixteenth-century tower house built around 1500 for the Lord Seton. George, Lord Seton garrisoned it for Queen Mary in 1572 during the civil war, and the castle was attacked twice that year. Around 1680 it passed to the Hope family and became part of the Hopetoun estate; it was restored in the 1990s.

What is inside Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle contains a vaulted basement and a first-floor hall. The four-storey tower has the hall above the basement, while the exterior includes small rectangular and slit windows set deep in thick walls. The building is a private residence, so the supplied material does not establish which interior areas are publicly accessible.

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

Niddry Castle was built as a four-storey L-plan tower house for the Lord Seton. It later served as a garrison for Queen Mary in 1572 and became part of the Hopetoun estate around 1680. It is now a private residence.

Does anyone live in Niddry Castle now?

Niddry Castle is a private residence today. The supplied material does not name its current residents or owner. It was restored in the 1990s by Peter Wright as a private residence.

Where is Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle is near Winchburgh in West Lothian. It stands beside the Union Canal, between two large oil-shale bings. Its historic names include Niddry Seton and West Niddry, used to distinguish it from Niddry Marischal and Longniddry.

When was Niddry Castle built?

Niddry Castle was built around 1500, in the sixteenth century. It is described as a sixteenth-century tower house, and its 17th-century angle turret was added later.

Was Niddry Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Niddry Castle was attacked twice in 1572 during the civil war in Scotland. In April, Captain Scougall and the garrison repelled a night attack, while the garrison of Edinburgh Castle attacked Merchiston Castle as a diversion in support. The supplied account does not describe Niddry Castle falling.

Which family or clan held Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle was held by the Seton family until about 1680, when it passed to the Hope family. The Hopes held it as part of the Hopetoun estate and were granted the additional title Baron Niddry in 1814.

What did Niddry Castle look like in its prime?

Niddry Castle is a compact four-storey L-plan tower of coursed grey sandstone rubble and ashlar. Its tall rectangular block has a shorter wing, a corbelled parapet, a steep slate-covered roof and a small turret in the re-entrant angle. Small rectangular and slit windows puncture the thick walls, and traces of a surrounding barmkin wall remain.

Is Niddry Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Niddry Castle is still standing and was restored in the 1990s. It retains its tall rectangular tower block, corbelled parapet and 17th-century angle turret. The restoration allowed it to return to use as a private residence.

Who built Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle was built by the Lord Seton around 1500. The supplied material does not name a separate architect or designer. The building is an L-plan, four-storey tower house.

Can you visit Niddry Castle?

Niddry Castle is a private residence, so the supplied material does not establish that it is open to public visits. It was restored in the 1990s and remains a four-storey tower house near Winchburgh. No public opening arrangements are given.

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