Scotland · Ruin
Redhouse Castle
Redhouse Castle is a ruined four-storey tower house near Longniddry in East Lothian, Scotland, built of red sandstone and extended into an L-plan. It stands within cultivated grounds that historically included a market garden. The structure is now roofless and ruinous but retains its tall rectangular keep, projecting wing and many window openings.
Its prime
1620
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1620
What Redhouse Castle looked like in its prime.
A tall four-storey L-plan tower house of warm red sandstone with a rectangular main block and a projecting wing; coursed and rubble masonry with many empty rectangular window openings stacked vertically. The upper roofline is broken with remnants of gables and short parapets. The stone is weathered red-brown; at ground level are small square openings and rough foundations. The building sits amid cultivated garden plots, low fences and scattered outbuildings.
Its story
The story of Redhouse Castle.
The first version of Redhouse appears to have been a religious institution, probably a hospice for pilgrims and travellers, belonging to the Douglas family. In April 1421 the Earl of Douglas transferred the estates of Ballencrieff and Gosford to his mistress, Christian de Ramsay, to provide for her and their children, but the four-storey red-sandstone castle itself remained in Douglas hands.
In 1607 the castle was sold to John Layng, Keeper of the Signet, whose family motto "Nisi Dominus Frustra", "without the Lord, all is in vain", from Psalm 127, is carved into the pediment. Layng's daughter Jeane married Sir Andrew Hamilton in 1608; Sir Andrew applied to the Scottish Parliament for the title Lord Redhouse and became owner of the castle on Layng's death.
Lord Elibank bought Redhouse in 1755 but preferred to live in his townhouse in Edinburgh's High Street, and the castle stood empty. After many years of abandonment it was absorbed into the estates of the Earl of Wemyss, who resided at nearby Gosford House. The roofless L-plan tower, with its tall rectangular keep and projecting wing, is now a scheduled monument.
Step inside
8 places to explore in 1620.
The record describes 8 distinct spots at Redhouse Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
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Clans who held Redhouse Castle.
The families that held Redhouse Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Belonged to the Douglas family, the first Redhouse was probably a pilgrims' hospice, until sold in 1607.
Layng
Bought in 1607 by John Layng, Keeper of the Signet; the Layng motto is carved on the pediment.
Sir Andrew Hamilton, styled Lord Redhouse, became owner on John Layng's death, having married Layng's daughter Jeane in 1608.
Wemyss
Absorbed into the estates of the Earl of Wemyss of nearby Gosford House.
Nearby
