Herdmanston House facts for kids
Herdmanston House was once a castle and later a tower house. It was found in a place called Saltoun, in East Lothian, Scotland.
The land where Herdmanston House stood belonged to the St Clair, or Sinclair, family for a very long time. This started in the 1100s. A man named Henry St Clair was given these lands. He received them from Richard de Morville, who was a powerful official in Scotland at the time.
What was Herdmanston House like?
Herdmanston House was described as a special type of building. It was an L-shaped tower house built in the 1500s. This means it looked like the letter 'L' from above. It also included parts of an even older building.
In 1548, the tower was taken over. This happened when Lord Gray of Wilton seized control of it.
The End of Herdmanston House
Sadly, Herdmanston House was pulled down on May 31, 1969. Before this, the house had been used by the military. This happened during the Second World War. After the war, the house was declared unsafe. It was no longer a good place for people to live.
Today, only one gate pillar remains at the site. It is a small reminder of the large house that once stood there.
Nearby History
Close to where Herdmanston House was, you can find other old ruins. These are the remains of a chapel from the 1200s. This chapel was dedicated to St John the Evangelist. There is also a special burial place, called a vault, for the Sinclair family.
