Redhouse Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redhouse Castle |
|
|---|---|
Redhouse Castle
|
|
| Designated | 20 November 1969 |
| Reference no. | SM775 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Redhouse Castle is an old, ruined castle found in East Lothian, Scotland. It's about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) east of a town called Longniddry. This castle is a special historical site, protected by the government as a "scheduled monument." It used to be a home for important families long ago.
Contents
The Story of Redhouse Castle
Early Days of the Castle
The very first building on this spot might have been a religious place. It was probably a hospice, which is like a guesthouse, for people traveling on long journeys. This early building belonged to the powerful Douglas family.
In April 1421, a leader of the Douglas family, the Earl of Douglas, gave the lands around the castle to Christian de Ramsay. He did this to provide for her and their children.
New Owners and Changes
The castle, which is a four-story house made of red sandstone, stayed with the Douglas family for a long time. But in 1607, they sold it to a man named John Layng. He was an important official called the Keeper of the Signet, who looked after royal documents.
You can still see his initials and those of his wife, Rebecca Dennistoun, carved into the stone above a doorway. John Layng passed away in 1612 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirk churchyard in Edinburgh.
The Hamilton Family Takes Over
In 1608, John Layng's daughter, Jeane, married Sir Andrew Hamilton. Soon after, Sir Andrew asked the Scottish Parliament to give him the title "Lord Redhouse." When John Layng died, Sir Andrew became the owner of Redhouse Castle.
Later, Sir John Hamilton made the castle bigger. He added a new part, changing its shape to an "L." He also built a special pigeon house, called a doocot, right into the castle's entrance.
The Castle is Left Empty
After the 1745 Jacobite rising, the Hamilton family lost the castle. This happened because Colonel George Hamilton, the last owner, was severely punished for treason. He had supported the Jacobite cause, which was against the king at the time.
The castle stayed empty for some time. Then, in 1755, a man called Lord Elibank bought it. However, he preferred to live in his house in Edinburgh. He couldn't easily sell or rent out the castle.
After many years of being empty, Redhouse Castle became part of the lands owned by the Earl of Wemyss. The Earl lived nearby at Gosford House.
Redhouse Castle was lucky because people didn't take its stones to build other things, which often happened to old castles. However, some of the same red sandstone from Redhouse Castle was used to build the foundations of Gosford House.
The Castle's Motto
On the castle, you can see a special message carved into the stone. It's the Layng family motto: "Nisi Dominus Frustra." This is Latin and means "without the Lord, all is in vain."
This saying comes from a Bible verse, Psalm 127, which says: "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." This motto is also used in the coat of arms for the city of Edinburgh.
Photo gallery
