Waughton Castle

Waughton Castle, East Lothian
Photo © Lisa Jarvis, 17 March 2006

Waughton Castle Doocot, East Lothian
Photo © Lisa Jarvis, 17 March 2006

Very little remains of Waughton Castle, two miles west of Whitekirk. Waughton Castle is first reported in the mid 1300's when it was in the possession of the Hepburns of Waughton. The doocot in the background is of later 1500's origin. By the 1700's the castle was sadly being used as a quarry to build local cottages and walls.

Waughton Castle is a ruined castle, dating from the fourteenth century, about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of East Linton, and 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Whitekirk in East Lothian, Scotland.

Structure

Waughton Castle was a castle with a courtyard, but only part of one wing remains. The ruins are on a rock terrace, which is about 15 feet higher than the surrounding ground to the west and south. The remains of a small tower, at the south-west angle, and which is build of rubble with freestone dressing, stand up to 25 feet in height. Features of a narrow window in the south wall suggest that this is a 16th century structure. A wall has been built to east and north of the rock, with a structure at the angle, but they are believed to date from later. There is a partially artificial stairway up the rock. There is a doocot in the grounds.

History

There is a mention of a hall at ‘Walchtoun’ in a document from 1395. The castle was the property of the Hepburn family. It was sacked by the English in 1547. Subsequently, when it was in the keeping of the Laird of Carmichael it was raided by a dispossessed Hepburn.[1]. The Hepburns acquired the castle again by legal means, and retained it until Alexander Cockburn purchased the castle from John Hepburn. By the 18th century the castle was being used as material for building walls and cottages in the area.

Reference

Coventry,Martin (2001) The Castles of Scotland. Goblinshead. ISBN 1899874 26 7 p.408