Midhope Castle

Midhope Castle
Abercorn, West Lothian, Scotland
UK grid reference NT072786

Front of Midhope Castle
Midhope Castle
Coordinates 55°35′35″N 3°17′29″W / 55.593076°N 3.291334°W / 55.593076; -3.291334
Type Tower house
Site information
Owner Hopetoun Estate
Controlled by Hopetoun Estate
Open to
the public
With permission. Exterior only
Condition Ruined
Site history
Built 16th century
Materials Stone

Midhope Castle is a 16th-century tower house in Scotland. It is situated in the hamlet of Abercorn on the Hopetoun estate, About 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the west of South Queensferry, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

History

The derelict chateau that can be seen today represents the much-altered 5-storey, oblong tower house.

In 1678, Midhope was given a facelift when an entrance tower was removed and the extension to the east was heightened and extended. A new doorway was added along with a small courtyard, measuring 114 by 61 feet (35 by 19 m), to the south.

During the latter 16th century, the castle belonged to Alexander Drummond of Midhope, brother to Robert Drummond of Carnock, Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland. A stone inscribed "AD 1582 MB" commemorates Alexander and his wife Marjory Bruce.[1]

A painted ceiling from the tower survives in the care of Historic Scotland at Edinburgh. It includes cinquefoil motifs and probably commemorates the marriage of Sir Robert Drummond, who became laird in 1619, to a Hamilton heiress.[2] The family motto was "ad astra per ardua" and fragments from another painted ceiling had gold stars from the family crest.

A large, two-chambered, oblong, late 17th century dovecot sits about 140 metres (150 yd) to the southeast.

Midhope Castle is featured as a location in the Outlander TV series on Starz as the main character, Jamie Fraser's family home. For details on how to visit go to the owners website at Hopetoun

Photographs

Notes

  1. MacGibbon & Ross, Castellated and Domestic Architecture, ii, (1887), 502-507
  2. House of Drummond, David Malcolm, Edinburgh (1808), 33.

References

Coordinates: 55°59′30.76″N 3°29′13.34″W / 55.9918778°N 3.4870389°W / 55.9918778; -3.4870389


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