Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland grid reference NT 51824 83959
The 13th-century keep
Dirleton Castle
Coordinates
56°03′N2°47′W / 56.05°N 2.78°W / 56.05; -2.78
Type
Castle of enceinte
Site information
Owner
Historic Environment Scotland
Open to the public
Yes
Condition
Ruined
Site history
Built
Early 13th century
Built by
John de Vaux
In use
Until 1650
Materials
Stone
Dirleton Castle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 2 miles (3.2 km) west of North Berwick, and around 19 miles (31 km) east of Edinburgh. The oldest parts of the castle date to the 13th century, and it was abandoned by the end of the 17th century.
Begun in around 1240 by John De Vaux, the castle was heavily damaged during the Wars of Scottish Independence, when it was twice taken by the English. In the 14th century, Dirleton was repaired by the Haliburton family, and it was acquired by the Ruthvens in 1505. The Ruthvens were involved in several plots against Mary, Queen of Scots, and King James VI, and eventually forfeited the castle in 1600. Dirleton ceased to be a residence, although Oliver Cromwell was forced to besiege the castle to flush out a band of "mosstroopers" (marauders), during the Third English Civil War in 1650. The damaged castle was then acquired by John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton, who decided to build a new country house on the nearby Archerfield Estate. The Nisbet family of Dirleton continued to maintain the castle's gardens, before handing Dirleton into state care in 1923. The ruins and gardens are now maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.
Dirleton Castle stands on a rocky outcrop, at the heart of the rich agricultural lands of the barony of Dirleton, and guards the coastal approach to Edinburgh from England, via the port of North Berwick. The ruins comprise a 13th-century keep, and a 16th-century house which the Ruthvens built adjacent. Only the basement levels survive of the 14th- and 15th-century additions built by the Haliburtons, although these comprised a large hall and tower house along the east range. Other buildings within the courtyard have also been demolished. Surrounding the castle are gardens, which may have been first laid out in the 16th century, although the present planting is largely of the 20th century. The garden walls enclose a 16th-century doocot, or pigeon house.
DirletonCastle is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. It lies around 2 miles (3.2 km) west of North Berwick, and...
is ane decaying toun, and Dirleton is ane thriven place." Dirleton has two hotels, The Castle Inn which looks on to the village green and The Open Arms...
was organised by the DirletonCastle Lawn Tennis Club and played on its grounds close to DirletonCastle, in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian Scotland...
modern conflicts and several fortified castles and buildings such as Dunbar Castle, Tantallon Castle and DirletonCastle date from this period. In the 12th...
Dirleton Kirk is a church in the village of Dirleton, in East Lothian, Scotland. The church (at grid reference NT512842) is to the north of the village...
herbaceous border, at 215 metres (705 ft), is at DirletonCastle, East Lothian, Scotland. "DirletonCastle & Gardens". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 3...
Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. The seat of Lord Haliburton was at DirletonCastle in present-day East Lothian. The last Haliburton of Direleton was Patrick...
of Dirleton. The castle, chapel and island was granted to the Premonstratensian monks of Dryburgh Abbey by William de Vaux in 1220. DirletonCastle, on...
of Stirling Castle. The family seat was Kellie Castle, near Pittenweem, Fife. Also Viscount Fentoun (1606) and Lord Erskine of Dirleton (1603) Sir Thomas...
north by the Firth of Forth, to the south by the village of Dirleton and DirletonCastle, to the east by the North Berwick West Links golf course, and...
feudal barony of Dirleton was a feudal barony with its caput baroniae originally at Castle Tarbet, Elbottle Castle and later at DirletonCastle in East Lothian...
Blackness Castle Caves of Caiplie, Cockenzie Harbour, Cockenzie Power Station (site of), Cramond Beach, Culross Dalmeny House, DirletonCastle River Esk...
of Dirleton, was a prominent 12th-century Scottish noble. Vaux was granted the barony of Dirleton, by King David I of Scotland. John built a castle at...
extensive estates in Scotland including Ruthven Castle near Perth, now called Huntingtower Castle, and DirletonCastle. The Ruthvens rebuilt the Abbot's Palace...
ballad. James VI of Scotland was entertained by a Robin Hood play at DirletonCastle produced by his favourite the Earl of Arran in May 1585, while there...
Huntingtower CastleDirletonCastle Scone Abbey Scone Palace Gowrie House Freeland House (now the main School House of Strathallan School) Trochrie Castle Huntingtower...
barony of Dirleton, which was granted to the Anglo-Norman John de Vaux by King David I. The de Vaux family built a stronghold, known as Castle Tarbet, on...
architecture, between 1375 and 1425, when numerous castles were being built and remodelled, including Dirleton and Tantallon in Lothian, and Bothwell in Lanarkshire...
of Mar by King James VI of Scotland in 1544. DirletonCastle Braemar Castle Rosslyn Castle Dunimarle Castle, near Culross, Fife, was built by the Erskine...
Haliburton, heiress of the Haliburtons of DirletonCastle. He was born at Balloch, now called Taymouth Castle. Duncan became the 7th Laird of Glenorchy...
letters to Aberdeen, Blackheath, Bruntsfield, Carnoustie Panmure, DirletonCastle, Innerleven, Montrose, North Berwick, Perth, Musselburgh and St. Andrews...
August 2008. Way of Plean; Squire (2000), p. 40. "Site Record for Dolphiston Castle Details Details". Canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2012. "Clan...
1 November 1600 their mother, Dorothea Stewart, who was staying at DirletonCastle, hoped that the king could be persuaded to support her daughters, "quhais...
Innerwick became Earl of Dirleton, and the land around the castle was sold to the Nisbets in 1663. In the 17th century Innerwick Castle was in good enough repair...
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