Overview of Garleton Castle

A partially ruined castle on the northern slopes of the Garleton Hills in East Lothian, Garleton Castle is located at East Garleton, 2 miles (3 km) north of Haddington. Built in the 16th century for the Seton family, on land once owned by the Lindsays, Garleton Castle once comprised three blocks enclosed by a curtain wall. A small section of that wall and parts of one of its round towers survive. One of the blocks was replaced by cottages in the 19th century but to the south is a complete hall-house, featuring crow-stepped gables, a round stair-tower and gun loops. Although much-altered and latterly used as a farm steading, its vaulted basement including two rooms is still extant. These rooms were a kitchen with a wide-arched range and another room featuring a canopied fireplace.

It may be that Sir David Lindsay, author of the play Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, was born in a house on this site in 1486. George Seton, 3rd Earl of Winton (1584 - 1650), gave Garleton Castle to his youngest son, Sir John Seton of Garleton (1639 - 1686). In 1724, the property was sold to James Wemyss, the 5th Earl of Wemyss (1699 - 1756). Subsequently much of the stone was reused to built the farm cottages now occupying the north side of the site.