Waughton Castle

Overview

Waughton Castle is a ruined medieval tower house situated near East Linton in East Lothian, Scotland. Perched on a rocky knoll with wide views over the coastal plain towards North Berwick Law, the castle dates from the 14th or 15th century and once served as a stronghold of the influential Hepburn family. Although only fragments of masonry survive today, Waughton retains great historical interest as a typical East Lothian laird’s residence — fortified, strategic, and closely tied to the turbulent politics of medieval Scotland.

Early history

The lands of Waughton are first recorded in the 12th century, but the castle itself was probably built by the Hepburns of Waughton, a cadet branch of the powerful Hepburns of Hailes, Earls of Bothwell. The family rose to prominence during the 14th and 15th centuries through royal service and military distinction. The castle’s position on high ground near the coastal route between Haddington and North Berwick made it both strategically useful and symbolically prominent within Hepburn territory.

Building and layout

Waughton Castle was built as a rectangular tower house with surrounding outbuildings and a courtyard enclosed by a barmkin wall. The main block was two or three storeys high, constructed of local rubble stone and fitted with narrow slit windows for defence. The vaulted basement would have served as storage, while the upper floors contained the hall and private chambers. A draw-well, traces of which remain cut into the rock, supplied fresh water. The rocky knoll provided natural defences on several sides, and the site’s elevation gave it commanding views of the surrounding farmland and coast.

Later history and decline

In 1547, during the Rough Wooing — the English invasion aimed at securing a marriage between Mary, Queen of Scots, and Prince Edward — Waughton Castle was captured and partly dismantled by English troops. Though later repaired, it never fully regained its former strength. The Hepburn family forfeited much of their property following the downfall of James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, in the 1560s. By the 17th century, Waughton had fallen into disuse and was largely abandoned, with its stone gradually reused in nearby buildings and farm structures.

Present condition

Today, Waughton Castle survives as a fragmentary ruin amid open farmland. Sections of the north-west wall, up to 6 metres high, remain standing, along with portions of the vaulted basement and foundations of the courtyard buildings. The outline of the castle mound and traces of the defensive ditch are still clearly visible. Although little of the original structure endures, the site retains its commanding setting and strong sense of place. Waughton Castle is a Scheduled Monument, valued for its archaeological significance and as a reminder of East Lothian’s once formidable network of fortified lairdly residences.