Dirleton Castle

Since the 13th century Dirleton Catle has graced the skyline of the village of Dirleton, perched on its hill, commanding views of the countryside for miles around. For the first four hundred years of its existence the castle saw three families take up residence in this magnificent structure - the de Vauxes, the Haliburtons and the Ruthvens. Each family set their own mark on the castle, growing in size and stature as the years rolled by.
The oldest part of the castle dates back to the early days of the 13th century and the de Vaux family. The impressive cluster of towers, amongst which is the imposing keep at the south-west corner, is some of the oldest surviving castle architecture in Scotland. The Wars of Independence with England erupted in 1296, the castle suffering badly during this time, and it was subsequently captured in 1298 on the specific orders of the English king, Edward I. Ownership of the castle changed hands several times before it found a new lord, John Haliburton, in 1356. The much war-torn and badly battered castle was rebuilt, and a new residential tower and
great hall were constructed along the east side of the courtyard. Although now largely ruined, the surviving cavernous storage vaults, family chapel and grim pit-prison convey a wonderful, if not somewhat sombre, impression of the life of a lord and his family in the later Middle Ages.
Around 1510 Dirleton Castle changed hands once again, now under the auspices of the Ruthven family. Although they carried out substantial improvements, this was not their main residence. Gardens were laid out to the west. A new residential building, the Ruthven Lodging, was constructed, and the fine circular dovecot is also attributed to them. The present bowling green may well have been a parterre, or formal garden. The downfall of the Ruthven family saw the castle all but abandoned as a noble residence, while the siege by Oliver Cromwell's soldiers in 1650 virtually rendered it militarily unserviceable. In the 1660s the estate was purchased by the Nisbets, building a new mansion house,
Archerfield, nearby. But the ancient castle, still looking down
on the village, was not forgotten. These graceful
ruins, built by noble families and destroyed by so many events from history, painted an eye-catching picture within their newly created landscape. Both the castle and the gardens are today popular attractions in their own right.
Dating from the late 19th and early 20th century,
the delightful gardens within the castle grounds are as big a draw as the castle itself. The formal Victorian west garden, complete with its foliage,
plants and pelargoniums, was faithfully recreated in 1993. The truly beautiful north garden dates from the "Arts and Crafts" movement of the 1920s. Fragrant and fascinating, it is home to the largest herbaceous border in the world and is overlooked by a castellated 19th century gazebo. Trees that pepper the grounds, vying with the castle on its lofty perch, include sycamore, redwood, beech, cedar, monkey puzzle and cypress.
If you visit Dirleton Castle, take a few moments to wander around the lovely village. And why not drop into the Castle Inn for a drink and a bite to eat. It is well worth it.