Midhope Castle
Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Midhope Castle
Classification Tower House (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Midhope House
Canmore ID 49168
Site Number NT07NE 5
NGR NT 07283 78685
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/49168
- Council West Lothian
- Parish Abercorn (West Lothian)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District West Lothian
- Former County West Lothian
Midhope, from 16th century
Midhope's long, rectangular, tenement-like appearance dates from the 1678 re-casting and extension of the 16th-century château. John Hope removed a southern entrance tower, raised the eastern wing with its pre Binns-like plasterwork, extended it with two bays of regular-margined windows, a pilastered corner and panelled chimneystacks, added a new entrance doorway, with its splendid cartouche, a new internal stair and a fine new courtyard entrance. The turrets, as in Ochiltree, are ashlar gazebos - here two storeys high. Consolidation by William A Cadell in 1986. Doocot and estate buildings adjacent.
Taken from "West Lothian: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Stuart Eydmann, Richard Jaques and Charles McKean, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NT07NE 5.00 07283 78685
NT07NE 5.01 07160 78668 Farm
NT07NE 5.02 07396 78597 Gateway
NT07NE 5.03 07281 78618 Open-ended vault
NT07NE 5.04 07276 78642 Formal Garden
NT07NE 14.00 07359 78611 Dovecot
(NT 0729 7868) Midhope (NR)
OS 6" map (1967)
Midhope Castle, a late 16th century tower, is 5 storeys and an attic high, with later extensions a storey lower. It forms the N side of a courtyard, measuring 114' x 61' which is entered from the E through an ashlared 17th century gateway. The two extensions, added to the E side of the original keep, date from the 17th century. In 1926, the castle was occupied, sub-divided into dwellings for estate workers. However,
in 1962, it is described as derelict and fast decaying.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 1926; N Tranter 1962
An outstanding building as described. Although not a total ruin it is not being cared for.
Visited by OS (JLD) 19 January n1953 and (JP) 27 March 1974
During consolidation of the castle remains and clearance of decayed wood, a series of wall paintings became visible. One was on the second floor of the central room. It occupied the N half of the E wall face. It was a trompe l'oeil of a room with black and white checkered floor tiles, blue walls and arches. The top part was eroded and indistinct. The other was over the fireplace of the E wall in the tower-house, on the first floor. This was of two red hunting dogs leaping over the fireplace.
Both the Hopetoun Estate and the RCAHMS were informed. No action was taken and these paintings have been lost.
In the ground south of the castle, an extensive well laid cobbled surface was located.
Sponsor: Hopetoun Estate
J K Reid 1989; G Egan 1990
NMRS REFERENCE:
Owner: Marquess of Linlithgow
Derelict
NMRS Printroom
W Schomberg Scott Photograph Collection Acc no 1997/39
exterior - 3 views
Photographic Survey (July 1962)
Photographs of Midhope Castle, West Lothian, by the Scottish National Buildings Record in 1962.
Photographic Survey (June 1964)
Photographic survey in June 1964 likely by the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works.
