Yester House
Tower House (Medieval)
Site Name Yester House
Classification Tower House (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Old Yester House; Yester House Policies
Canmore ID 56123
Site Number NT56NW 21
NGR NT 543 671
NGR Description NT c. 543 671
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/56123
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Yester
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT56NW 21 c. 543 671
See also NT56NW 17.00.
The predecessor of the present Yester House stood close to the site of the present mansion (NT56NW 17.00, at NT 54348 67161). A series of contemporary paintings, preserved at Yester, shows this house as it appeared shortly before its demolition about 1700. The nucleus of the building was a four-storeyed tower house which (judging from an inscribed fireplace lintel preserved in Yester House) was erected by William, 5th Lord Hay of Yester, in 1582. By the end of the 17th century wings had been added on each side of the tower, while to the N there lay a forecourt and entrance-gateway.
J G Dunbar 1972; C McWilliam 1978.
