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Herdmanston

Tower House (Medieval)

Site Name Herdmanston

Classification Tower House (Medieval)

Alternative Name(s) Herdmanston House Policies; Herdmanstoun

Canmore ID 54659

Site Number NT46NE 1

NGR NT 4724 6980

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/54659

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council East Lothian
  • Parish Saltoun
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District East Lothian
  • Former County East Lothian

Archaeology Notes

NMRS REFERENCE:

NT46NE 1.00 4724 6980 House

NT46NE 1.01 472 698 Wall

NT46NE 1.02 4714 6984 West Gate

NT46NE 1.03 4729 6986 East Gate

NT46NE 4 4716 6981 Chapel

NT46NE 3 4710 6997 Dovecot

NT46NE 39 4700 6967 Icehouse

NT46NE 46 4730 6992 Stable

(NT 4724 6980) Herdmanston (NR) (remains of)

(NT 4729 6986) East Gate (NR) (remains of)

(NT 4714 6984) West Gate (NR) (remains of)

OS 6" map (1969)

Herdmanston House is an L-shaped house of uncertain date. The main block measures 67' x 27' and the wing 30 1/2' x 36'. The plan and area of the structure suggest a late 16th c date but the thickness of the walls perhaps indicates an earlier date. The gateways date from the late 17th or early 18th c.

RCAHMS 1924, visited 1913

Herdmanston House was completely demolished a few years ago. An early 17th century painted ceiling was discovered in the ruin and presented to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland [NMAS] by Lord Sinclair. Nothing remains of the East Gate, but one pillar of the West Gate is still standing (S Maxwell 1956).

Visited by OS (BS) 20 August 1975

Herdmanstoun (sic) was mainly of 17th century date.

C McWilliam 1978.

Architecture Notes

Non-Guardianship Sites Plan Collection, DC23915- DC23921,1949 & 1954.

Gutted and demolished

Activities

Field Visit (28 August 1913)

The south and east wings of the mansion of Herdmanston have been so modernised as to render the date of their building unascertainable. Their disposition is L-shaped (fig. 156 [plan]). The main block, which contains vaulted chambers and, in the north gable, a circular staircase, measures 67 feet by 26 ¾ feet, the wing 30 ½ feet by 36 feet. The plan and area of the structure suggest its erection in the late 16th century, but this date is to some extent discounted by the great thickness of walling, which averages 7 feet and so suggests a much earlier period. The strength of the place is spoken of below. To the west of the house is a wide semicircularly arched gateway with voussoirs and jamb-stones alternately plain and rusticated. Over the keystone is a panel bearing a shield charged with the engrailed cross of the Sinclairs; below the shield are the initials I S. This gateway dates from the late 17th or the early 18th century. Beside the stables to the north-east of the house IS another gateway of the same period, and on the front of the stables is built a semicircular pediment which bears an eagle for crest and mantling over two shields, each charged with an engrailed cross (Sinclair). Flanking the shields are the initials S I S S M S and the date 1647. On a scroll is the motto INTAND TOY.

HISTORICAL NOTE. On the St. Clairs of Herdmanstoun see [RCAHMS 1924] Introd. p. xx. In Feb.1548 Lord Grey of Wilton reported to Somerset that he had got into his hands with other castles in the neighbourhood that of ‘Harmyston...which the Governor has afore time besieged with great ordnance, and not won and is so strong that my servant Captain Bagshott, will take in hand to hold it against all Scotland’ (1). A John Sinclair was heir apparent of Herdmaurton in 1638 (2).

RCAHMS 1924, visited 28 August 1913.

(1) Scottish Papers i., p. 81, No. 168; (2) Reg. Mag Sig. s.a., No. 1638.

Photographic Survey (March 1961)

Photographic survey by the Scottish National Buildings Record in March 1961.

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