Located on the edge of medieval Haddington are the fantastic remains of an early 12th century Romanesque church with a vault and buttresses added during the 13th century. St Martin’s Church was originally a chapel belonging to the Cistercian St Mary’s Nunnery founded in Haddington before 1159 AD and is well worth a visit.
Located to the immediate south west of East Linton and built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the River Tyne, are the almost hidden remains of what is believed to be the oldest stone castle in Scotland. This fortified manor dates to the late 1200s but was later extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. Entering through the curtain wall there are two towers, a vaulted kitchen and a grand hall to explore plus two vaulted pit prisons.
The ruined tower in the centre of the north range of the castle (later converted into a dovecot) together with the rooms to its east formed the fortified mansion of Hugo de Gourlay and his family. The de Gourlay family supported the English during the Wars of Independence. After losing their land in 1314 the castle was granted by Robert the Bruce to Sir Adam de Hepburn.
The Hepburns went on to expand the castle and as part of these modifications the four storey West Tower was built in addition to the surrounding curtain wall.
By the late 16th century the Hepburns no longer owned the castle. The last Hepburn to hold the castle was James Hepburn (the 4th earl of Bothwell). James Hepburn murdered the second husband of Mary Queen of Scots and then kidnapped Mary in 1567, taking her to Dunbar Castle where he forced her to marry him. They then travelled to Hailes Castle before proceeding to Edinburgh. Mary was forced to abdicate and James Hepburn went into hiding.
