Hailes Castle Photos, Location, Date, East Lothian Building Images, Historic Scottish Architecture Pictures

Hailes Castle, Scotland : Architecture

Historic Building east of Haddington, East Lothian, southeastern Scotland, UK

post updated 20 December 2021

Hailes Castle

East Lothian, Scotland

Location: 1.5m south-west of East Linton, east of Haddington

The castle stands on a promontory on the Scottish River Tyne, blocking its strategic route, and preying on the route to Edinburgh. Within the 13th century curtain wall is the 14th century keep, to which ranges were added in the next two centuries.

Hailes Castle photos © Adrian Welch 170207

The major remaining works is the West Tower, a square donjon, which dwarfs the remains of the central tower that the Gourlays built, probably a rebuilding on the 16th century. Fifteenth century work includes a roofless chamber in which the remains of what appear to be an ambry and a piscina suggest it was a chapel rather than a hall.

Hailes Castle photos with lumix camera © Isabelle Lomholt 170207

There is also a vaulted basement bakehouse and brewhouse from this period. The original tower was used as a dovecot after it ceased to be occupied. Of the East Tower, only a finger of stonework remains.

Hailes Castle is now a ruin overlooking the River Tyne.

The building incorporates a fortified manor of 13th century, extended in the 14th & 15th centuries.

Hailes Castle images © Adrian Welch