Abercorn Castle

Picture by kind permission of Andrew Spratt. Note Douglas banner in lower left corner.

 The Earls of Douglas held the property from 1400, and James the Gross, seventh earl, died here in 1443.

The castle was destroyed, after a month long siege, by James II in 1455, during his campaign against the Black Douglases, and many of the garrison were hanged.  The lands passed to the Setons and then to the Hamiltons.

"A village and a coast parish of Linlithgowshire. Lying 1/4 miles inland, near the confluence of the Cornie and Midhope Burns, the village - a pretty little place, nestling among trees and gardens on the verge of a high bank - is 3 3/4 miles W of its post-town South Queensferry, and 3 NNW of Winchburgh station.

 

The parish contains also the hamlets of Philipstoun, 2 1/2 miles SW of Abercorn village, and Society, on the coast, 1 1/4 miles E by N. It is bounded N for 3 3/4 miles by the Firth of Forth (here 2 1/2 miles wide), E by Dalmeny, SE by Kirkliston, S by the Auldcathie portion of Dalmeny and by Ecclesmachen, SW by Linlithgow, and W by Carriden, from which it is parted by the Black Burn."

 

(Extract from Groomes Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland c.1895)

 

Location: NT 083794

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See also:

• Douglas History map.