Barnes Castle

About Barnes Castle

Barnes Castle is an unfinished castle, with a number of defensive banks, located 5km north-east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to Athelstaneford on the slopes of the Garleton Hills. The remains, also known as Barney Vaults or The Vaults, are protected as a scheduled monument. The building was started by Sir John Seton of Barnes (died 1594), diplomat at the court of Philip II of Spain and later James VI's Treasurer of the Household and an Extraordinary Lord of Session. It is thought to have been intended as a fortified Monastic grange, but construction apparently ceased on Sir John's death. The entrance gate was in the centre of the south-west wall. For its time it was of a modern and symmetrical design.

Barnes Castle Description

Barnes Castle is an unfinished castle, with a number of defensive banks, located 5km north-east of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to Athelstaneford on the slopes of the Garleton Hills. The remains, also known as Barney Vaults or The Vaults, are protected as a scheduled monument. The building was started by Sir John Seton of Barnes (died 1594), diplomat at the court of Philip II of Spain and later James VI's Treasurer of the Household and an Extraordinary Lord of Session. It is thought to have been intended as a fortified Monastic grange, but construction apparently ceased on Sir John's death. The entrance gate was in the centre of the south-west wall. For its time it was of a modern and symmetrical design.