Dirleton Castle

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Dirleton Castle ( 56°02′45″N, 2°46′42″W) is a medieval fortress in the village of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland. Built in the 13th century by John De Vaux and altered through phases of conquest and rebuilding throughout the years, today the castle is partially ruined but is maintained as a tourist attraction by Historic Scotland. The name De Vaux also lives on in the village as the nearby Open Arms Hotel has named their brasserie "De Vaux's".

After being used as a base by Oliver Cromwell, the castle was partly destroyed in 1651 when attacked by cannon. It was soon acquired by Sir John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton, who decided upon a new country house at the nearby Archerfield Estate. The Nisbets of Dirleton remained there for centuries. After becoming renowned for its gardens, the castle became state property in 1923. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

There is a 16th century well-preserved beehive doocot in the castle grounds. It is incoporated into a wall dating from the early 19th century.

The castle gardens are particularly impressive and far more extensive than one might imagine when surveying the castle from outwith the walls. The gardens are home to the world's longest herbaceous border, as certified by the Guinness World Records and are a popular setting for weddings and summer events.

[edit] External links

• Dirleton Castle on Undiscovered Scotland
• Its page in the Gazetteer for Scotland