With an
unpardonable want of taste and respect for historical
associations, Mr. Mackenzie pulled down this splendid structure
and erected in its place an incongruous tasteless building, which
has frequently been used as a boarding-school, and is fit for
nothing better. It is surrounded, however, by some fine old
stately trees, and the gardens are still celebrated for the finest
and earliest fruits of the season.
The destruction of
the famous old castle of Seton was not the only act of Vandalism
of which Mackenzie was guilty during the short time he possessed
the property. A few hundred yards to the west of the castle stood
the ancient village of Seton, which in 1791 was inhabited by
eighty-six persons, mostly weavers, tailors, and shoemakers, each
family possessing a house and a small piece of ground. This
industrious little community, which for centuries had thriven
under the fostering care of the Seton family, was entirely broken
up and dispersed by the unscrupulous lawyer who had illegally, if
not fraudulently, obtained temporary possession of the estate.
When called upon by him to produce the title-deeds of their little
properties, it was found that most of them had no titles to show,
their houses and lands having been handed down from father to son
through many generations. Those who were unable to produce their
titles were at once turned out of their houses, while it is
alleged that the few who possessed the requisite documents, and
sent them to Mackenzie’s office in Edinburgh, never saw them
again, and were, like the others, shortly after compelled to
remove from their ancient heritages without receiving any
compensation. Only one of the villagers escaped eviction. He
somehow learned that his property had been registered when it was
purchased, and he was consequently enabled to set at defiance the
attempts of the usurper to rob him of his patrimony.
Seton Castle
This is one of the most striking of Robert Adam's late houses in
the castle style. Seton Castle is made up of various shaped towers
around a curved wall enclosing the courtyard which is entered by a
central archway. Situated to the east of Longniddry, Seton Castle
is built on the site of Seton Palace which formerly belonged to
the Earls of Winton. The estate of Winton included the barony and
burgh of Tranent until the last earl, George, fifth Earl of Winton
lost his titles and estates for participating in the 1715 Jacobite
rebellion. Winton was condemned to death but managed to escape the
Tower of London, living the rest of his life in Rome where he died
in 1749 as a member of Chevaliers’ Cabinet. The Seton estate was
then purchased from the British Government by the York Buildings
Company who put it up for public sale. In 1790 the new owner,
Alexander Mackenzie, an Edinburgh Writer to the Signet demolished
the old Palace of Seton and built the more modern mansion.
Round Tower in Seton Palace Wall
After being allowed to decay for 75 years Seton Palace was
eventually demolished in 1790 to make way for the more modern
Seton Castle. There is little evidence of the old Palace except
for remnants of the Mill, the Church and the original garden
walls. The South-Western Turret still stands as a reminder of the
previous occupants of Seton Palace, the Earls of Winton. From the
early twelveth century until 1715 the Seton family owned the
estate. After 1600, the Setons became the Earls of Winton and the
parish of Seton was annexed to the parish of Tranent.
The
Turret stands as a reminder of one of the Palace's most famous
visitors. On the 4th of April 1603, King James VI of Scotland was
on his way south to take the throne as King James VI of Scotland &
I of England. As his entourage approached Seton Palace it met with
the funeral procession of the Earl of Winton. Winton’s father was
one of the most faithful adherents to James' mother Mary Queen of
Scots, and of King James VI, and Winton himself had been highly
active in maintaining His Royal Highness’ throne as well. In
acknowledgement of this the King halted his retinue to sit down on
the South-Western Turret until the funeral of his old supporter
moved past.
Mill near Seton Castle
In
1854 water power was used to drive 34 corn and meal mills in East
Lothian. Practically every landowner had a mill and land was
thirled; which meant it was let on the condition that grain
grown on the land was taken to the mill for grinding. Thirling
generated income for the landowner as well as the miller who took
a share of profits. Situated at the extreme north of the Seton
Castle estate the flourmill was driven by a warm stream
which allowed the mill to function continuously despite extremely
frosty conditions. Seton Mill was a single storey building. The
lower floor would house the gearing with a platform for milling
and a separate circular drying kiln. Operations were abandoned in
1715 when the estate was acquired by the British Government and
subsequent private owners until the derelict mill was taken over
by National Trust for Scotland. In 1982, the mill was offered for
sale on the condition that the mill, cottage and derelict house be
developed within two years.
http://www.elothian-museums.demon.co.uk/tranent/big/Ai2936.htm
