Newsflash!
2026 has got off to a flying start with the launch of Pete`s Virtual Cycle to Kenya for Maasai Girls Education Project. Its a three year journey he`s on - not bad for a 78 year old! The wheels are turning already - more info at:
Peter Wright is fundraising with JOSEPH THOMSON MAASAI TRUST
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Niddry Castle Restoration
(work in progress on this page.)
Niddry Castle is a familiar sight for travellers on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh railway, just east of the rapidly growing village of Winchburgh in West Lothian.
In the 15 year period from 1985 it was transformed from long derelict, crumbling ruin with no roof, bits of the walls having collapsed, and home to many pigeons, into a very habitable family home on the upper three floors. It was also the focus of a fascinating archaeological excavation.
Brief History
Built in the mid to late 15th Century by the Lords of Seton, Niddry was an outpost of their extensive estates, the main centre of which was at Seton Castle in East Lothian. But the Lords Seton chose a good strategic site for Niddry on rocky outcrop by a loop in the Niddry Burn, and beside the mediaeval road from Edinburgh to Linlithgow and beyond, to Stirling, all with their Palaces, Castles and seats of regal power. The Setons like to be well connected.
Niddry was and still is a massive L shaped tower house, with walls almost 3 metres thick in places. Complete with five floors, vaulted ground floor, dungeon, internal well, great hall, and many rooms with small deeply splayed windows, it was surrounded by a barmkin, stables and other offices. Niddry was nothing if not formidable.
But the Seton`s lost everything in around 1680 when the Hope family acquired it. After a brief period of occupation whilst their Hopetoun House was built, a long slide into decay and dereliction ensued.
In about 1983 Hopetoun Estate took the decision to sell Niddry, which was by this time both B Listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. They enlisted the National Trust for Scotland to act as agents in the sale. So in 1984 it was advertised for sale as a derelict ruin with 1.5 acres of land, at a price of O/o £7,000. After widespread interest in the property, only one offer was received, for the sum of £7,100.
By this time, the Niddry Castle Golf Club had been formed, and set about creating a 9 hole golf course around three sides of the Castle plot.
Restoration
The main work sequence:
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Architect: William Caddell Architects, Grange, Linlithgow.
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Scheduled Monument consent: Royal Commission for Ancient Monuments.
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Listed Building consent: Historic Scotland, and West Lothian District Council.
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Plans: full sets of working plans and elevations.
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Grand funding @ 30%: Historic Buildings Council.
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Clearing out c100 cubic metres of pigeon poo and rubble - by shovel and wheelbarrow.
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Consolidation: stabilising.
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Replacing missing walls up to wall-head.
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Steel beams for 1st floor structure.
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Reclaimed timber beams for 2nd floor structure.
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Roof: a complex structure in timber and clad in reclaimed slates.
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Rebuilding spiral stair: a complex process in reinforced concrete, anchored into the stone walls, mastermined and carried out by John Fraser.
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Structures for 3rd and 4th floors: joists and T&G floring.
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Internal walls: stud and plasterboard.
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Electrical. plumbing and heating services.
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Insulation.
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Electrical, plumbing and heating fixtures.
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Internal walls and plastering.
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Temporary widows.
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Painting and decoratiing.
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Oak door: random width solid timber, bolted and plugged.
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Some landscaping.