Scottish Castles Association

Murieston Castle is a 16th century tower house remodelled as a folly in 1824 and is situated at Castle Farm by Livingston, West Lothian. The only feature to have survived the harsh re-modelling treatment is a corbelled stair turret.

Murieston Castle in 1900

Such transformation was very much of its time and Scotland can furnish several examples of such eg: Elphinstone Tower, Airth with its ‘Disney’ turret and Stane Castle, Irvine with its ‘Gothic’ windows.

Murieston Castle - present day

As much as one might condemn such work it can add to our understanding of how castles were regarded and adapted in later centuries. If nothing else, it secured their future.

Article by SCA member Brian McGarrigle