History of The Castle
Before the 13th century, a large fort or castle was built on Castle Hill near the Leader Water, defending the southern approach to Edinburgh through Lauderdale. Upon its redundancy in the early 16th century, it passed to Robert Lauder of that Ilk, who gave it in dowry to his daughter Alison and her husband George Wedderhede. This couple, and their son, were all murdered in feuds, Alison in 1547. Records are wanting but presumably the lands reverted to her parents, her mother being Alison Cranstoun. They both died in the second half of 1567 leaving only young grandchildren as heirs. The Cranstouns sold Castle Hill on 27 January 1587 to Sir John Maitland (d.1595). During the war with England called the 'Rough Wooings' the site had been occupied by a large English artillery fort and garrison. The fort was begun on 5 April 1548 by Sir Robert Bowes and was estimated to cost £296 and take four weeks to complete. By the 22 March 1587, Maitland was "busily occupied with his masons at the building of his house in the Fort of Lauder."
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