Site type CASTLE, EARTHWORK
Canmore ID 47768
Site Number NS96NE 7
NGR NS 9807 6805
Council WEST LOTHIAN
Parish BATHGATE
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District WEST LOTHIAN
Former County WEST LOTHIAN

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Archaeological Notes

NS96NE 7 9807 6805

(NS 9807 6805) Bathgate Castle (NR) (site of)
OS 1:10000 map (1973)

Walter, High Steward of Scotland, had one of his principal residences at Bathgate, where he died in 1328. Some traces of his mansion may be seen in the middle of a bog or loch about 1/4 mile from the town. Hewn stones have frequently been dug from the foundations, and some kitchen-utensils of copper or brass have been found. Several cists have lately been ploughed up in the adjacent grounds. Some of them contained "copper coins" (more probably fragments of bronze implements).
OSA 1791

The site of this castle is located in low ground SE of Bathgate, and is indicated by an approximately oblong swell of the ground. The ditches which formed the moat and what appears to have been the entrance and probably a drawbridge are still traceable on the E. Hardly a vestige of the castle foundations now remains.
Name Book 1856

A grass-covered mound, 2.0m - 3.0m in height, denotes the site of Bathgate Castle. The lay-out of a golf course tends to despoil the outline, but there are two distinct ditches visible, curving round the E perimeter of the mound. The bank formed between them averages 0.6m in height, spread to a width of 8.0m. The inner ditch, which is very shallow, averages 2.0m across. A causeway, 8.0m broad, emerges on the E side. The top of the mound itself is undulating, and no building foundations are to be seen. Part of the bank and ditches on the N side has been cut away by the construction of railway sidings.
Although low-lying, much of this ground contains numerous hillocks (see also NS96NE 11).
No information was found regarding the cists mentioned in the Statistical Account (OSA), but see NS96NE 10.
Visited by OS (JLD) 17 February 1953

The site of this castle is generally as described.
Revised at 1:1250.
Visited by OS (BS) 9 August 1974

Bathgate Castle, the centre of the barony that had formed part of the dowry of Marjory Bruce on her marriage with Walter Stewart, appears to have remained undeveloped in the later Middle Ages, and it is questionable to what extent this seat was occupied after Walter's death in 1327.
G Stell 1980

Castle Earthworks, Bathgate Castle: Photographed by the RCAHMS in 1980.
(Undated) information in NMRS.

Notes and Activities

1856	FIELD VISIT

Notes The site of this castle is located in low ground SE of Bathgate, and is indicated by an approximately oblong swell of the ground. The ditches which formed the moat and what appears to have been the entrance and probably a drawbridge are still traceable on the E. Hardly a vestige of the castle foundations now remains.
Name Book 1856

Further details

17 February 1953

FIELD VISIT

Notes A grass-covered mound, 2.0m - 3.0m in height, denotes the site of Bathgate Castle. The lay-out of a golf course tends to despoil the outline, but there are two distinct ditches visible, curving round the E perimeter of the mound. The bank formed between them averages 0.6m in height, spread to a width of 8.0m. The inner ditch, which is very shallow, averages 2.0m across. A causeway, 8.0m broad, emerges on the E side. The top of the mound itself is undulating, and no building foundations are to be seen. Part of the bank and ditches on the N side has been cut away by the construction of railway sidings.
Although low-lying, much of this ground contains numerous hillocks (see also NS96NE 11).
No information was found regarding the cists mentioned in the Statistical Account (OSA), but see NS96NE 10.
Visited by OS (JLD) 17 February 1953

Further details

9 August 1974

FIELD VISIT

Notes The site of this castle is generally as described.
Revised at 1:1250.
Visited by OS (BS) 9 August 1974

Further details

1980	PUBLICATION ACCOUNT

Notes Bathgate Castle, the centre of the barony that had formed part of the dowry of Marjory Bruce on her marriage with Walter Stewart, appears to have remained undeveloped in the later Middle Ages, and it is questionable to what extent this seat was occupied after Walter's death in 1327.
G Stell 1980

Further details

1980	AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Notes Castle Earthworks, Bathgate Castle: Photographed by the RCAHMS in 1980.
(Undated) information in NMRS.


Further details

1983	AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Further details

1984	AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Further details

Books and References

Coventry, M (2001) The castles of Scotland Musselburgh
Page(s): 82 Held at RCAHMS F.5.2.COV

OSA (1791-9) The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes, in Sinclair, J (Sir) Edinburgh
Page(s): Vol.1, 354 Held at RCAHMS B.2.2.STA

Ordnance Survey (Name Book) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale)
Page(s): Book No.10, 50-1 Held at RCAHMS Ref

Stell, G (1980) 'Medieval architecture and rural society in West Lothian', in Morrison, A Rural Settlement Studies: Some recent work.
Page(s): 46-56

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