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An 18th-century castle linked to the beheaded Mary, Queen of Scots has its own tavern and a cinema - and it's on the market for $9.7 million. Here's what the renovated property looks like.
An 18th-century castle linked to the beheaded Mary, Queen of Scots has its own tavern and a cinema - and it's on the market for $9.7 million. Here's what the renovated property looks like.
Libertina BrandtAug 22, 2019, 22:29 IST
Courtesy of Savills
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Seton Castle in East Lothian, Scotland, is on the market for £8 million (about $9.7 million).
It was built in 1798 by famous Scottish architect Robert Adam using the stone from a palace that would host Mary, Queen of Scots, according to the listing website Savills.
It was sold and renovated in the early 2000s but still features original touches that date back centuries, according to Bloomberg.
The property was originally the site of Seton Palace which, according to Bloomberg, was neglected after the Jacobite rebellion. But prior to Seton Palace's downfall, Mary, Queen of Scots - the queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567 - was believed to have stayed there and considered it one of her favorite retreats.
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Keep reading for more about the castle's background and to take a look inside.
Seton Castle is located in East Lothian, a historic county in southeastern Scotland. It's around a 25 minute drive east of Edinburgh, the country's capital.
In 1798, famous Scottish architect Robert Adam used the stone from Seton Palace to build a new house for Alexander MacKenzie, who bought the decrepit former palace in the late 1700s and hired Adam to repurpose it.
Then, in 2007, it was sold to its current owner, tech entrepreneur Stephen Leach, for £5 million — roughly $10 million at the time.
"We are privileged to have had a very special time at Seton, it's a truly magnificent place to live, entertain and to bring up a family," Leach told the BBC. "Even after 12 years there, it still takes our breath away to drive into the courtyard and remember we are retracing the steps of Mary Queen of Scots. As our children get older, we find ourselves spending more time at our homes overseas and therefore it's time to hand over the keys for the next chapter of Seton."
In total, the estate spans 13.4 acres. Along with the main seven-bedroom castle, the property also includes an additional two three-bedroom houses — The Darnley and The Bothwell cottages — and a "hideaway" suite atop a spiral staircase.
The interior of the castle pays tribute to its historic past. According to Bloomberg, many parts of the home still feature original touches, including fireplaces, doors, and leaded glass window panes.
