Friday 20 January 2012

The Ruins of Seacliff House...

East of the Town of North Berwick is the estate of Seacliff, during the winter months you will see an old ruin through the trees  above the secluded beach...

Pic from Microlight flight in spring 2012...


The original Seacliff House was built in 1750 by a Robert Colt.
It was later bought by George Sligo who in 1841 employed the famous Scottish architect David Bryce to build a new house in baronial style on the core of the older house.





In 1907 it was gutted by fire, taking the life of the then owner Andrew Laidlay,
He is buried in nearby Whitekirk Church yard....





During WW1 The Royal Navy established a top-secret research base there.
The station, known as HMS Scottish Seacliff, was mainly used for navigation training and U-Boat defence.
The exterior now survives almost complete with gables, turrets and bartizans.
Slowly Nature is taking back the ruin as the woods and ivy encroach it every year,
It once must have been an impressive house with its views out to sea above the secluded sandy cove with Harbour, and across to Tantallon castle and the Bass Rock...
Please respect the Landowners privacy who live nearby if visiting...




















































































If you enjoyed this post and are interested in other stuff around Seacliff you may be interested in;

URBEX; Gin Head - Secret Radar Testing Faciity

Seacliff`s own Whisky Galore Story...

SS Poderosa Wreck, Old Coastgurd station , Peffersands nr Seacliff


Other Articles...

URBEX; Hungry House - Gosford

Ruins of Peaston...

A Lost Coast Road and Crossing...

Post Office Security

HMS Ludlow Wreck - Yellowcraig

WW2 XT Submarine Wrecks - Aberlady Bay

An old Spoon with a Story...

Saltcoats Castle - Gullane

Anthrax Island...

WW2 Critical Foundations

3 comments:

  1. Some great images here of a wonderful building.....
    This is the kind of photographic subject that I really enjoy.... mind you I would have probably tackled it in B&W Infrared..

    -Trevor

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  2. Brilliant stuff. I am currently researching the lost villages of Auldhame and Scoughall and, of course Seacliff comes in to play. Are you able to share any info which may help?

    In the meantime, great stuff. wonderful photos of Seacliff House.

    James Denham

    ReplyDelete