Seton Castle was built in 1789 by starchitect Robert Adam.
Savills
A castle in Scotland with 13 bedrooms, a gym, billiard room, private tavern, stables, cinema and helipad is for sale for $9.7 million (£8 million).
Seton Castle, a 13-bedroom mansion built with the remnants of a palace used by Mary Queen of Scots, has just been put on the market via estate agent Savills.
Renowned architect Robert Adam built the vast mansion in 1789 using the original stones of Seton Palace, a 13th century medieval castle favored by Queen Elizabeth’s rival.
Sitting on a 13-acre park with beautiful gardens, the four-story property is located near Longniddry, East Lothian–a 30-minute drive from Edinburgh and home to the world’s oldest golf club.
Aerial view of Seton Castle.
Savills
Seton Castle was fully refurbished in 2003 and includes, along with the seven-bedroom castle itself, three separate properties: two detached cottages, the Darnley and the Bothwell, each with its own living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, bathroom and WC; and a suite, the Hideaway, located at the top of a turret spiral staircase.
One of the castle’s living rooms.
Savills
Owner Stephen Leach, a tech entrepreneur, told the BBC that he decided to sell the castle as he and his family spend most of their time abroad.
“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 said.
“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.”
One of the mansion’s 13 bedrooms.
Savills
Leach and his wife Heather bought the castle, which had been previously in the same ownership for more than 200 years, in 2007 for a reported £5 million–around $10 million at the time.
The castle sits on over 13 acres of parks and gardens.
Savills
“Seton Castle is simply one of Scotland’s most significant and ravishing buildings, with eight centuries of history,” said Jamie Macnab, country house sales director at Savills in Edinburgh.
“It is undeniably one of Robert Adam’s finest achievements.”