Midhope Castle is situated on the Hopetoun Estate, to the West of Abercorn and South-east of Blackness on the North side of the A904. Click here for a location map provided by StreetMap.
Midhope is a classic late sixteenth century Renaissance tower house and for an uninhabited structure is remarkably well-preserved. It is a fairly substantial example of this type of building within West Lothian, being much larger than the other nearby tower houses at Duntarvie and Niddry. Unfortunately, while those two castles fell into considerable ruin but have since either been renovated (Niddry) or are being renovated (Duntarvie), Midhope is currently at serious risk of further decay, and some features are slowly being lost due to lack of conservation.
Midhope, Looking North-west
In the seventeenth century, an imposing gateway was added on the East side, which appears to have a panel above the entrance which, presumably, would have carried the family crest.
The Main Gate
As can be seen from the first photograph above, this gateway is no longer used, and the farm behind the castle has access through a gap cut through the gateway wall on the left. On the right-hand side of the original entrance, an inscription is clearly visible which gives the date of the castle itself (not the gateway) as being 1582.
Date Inscription on Main Gate
Beyond the entrance is a large (originally cobbled) courtyard on the South side of the castle, from which the two main phases of building can be clearly see - the main tower dating from 1582 on the West, and the later seventeenth century extensions on the East.
South Face
The tower, being the original sixteenth century structure, is large in itself for the local area, and has an imposing character, literally towering over the visitor standing in the courtyard.
Tower, South Face
At the foot of the tower, leading in from the Southern courtyard, we find the main door into the castle, now somewhat delapidated, but still carrying some ornamented features in reasonably good condition.
Main Door
Crest Over Main Door
To the right of this door, we find a more modest door what was presumably the main entrance to the seventeenth century extension.
Door with Inscribed Panel
The inscribed panel over this door is still visible, but the precise wording is difficult to make out, not least due to the Gothic script used by its mason.
Inscription Over Door
On the North side of the castle, fewer features of note are visible, and this side is currently in use in the context of a farmyard.
North Face
The history of Midhope Castle seems slightly obscure compared to other castles in the area, but from the current context as part of the nearby Hopetoun Estate to the East, and the mention of the Hope family in its placename, one could assume that it was a "middle" residence of the Hopes. According to CANMORE, by the early twentieth century, it seems to have been in use primarily as a dormitory for various estate workers, being sub-divided into seperate apartments. By the late twentieth century, however, it seems to be completely uninhabited.
Again, according to CANMORE, in the 1990s, a number of internal wall paintings were noticed, including a trompe l'oeil of a room with blue walls and black and white floor tiling, which may or may not have represented how the internal decor of the original house was maintained. Another wall painting was found over a fireplace representing two hunting dogs, as if they were leaping over the fireplace itself. Unfortunately, nothing was done to preserve these finds.