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The Estate and Lands of
Abercorn |
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A hamlet on the Hopetoun Estate in West Lothian, some 3 miles
(5 km) west of South Queensferry. The noteworthy parish church is
in a small part 12th Century Norman, although it is mostly
post-Reformation and was refurbished in 1893. A small museum in
the kirkyard preserves the remains of an 8th century stone cross.
The parish of Abercorn (or Aebercurnig) is mentioned by
the Venerable Bede as early as 696 AD., being the site of a
monastery and residence of a Bishop. An excavation close to the
church in 1963 revealed evidence of the monastery. By 1160, the
parish became part of the Barony of Aberlady. By then there was a
castle and it passed to the Graemes and then, following the death
of John the Graeme at Falkirk (1298), to the 'Black' Douglases.
The castle was besieged and destroyed by King James II (1430-60)
in 1455, never to be rebuilt. In the 16th century the crown
bestowed Abercorn on Claud Hamilton. However, despite being
forfeited because the Hamiltons had remained loyal to Mary, Queen
of Scots (1542-87), it was restored to them by King James VI (1566
- 1625), who created Claud the 1st Baron Paisley and his son the
1st Earl of Abercorn. The village and estate then passed through
the Mures, Lindsays and Setons before being in 1678 sold to John
Hope, whose widow, Margaret, and son, Charles (later the 1st Earl
of Hopetoun), in 1699 began the construction of Hopetoun House,
just to the east of the village.
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The Baronets of Abercorn
Sir Alexander Hay Seton
of Abercorn
The Lands and Estate of
Abercorn
The Baronets of Nova
Scotia
The Abercorn Line
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