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The Manor of Abercorn once belonged to the House of Avenel in the
reign of King David I (1124-1153). The castle was besieged and destroyed by King James II (1430-60)
in 1455, never to be fully rebuilt afterwards. In the 16th century the crown
bestowed Abercorn on Claud Hamilton, who's marriage to the
daughter of George 7th Lord Seton was celebrated at the nearby
castle of Niddry. Despite being
forfeited because the Hamiltons had remained loyal to Mary, Queen
of Scots (1542-87), the estate was restored to them by King James VI (1566
- 1625), who created Claud Hamilton the 1st Baron Paisley and his son the
1st Earl of Abercorn.
The Barony of Abercorn, like that of Gargunnock, was sometime in
the interest of Sir Ninian Seton 3rd baron of Touch
and his grandson, James Seton 5th baron of Touch. The line of the Seton’s of Abercorn,
then, was
established by Sir Alexander Seton of Gargunnock, Lord Kilcreuch,
who was the second son of James Seton of Touch from his
second wife, Eline-Jane Edmonstone.
The village and estate then passed to John
Hope, in 1678, 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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