The history of the Palace of Seton reached back almost eight centuries.

According to legend, Seier de Seton I founded the name of the lands of Seton sometime around 1069. It was Seier's son and grandson who enlarged the first tower to become a more commodious defensive castle, to which Philip de Seton secured a Royal Charter re-confirming the lands to him and his posterity, dated 1169.

While the small Church of Seton which stood beside the Castle served both the early family and that of it's constant noble visitor's, it also served the growing village of Seton which lay less than 1 kilometer to the west of the Estate.

With the lands of Edmonstone, St. Johnstoun, Winton, Falside and others encompassing the immediate lands of Seton, it is of no wonder that those famillies are of Seton descent, having been sons of the early family who's surname was adopted from their estate, with the Seton's of Winton, called "de Winton" marrying the Seton heiress Margaret de Seton and carrying on the House at Seton.

With every successive generation, from William 1st Lord Seton onwards, the family acquired lands in the area around their principle seat, and that of Tranent: as far south as Pencaitland, as far east as Barnes and as far west as Windygoul.  The revenues from the estate, and from the Templar and church lands within the boundary of the Barony of Seton, paid handsomely to allow for continual expanding of the family's castle, later to be known as the Palace of Seton.

With the initial Tower of Seton, called St. Bennet's Tower (after St. Benedict, the family's patron Saint) came the main hall of Sampson, or Samson's Hall, as well as the later Wallace Tower, all of which were severely damaged later in 1544, during the Rough Wooing of England's King Henry VIII.  Irregardless, until such time the Seton Castle, or Seton House, was one of the most highly regarded residences throughout the Seton's tenure.

The grandest beginnings were undertaken by George, 6th Lord Seton, though it was his son George, 7th Lord Seton, 5th of the name of George, who was the famed supporter of Queen Mary during her troubled reign, who completed the work and established the residence as a Palace.  George, 7th Lord, roofed the old Hall and rebuilt the ranges which comprised of the apartments of State, where Queen Mary held court, as well as her son, King James VI and I.

The Palace of Seton, in it’s final phase, was similar in style to the family’s later house at Winton, showing the influence of Elizabethan architecture in Scottish architecture.  It was indeed an imposing building, at least seven stories tall, set around a large triangular/quadrangular court stood three large fronts of freestone.

The front to the south-east which appears to have been built early in the reign of Queen Mary (indicated by the ceiling which featured the Coats-of-Arms of Scotland, France, Queen Mary, the Dauphin and Hamilton etc., all of which were surrounded by the French Order of St. Michael), contained, beside other apartments, a long hallway, a noble hall and drawing-room, a parlour, a great bedchamber, dressing-room and closet. 

The earlier front to the north housed the apartments of State, necessary because Seton Palace was frequently visited by Royalty which included James V and Mary of Guise, Mary Queen of Scots, James VI, Charles I and Charles II, and housed three great rooms with 40 foot high ceilings.

The rooms were finely furnished after Mary Queen of Scots kept Court there on her return from France, and to accommodate the many staff, the third front was full of good lodging rooms and the outer Courts included numerous offices and a Church or Chapel. To defend this impressive building, towers stood at every angle and on each side of the gate. 

According to tradition, it was customary for the Earls of Winton once a year to ‘ride the marches’ of their estates, which were so extensive that a whole day, from sunrise to sunset, was required to ride in state round the boundaries of their lands. On these occasions the head of the house was always accompanied by a large retinue of friends and retainers, mounted on gaily caparisoned horses, the charger of the chief being arrayed in cloth of silk adorned with gold tassels. The festivities which followed this ceremonial lasted several days.

Details to be noted about the grounds surrounding the Palace are the curious dial affixed to the wall of the bastion tower about 10 feet high, which forms part of the boundary of the old garden, where the top of the stone forms a horizontal dial.

The Seton's had been much involved in the affairs of Scotland's Royal Family, having the privilege of their presence on many occasions over successive generations, with the family's munificent tastes being much sought after by the Scotland's Monarch's as a place of relaxation and refuge.