Seton Collegiate Church

Ok this might not have anything to do with the tv series or the books but it has connections to the time period the books are set in.

Seton Collegiate Church is on the road from Prestonpans to Longniddry. It is not far from where the Scots were at the Battle of Prestonpans.

Collegiate churches are so called because they housed a college, or community, of priests. These were brought together by the local landowner to pray for his and his family’s salvation. During the course of the 15th century, the Setons began the process of raising their parish church to collegiate status. After the death of Lord John Seton in 1434, his widow, Lady Catherine, added a small side-chapel to the south side of the church, to house her late husband’s tomb and a private altar. (The chapel no longer exists.) (Source – Historic Scotland)

It was damaged by zealots during the Wars of the Covenant in the mid 1600s, and the Setons’ support for the Jacobite cause led to it being desecrated again in 1715, this time by the Lothian Militia. At some point during this period the original nave, the only part of the church without a vaulted stone roof, fell into disuse and was demolished. The church later passed to the Earls of Wemyss who restored the surviving parts to become a family burial vault, and they in turn passed it into state care in 1946. (Source – www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk )

The church is set in charming well kept grounds. As we wandered round I spotted several slate signs which sounds like advice Claire might have used.

 

1 thought on “Seton Collegiate Church

  1. Pingback: Sunday Walk | Adventures of The Weston Family

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