LAUDER, George of Bass ¹

   User ID: Q955

  General Notes:

"His mother dominated George Lauder junior, the new Laird of Bass, and between them they seemed financially incompetant. The greedy wheeler-dealers, corrupt lawyers, new-rich, and new 'aristocracy' (most of Scotland's titles originate in the 17th century) also coveted their possessions. Loans and mortgages were forclosed upon on conditions that would be illegal today. Lady Bass was evicted from her winter home, Tyninghame Manor, for 600 years a Lauder residence. When Sotheby's held their auction there in 1987 they failed to mention in their history of the house its original owners.

The Great Civil War commenced and the Bass was hurriedly transferred to Sir Patrick Hepburn of Waughton, a Covenanter and George's uncle. The Lauders being notorious royalists it was hoped that by this ruse Cromwell would leave it alone. However, Sir Patrick unexpectedly died and his son John was served heir of all his estates, including The Bass, on 9th November 1649. John had been an Episcopalian minister and was a Royalist. The dye was cast.

In 1650 the castle on the Bass was busy bombarding supply ships heading for Leith. One ship, the John o' London was captured, looted and sunk. It contained Oliver Cromwell's personal luggage. He was not amused and Proclamations "against Intercourse with the Garrison of the Bass" were posted on both sides of the Firth of Forth. Surrender of the Bass was demanded by the Deputy Governor of Leith on 22nd October 1651 to no effect. A setback occurred two days later when 'the Lady and two brothers of the Governor of the Bass island' were captured and their estates sequestrated. Still, the Bass held out.

In April 1652 the garrison of 112 men were finally starved and frozen out.

The Lauders never regained their island home and fortress and it subsequently became a state prison for Covenanters under King Charles II and was abandoned in 1701 when sections were demolished. The remainder of the buildings and some walls were quarried for stone to build a lighthouse there in 1902. A sad story and sorry end to a castle with a great history. What of the Lauders and Hepburns et al? Whence has flown thine ancient glory?"

from The Lauders of Bass




"Having fallen into the possession, first of the Laird of Waughton, and thereafter of Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall, the Bass was purchased from the latter in October, 1671, by Lord Lauderdale, in name of the Government to become a state prison, and in 1706, it was granted by the Crown to President Sir Hew Dalrymple, reserving the power of re-fortifying it should this be expedient. It remains (in 1884) the property of his lineal descendant, Sir Hew Dalrymple of North Berwick, Baronet."

from Family of Lauder ^{2 3}