Seaton House and Lord hays


Records suggests that Seaton House was built within the estate we know as Seaton Park from as early as the mid 1600’s.  James Gordon later added to the original building in 1728 with an impressive Georgian House designed by James Gibb.

Seaton House and Lord Hay, alternative name Middleton Road

1. Gordon family were lairds of the Seaton Estate from 1640 - 1742
The Gordon family moved to Craigmyl
Seaton House was designed in 1725 by James Gibb

2. At that time the estate was owned by Col. John Middleton whose grandfather, James Gordon had lived in an older dwelling on the site, part of which may have been incorporated in the mansion. There were 3 generations of Middletons lived together in Seaton House. George Middleton's widow Lady Diana sold it to James Forbes.

3. The Seaton Estate was passed on to The Forbes family 1742 (1776 ???)

4. The estate passed onto James Forbes's daughter Elizabeth on his death
1813 Elizabeth Forbes marries Lord James Hay (picture of Elizabeth Forbes) (oil painting by Raeburn)

Lord James Hay -a soldier and one of Wellington's aides-de-camp and second son to the 7th Marquis of Tweeddale. (portrait 1855)

5.  James Gordon Hay (son of Elizabeth Forbes and Lord James Hay) had no children to his first wife,  to his second wife: Mary Catherine Hill-Cox he had several, one of  whom was Malcolm Vivian Hay (1881 - 1962), the last laird of Seaton.

6. Lord Malcom Vivian Hay, with Alice Ivy Hay of Seaton, had a daughter  Mrs Georgiana Williams (photo as boys brother Cuthbert and Malcom 1893 aged 12)

James Forbes was active in the East Indian Company and in Imperial trade generally, this is how he made his fortune and enabled him to buy the Seaton Estate.



The building
Made up of red brink, more in the french style than that typical of Scottish buildings of the time.

Fore more information about Old Aberdeen click here to download a leaflet from Aberdeen City Counci.

The house was more recently the family home of the Hays until Lord Malcom Hay moved out in 1957, he later died in 1962.  In 1947 The city took over the park and the house but granted the Hays a lifetime lease.  The house itself was subject to vandalism and was set on fire in 1963, the house was completely destroyed and demolished the same year.

Fountain marking where Seaton house used to stand taken by Betty
Close up of fountain taken by Betty



(click on pictures to see larger versions)





Seaton House formal gardens taken by Betty


Click here to see more photos




Do you remember Seaton House? 

Can you tell us any information about Lord Hays and his family?

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