| Notes |
- George Henderon was born circa 1480. He was the son of James Henderson, 1st of Fordell and Helen Baty. He married, firstly, Katherine Adamson in 1517. He married, secondly, Marion Scott of Balwearie (his son William’s mother-in-law) in 1539. He died at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, or simply the Battle of Pinkie, on 10 September 1547, together with William Henderson of Fordell, his eldest son and heir.
He was succeeded as laird of Fordell by his grandson, James Henderson, only known son of William Henderson of Fordell and Elizabeth Scott
He possessed the estate of Straiton and Brownhill. He held the office of Burgess and Guild Brother of Edinburgh in September 1520. He held the office of Provost of Edinburgh.
History
The earliest charter in the Henderson of Fordell papers dates from 1217, when Richard, son of Hugh de Camera, with consent of his wife and son, (also) Richard, grants small parts of the lands of Fordell to the Abbey of Inchcolm.[10][11]
By 1240, William de Hercht held the lands of Fordell.[12] Sir William de Erth was the Lord of Fordell in 1428.[13] The Fordell lands were divided into fractional portions following William de Erth's death.[14] John Henrisoun was serving as sergeant of Fordell by 1465.[15]
In 1510-1512, James (M. Jacobo) Henrysoun (Henderson),[16] burgess of Edinburgh, and his wife, Elene (née Baty), redeemed from mortgage his inherited fractional portion of the Fordell estate and purchased fractional parts of the lands of Fordell (Fordalis) from at least five others.[17] The land was consolidated into a barony granted by King James IV in 1511.[18]
It is not known when the original castle structure was constructed, but the main entrance tower is believed to date from the 1400s. James Henderson, 3rd of Fordell, started to extend the castle in 1566.[19]
In 1568 the castle was damaged by fire, then rebuilt.[20] Evidence of the fire can be seen to the left of the main entrance tower.
Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have stayed here when Marion Scott, one of her ladies-in-waiting, married George Henderson, the laird.[21]
During the late 16th century, the Hendersons began working the estate's rich coal seams that came to form the basis of the estate economy.[22]
Sir John Henderson rebuilt St Theriot's Chapel in 1650 for use as a family mausoleum.[23] The castle was damaged by Oliver Cromwell's army troops garrisoned at the castle in 1651.[24][25]
The Hendersons became baronets in 1694 during the reign of Charles II.[26]
In the 19th century, the family built a large, new mansion – Fordell House – nearby.[27] Fordell House was demolished in the 20th century, and there is now little visible evidence of its existence.[28]
In the 19th century, Fordell Castle was rarely occupied; the main hall is said to have been converted into a stable for a time.[29] George Mercer-Henderson modernized the castle and installed the gates. The north front was rebuilt in 1855 (designed by Robert Hay).[30][5]
In 1953, John Hampden Mercer-Henderson, 8th Earl of Buckinghamshire, divided the nearly 2000-acre estate, selling the land to the west of Fordel Burn.[31][32] The walled garden at Pittadro was sold for use as a commercial nursery.[33][34]
Author James Henderson CBE (no relation), purchased the estate in 1953. He restored the castle to a good standard and it was inhabited for the first time since 1726.[citation needed] Fordell was acquired in 1961 by the controversial lawyer and Conservative politician Sir Nicholas Fairbairn (1933–1995).[24] The castle was restored and used as a private residence by Sir Nicholas and his wife Lady Sam Fairbairn.[35][36] Following his death in 1995, Nicholas Fairbairn was laid to rest in the crypt below the Chapel of St Theriot on the castle grounds.[31]
About 1995, the property was acquired by Dr. Lorraine Inglis[37] and her husband, local veterinarian Bill Inglis.[38] About 1999, the property was purchased by Andrew Berry, a businessman who made extensive, high-quality restorations of the castle, chapel, and grounds.[39] In November 2007, Fordell Castle was sold for £3,850,000 to Stuart Simpson, the 17th Baron of Fordell, making it the fifth-highest-priced home ever sold in Scotland.[40] The Castle remains a private residence, and is a category A listed building.[41]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fordell_Castle
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1496 - 1547 (51 years)
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
