The beach and estate command a strategic position at the mouth of the
Firth of Forth, and control of the area has been contested through the ages. The beach and estate were used as a staging post for various raids on nearby
Tantallon Castle from the 14th to the 17th century. Troops were also stationed here to prevent landings by the French during the
Napoleonic Wars in 1798. Before bloodshed touched the area, the 8th century Christian missionary Saint
Baldred was based in nearby
Scoughall, and several features of the area have been named after him, such as "Ghegan Rock" (Churchman's Haven). In quieter times, the ownership of the estate has changed hands on several occasions. Seacliff House was built in 1750 by Robert Colt. It was later bought by George Sligo who in 1841 employed the famous Scottish architect
David Bryce to build a new house in baronial style on the core of the older house. From 1854 until 1885 the house was owned by the orientalist
John Watson Laidlay and he lived here with his family including
Johnny Laidlay. File:An aerial view of The Gegan, Seacliff.webm|thumb|402x402px|An aerial view of The Gegan, Seacliff In 1907 the house was gutted by fire, killing the owner, Andrew Laidlay. Although plans were drawn up by
Robert Lorimer for its restoration in 1911 these were never carried out. The exterior survives almost complete with gables, turrets and bartizans. The outbuildings were later purchased by the
Royal Navy who established a top-secret research base there during
World War I. The station, known as HMS Scottish Seacliff, was mainly used for navigation training and U-Boat defence.
Robert Louis Stevenson was related to the Dale family, who still own and farm much of the land around Seacliff today. == Modern day ==