Fun Facts - Scottish Castles

Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It sits atop Castle Hill in Edinburgh and is the most besieged place in all of Great Britain. It is also one of the oldest. St. Margaret’s Chapel, built by King David I in honor of his mother, Queen Margaret, who died in 1093, is the oldest building in Edinburgh. The first fireworks display in Scotland took place at the castle in 1507 as part of a jousting tournament hosted by James IV. James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots, was born in the Royal Palace at the castle in 1566. James VI united the crowns of Scotland and England in 1603.

Edinburgh castle is home to Scotland’s crown jewels. Known as the Honours of Scotland, they are the oldest crown jewels in Britain. The crown, sceptre and sword of state were first used together at the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. During World War II, the Crown of Scotland was hidden in a latrine in David’s Tower. The crown jewels, including the stone of destiny, are on view to the public at the castle.

During the 1650s, the castle grew into a significant military base, though it was rarely visited by the monarch. It is still in use by the military today. The castle also lays claim to being the most secure prison in Scotland. Between 1757 and 1814, it was used to hold captured prisoners of war.

By Leanne S.

Sources: https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/the-castle/history

Images: courtesy of @visitedingburghcastle

One of the best-known castles in Scotland is Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the Royal family. It has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. Upon purchasing the estate, Prince Albert decided to build a new castle as the one on the land was considered not large enough for the Royal Family. 

The foundation stone for the current Balmoral Castle (which sits about 100 yards northwest from the original building) was laid by Queen Victoria on 28th September 1853 and can be found at the foot of the wall adjacent to the west face of the entrance porch. Before the foundation stone was placed in position Queen Victoria signed a parchment recording the date. This parchment, together with an example of each of the current coins of the realm, was then placed in a bottle and inserted into a cavity below the site prepared for the stone.

The Castle was completed in 1856, and the old building was then demolished. It is commemorated by a stone which is located on the front lawn at a point opposite the tower and about 100 yards from the path. This stone marks the position of the front door to the demolished castle.

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, under the terms of her will Balmoral Estates passed to King Edward VII, and from him to each of his successors. Although it remains largely the same as it was in Queen Victoria's reign, successive royal owners have followed the initiative of Prince Albert in making improvements to the estate.

By Leanne S.

Sources: https://www.balmoralcastle.com/about.htm

 – The Seat of Scottish Royalty

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most historically important sites and was once a residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle. The castle sits at the top of Castle Hill, a vast volcanic rock above the river Forth at the meeting point between the Lowlands and Highlands. It is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a strong defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding what was, until the 1890s, the farthest downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times.

Most of the main buildings of the castle date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A few structures remain from the fourteenth century, while the outer defenses fronting the town date from the early eighteenth century.

Before the union with England, Stirling Castle was also one of the most used of the many Scottish royal residences, very much a palace as well as a fortress. Several Scottish kings and queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542, and others were born or died there. The Earl of Douglas was murdered in the castle by James II.

There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence, with the last being in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take the castle. Stirling Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is now a tourist attraction managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Many of the rooms in the palace have been restored or recreated for tourists such as The Royal Palace, childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots.

By Leanne S.

Sources: https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/discover/about-the-castle/

Images: courtesy of @visitstirlingcastle

Dunvegan Castle is Scotland’s oldest currently inhabited castle. Located on the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan castle has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years. The castle and its gardens are a popular visitor attraction, and for longer stays, there are cottages for rent on the property.  

The castle is built on an elevated rock overlooking an inlet on the eastern shore of Loch Dunvegan, Architecturally, it is of high importance, containing the work of at least ten building periods ranging from the 1200s to the 1850s. From its impressive entrance hall to its ornately decorated state rooms, the castle is a unique mix of building styles that reflect the requirements of the clan chiefs who built them over the centuries. The promontory was enclosed by a curtain wall in the 13th century, and a four-story tower house was built in the late 14th century. Alasdair Crotach, the 8th chief, added the Fairy Tower as a separate building around 1500. During the 17th century, new ranges of buildings were put up between the old tower and the Fairy Tower, beginning in 1623 with the state apartment built by Ruaraidh Mor. The old tower was subsequently abandoned until the late 18th century, when the 23rd chief began the process of homogenizing the appearance of the castle. This process continued under the 24th and 25th chiefs, with the addition of mock battlements and the new approach over a drawbridge from the east. Dunvegan Castle today has a unified design with Victorian dummy pepper-pots and defensive battlements running the whole length of the roof line. 

Inside there are family portraits galore with antique furniture, books, trophies, and weapons. Showcases containing all sorts of medals and relics display items including a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair and a pin cushion embroidered by Flora MacDonald. Also, on display is the famous Fairy Flag. Legend has it that this sacred banner, believed to date from the 7th century, will bring success to the chief or his clan if unfurled in an emergency. However, the charm will only work on three occasions and it has been used twice already to secure MacLeod victories in battle.

By Leanne S.

Images: courtesy of @DunveganCastle

Sources: https://www.dunvegancastle.com/

http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/Chatelaine/DUNVEGAN.HTM