Stirling Castle Scotland, Building, Photos, Date, History, Scottish Project, Image

Stirling Castle, Scotland : Building

The Great Hall Roof + Royal Lodgings Restoration + Refurbishment

14 Oct 2013

Stirling Castle Building

Photos of the castle and surrounding area

photos © Adrian Welch

Key architectural elements in the graveyard immeditaely to the south of the Castle:

Star Tomb:

photo © Adrian Welch

Castle from the north:

photo © Adrian Welch

15 Mar 2011

Stirling Palace Refurbishment

Royal palace opening after £12 million refurbishment

First Minister Announces Details Of Renaissance Royal Palace Opening Event

Alex Salmond Sees First Of The Original Stirling Heads Put On Permanent Display And Meets Craftspeople And Performers

First Minister Alex Salmond has revealed details of a weekend of celebrations to mark the opening of Stirling Castle’s Renaissance royal palace after a £12 million refurbishment.

He made the announcement during a visit to the palace where he saw the first of the original 16th-century Stirling Heads being prepared for display in a specially-created gallery on the upper floor.

Stirling Castle photo by Cowco

At the same time he was introduced to costumed performers who will take part in the weekend event which is entitled Stirling Castle Presents – a Palace Fit for a Queen. The First Minister also met some of the highly skilled traditional craftspeople who have played key roles in Historic Scotland’s project to return the royal apartments in the palace to how they may have looked in the 1540s.

Mr Salmond said: “I am delighted to announce what promises to be a great weekend of events to mark the opening of Stirling Castle’s Renaissance royal palace to the public. It’s a fitting opportunity to celebrate a real Scottish success story that will provide a significant boost to our tourism industry.

“A total of £12 million has been invested in transforming the palace interiors, creating a new gallery where the original Stirling Heads can go on permanent display, upgrading the main castle exhibition and introducing new interactive exhibits. This will undoubtedly attract many more visitors to the castle and also highlight everything else the area has to offer.

“I was also very pleased to meet some of the remarkable craftspeople who have worked so hard on this project and who are helping keep traditional skills alive for future generations.”

Stirling Castle Presents – a Palace Fit for a Queen will take place on 4th and 5th of June. It will be a specially ticketed event, with full public opening from Monday 6th.

Numbers are being limited to avoid overcrowding and tickets will need to be bought in advance.

Weekend opening hours will, though, be specially extended so those without tickets for the event will still be able to get in from 4pm, with the castle closing at 7pm. The event will feature around 60 costumed performers putting on a range of displays, including everything from Renaissance cooking to medieval games. The main attraction will be the chance to be among the very first people to explore the sumptuously refurbished palace interiors – which have been richly decorated in the style of the 1540s.

The event will recall the years during which Mary of Guise, widow of James V, made the newly-completed palace the heart of the royal court – and where her young daughter Mary Queen of Scots was brought up before being sent to France. There will also be the chance to see the original Stirling Heads, which were removed from the ceiling of the King’s Inner Hall in 1777 and dispersed round Britain.

This will be the first time that all the survivors will have been together – and on public show – since the 18th century.

Sometimes known as Scotland’s other crown jewels because of their superb craftsmanship, the heads are metre-wide oak medallions depicting kings, queens, emperors, Classical heroes and figures from the Scottish court. A replica set has been hand-carved and used to recreate the ceiling of the King’s Inner Hall, meaning visitors will be able to see how they would have looked when new.

Ruth Parsons, Historic Scotland Chief Executive, who showed the First Minister round the palace, said: “The project’s completion will be a tremendous moment for Historic Scotland, and everyone who has worked with us to make it possible.

“Our special celebratory event will be a fantastic chance to see the palace, and enjoy all the other new attractions we have to offer at the castle. It should be lots of fun, and make a great day out for all the family. “The palace project is even more special because it’s the final stage in our ambitious plan to restore this beautiful Scottish Castle to its 16th-century glory.”

Stirling Palace Project

£12m conservation and refurbishment of Royal Lodgings started Sep 2008. Due to complete by 2011. Apartments to be furnished in the style of the mid-16th century.

Stirling Castle photo by Cowco

Stirling Castle is situated – like Edinburgh Castle – on a volcanic outcrop in the centre of the city, in the heart of Scotland.

The oldest Castle buildings date from around 1370. Stirling featured in ‘Braveheart’, starring Mel Gibson. Controversy about restoration works to the Castle emerged around 2000 with recreation of historical styles irritating some contemporary architects. The timber roof is well worth a visit in itself. The images of the great hall are from Cowco – Scottish timber craftsmen based in Angus.

Stirling Castle Opening Times

Apr to Sep: 9.30am to 6pm – Oct to Mar: 9.30am to 5pm
always check with the owners: Historic Scotland Press Office 0131 668 8685

Attractions: an exhibition on the castle’s history, the reconstructed medieval kitchen display, a specialist bookshop, gift shop & café.
Location: The castle is located at the top of Stirling’s historic old town
Directions: off the M9, follow signs to Stirling
Admission: adult £8 child £3 conc £6

Stirling Castle Architecture + History

The Romans built a Fort on Stirling Castle rock. This building was replaced by a new castle commissioned by the King Alexander I; he died at the Castle in 1124.

Stirling Castle photo by Cowco

William the Lion signed the Treaty of Falaise in 1174 which ensured the six most important castles in Scotland should be garrisoned by the English. In 1189 Stirling Castle was returned to Scottish ownership.

King Edward I of England took Stirling Castle during the Wars of Independence around 1296. Scottish forces of William Wallace, Braveheart, beat the English army in battle at Stirling Bridge the following year. Edward I besieged Stirling in 1304.

The English held Stirling Castle until 1313: following the Bannockburn victory by Robert the Bruce the Scots resumed control. Robert Bruce tried to destroy the fortifications to prevent it being used as an English garrison, but after defeating the Scots at Halidon Hill, the English returned and strengthened the castle.

1342 saw the English yielding in turn to the Scots. And with the accession of the Stewarts as the Scottish Royal Family, the Castle once more became a Royal residence.

In 1543, the young Queen Mary – Mary Queen of Scots – was crowned in the chapel royal at Stirling. In 1566 Stirling became the refuge of the two month old Prince James, son of Mary (later James VI) was moved there.

In 1651, the Cromwell’s General Monk, lay siege to Stirling Castle and the Governor was forced to surrender.

Key Building Elements of Stirling Castle

The Gatehouse
The Great Hall – which dates from the end of the Middle Ages and which has now been restored to its full medieval glory
The Renaissance Royal Palace of James V
The Chapel Royal of James VI
The artillery fortifications of the 16th to 18th centuries

Stirling Castle images from Cowco in early 2005