why was edinburgh castle built

[118] The Governor's House to the south was built in 1742 as accommodation for the Governor, Storekeeper, and Master Gunner,[128] and was used until the post of Governor became vacant in the later 19th century; it was then used by nurses of the castle hospital. The only easy approach is from the town to the east, and the castle's defences are situated accordingly, with a series of gates protecting the route to the summit of the Castle Rock. The historic fortress is built high on an impressive 700 million year old extinct volcano called Castle Rock. 2. [55], In 1479, Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, was imprisoned in David's Tower for plotting against his brother, King James III (r.1460–1488). In 1939 Luftwaffe pilots shot down over the Firth of Forth were brought up to the castle and treated in the military hospital. Reasons to visit Edinburgh Castle. [80] In contrast, Kirkcaldy of Grange, his brother James and two jewellers, James Mossman and James Cokke, who had been minting coins in Mary's name inside the castle, were hanged at the Cross in Edinburgh on 3 August. Its origins as a settlement can be traced to the early Middle Ages when a hillfort was established in the area, most likely on the Castle Rock.From the seventh to the tenth centuries it was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria, becoming thereafter a royal residence of the Scottish kings. [57] Upon his death 25 years later, the crown passed to his week-old daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. [57] James IV did, however, construct the Great Hall, which was completed in the early 16th century. Similarly, did Edinburgh Castle have a moat? They also made sorties to set fires, burning 100 houses in the town and then firing on anyone attempting to put out the flames. [159], Historic Environment Scotland undertakes the dual tasks of operating the castle as a commercially viable tourist attraction, while simultaneously bearing responsibility for conservation of the site. Even, somehistoricalrecords have it that the “castle of the maidens” was the first castle founded on the rock. [10] On 26 May, the English attacked and captured the Spur, the outer fortification of the castle, which had been isolated by the collapse. [26] However, the extent of the finds was not particularly significant and was insufficient to draw any certain conclusions about the precise nature or scale of this earliest known phase of occupation. [16] It appears in charters of David I (r. 1124–1153) and his successors,[17] although the reason for it is not known. [84], The battered palace block remained unused, particularly after James VI departed to become King of England in 1603. However, the Edinburgh Castle where the seat of power to the Scottish throne was consolidated was said to have been built by David, last son of Malco… The chronicles of Fordun written in the fourteenth century was the first annals to refer to the castle atop Castle Rock where the king Malcom III had died and his widow, Margaret had mourned him. Below these is the Low Defence, while at the base of the rock is the ruined Wellhouse Tower, built in 1362 to guard St. Margaret's Well. As a military stronghold and the most prestigious building in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh Castle was captured and recaptured many times. It dates from the early 12 th century. Answer to: Why was Edinburgh Castle built? Lothian became part of Scotland, during the reign of Indulf (r.954–962). Bruce’s son, David II rebuilt the castle following the end of the Wars of Independence. [121] In 1584 the upper parts of the Gatehouse were completed by William Schaw,[122] and these were further modified in 1750. The castle’s royal connections go back 1,000 years, and the city’s oldest building stands on the site. A large proportion of the nobility rebelled, resulting ultimately in the imprisonment and forced abdication of Mary at Loch Leven Castle. Facts about Edinburgh Castle 9: tourism. It also appears on the "Castle series" of Royal Mail postage stamps, and has been represented on various issues of banknotes issued by Scottish clearing banks. Intermittent civil war continued between the supporters of the two monarchs, and in April 1571 Dumbarton Castle fell to "the King's men". It was a natural site for a building that combined defence, control and honour. [106] Works in the 1880s, funded by the Edinburgh publisher William Nelson and carried out by Hippolyte Blanc, saw the Argyle Tower built over the Portcullis Gate and the Great Hall restored after years of use as a barracks. Due to Edinburgh Castle’s embattled history, … The following day Grange emerged from the castle by a ladder after calling for a ceasefire to allow negotiations for a surrender to take place. It complemented the 'Time Ball', which was installed on the Nelson Monument in 1852, but was useless as a visual signal in foggy weather. This was the period when most of the artillery defences and bastions on the north and west sides of the castle were built. Along the crest of this tail, and down its steep sides, the Old Town was built from the 12th century onward. Signs of occupation included some Roman material, including pottery, bronzes and brooches, implying a possible trading relationship between the Votadini and the Romans beginning with Agricola's northern campaign in AD 82, and continuing through to the establishment of the Antonine Wall around AD 140. Soon after the house was built, travelers started disappearing around the area of the “castle”. Expecting the English to press their advantage, the Scots hastily constructed a town wall around Edinburgh and augmented the castle's defences. Some of Meg's large gun stones, weighing around 330 pounds (150 kg) each,[138] are displayed alongside it. [39] Between 1139 and 1150, David held an assembly of nobles and churchmen, a precursor to the parliament of Scotland, at the castle. [141], The tower was rediscovered during routine maintenance work in 1912, and excavations below the Half Moon Battery revealed the extent of the surviving buildings. [125] This natural spring provided an important secondary source of water for the castle, the water being lifted up by a crane mounted on a platform known as the Crane Bastion. [169], The gun is now fired from Mill's Mount Battery, on the north face of the castle, by the District Gunner from the 105th (Scottish and Ulster) Regiment Royal Artillery. The tower stood on the site of the present Half Moon Battery and was connected by a section of curtain wall to the smaller Constable's Tower, a round tower built between 1375 and 1379 where the Portcullis Gate now stands. The castle stands upon the plug of an extinct volcano, which is estimated to have risen about 350 million years ago during the lower Carboniferous period. [148] Historians have disagreed over its dating, although it is usually ascribed to the reign of King James IV, and is thought to have been completed in the early years of the 16th century. Film tourism is doing its thing and bringing them into the spotlight. The castle also houses the Scottish regalia, known as the Honours of Scotland and is the site of the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland. [90], In May 1650, the Covenanters signed the Treaty of Breda, allying themselves with the exiled Charles II against the English Parliamentarians, who had executed his father the previous year. During the Wars of Independence it changed hands many times. [41] The structure may have been similar to the keep of Carlisle Castle, which David I began after 1135. Attacks on Edinburgh Castle. [110] The position of Governor of Edinburgh Castle, vacant since 1876, was revived in 1935 as an honorary title for the General Officer Commanding in Scotland, the first holder being Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Cameron of Lochiel. The Half Moon Battery, built in the aftermath of the Lang Siege of 1573, was armed for 200 years by bronze guns known as the Seven Sisters. [96] In 1728, General Wade reported that the castle's defences were decayed and inadequate,[90] and a major strengthening of the defences was carried out throughout the 1720s and 1730s. The view of Princes Street and Edinburgh’s New Town is one of the reasons to visit Edinburgh Castle. On a trip to Edinburgh, wander the grounds of Edinburgh castle. The gun is still fired every day at 1pm, except on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. Also including the building of a small Chapel for his mother Margaret. Beside this, the Lang Stair leads down to the Argyle Battery, past a section of a medieval bastion,[118] and gives access to the upper storey of the Argyle Tower. In the 17th century Edinburgh grew in size and prosperity. Early medieval poetry tells of a war band that feasted here for a year before riding to their deaths in battle. [104], A mass prison break in 1811, in which 49 prisoners of war escaped via a hole in the south wall, persuaded the authorities that the castle vaults were no longer suitable as a prison. [43] From 1437, Sir William Crichton was Keeper of Edinburgh Castle,[56] and soon after became Chancellor of Scotland. We were lucky enough to visit on a sunny day, so got to experience it at its very best. The second was a church, dedicated to St. Mary, which stood on the site of the Scottish National War Memorial. [148] It is one of only two medieval halls in Scotland with an original hammerbeam roof. However, the edifice that is known as Edinburgh Castle was built during the 12th century by David I, son of Saint Margaret of Scotland. [69], Refortification in 1548 included an earthen angle-bastion, known as the Spur, of the type known as trace italienne, one of the earliest examples in Britain. It was demolished in 1755, and the masonry reused to build a new North Barrack Block on the site. Between 1368-77 David’s Tower was among the first of a new form of tower-house castle then being built in Scotland. It’s still in use by the military today. Vicky Leandros won for Luxembourg. [170] In 2006 Sergeant Jamie Shannon, nicknamed "Shannon the Cannon", became the 29th District Gunner,[171] and in 2006 Bombardier Allison Jones became the first woman to fire the gun. [27], The archaeological evidence is more reliable in respect of the Iron Age. [10], Archaeological investigation has yet to establish when the Castle Rock was first used as a place of human habitation. House fragments revealed were similar to Iron Age dwellings previously found in Northumbria. To the south of the palace is the Register House, built in the 1540s to accommodate state archives. On a ledge below this area is a small 19th-century Dogs' Cemetery for the burial of the soldiers' regimental mascots. Douglas' supporters subsequently besieged the castle, inflicting damage. New gun batteries such as Dury’s Battery were constructed and new barracks such as the Queen Anne Building were added to house the many soldiers and officers. [38], Malcolm's youngest son, King David I (r.1124–1153), developed Edinburgh as a seat of royal power principally through his administrative reforms (termed by some modern scholars the Davidian Revolution). 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron which was based at RAF Turnhouse (now Edinburgh Airport) during Second World War. [66], James IV was killed in battle at Flodden Field, on 9 September 1513. Douglas's party disguised themselves as merchants from Leith bringing supplies to the garrison. [147], The Great Hall measures 29 by 12.5 metres (95 by 41 ft), and was the chief place of state assembly in the castle, although there is no evidence that the Parliament of Scotland ever met here, as is sometimes reported. [162], Direct administration of the castle by the War Office came to an end in 1905, and in 1923 the Army formally moved to the city's new Redford Barracks. [155][157] The memorial is maintained by a charitable trust. The volcanic Castle Rock offers a naturally defended position, with sheer cliffs to north and south, and a steep ascent from the west. Learn more about the city and its history in this article. [112] The buildings and structures of the castle are further protected by 24 separate listings, including 13 at category A, the highest level of protection for a historic building in Scotland. [75], The truce expired on 1 January 1573, and Grange began bombarding the town. To the south of the hall is a section of curtain wall from the 14th century with a parapet of later date.[118]. The debris blocked the castle entrance, as well as the Fore Well, although this had already run dry. "[89], James' successor, King Charles I, visited Edinburgh Castle only once, hosting a feast in the Great Hall and staying the night before his Scottish coronation in 1633. [124] Described as "restoration in an extreme form",[124] the rebuilding of the Argyle Tower was the first in a series of works funded by the publisher William Nelson. Buy photo. The castle stands upon the plug of an extinct volcano, which is estimated to have risen about 350 million years ago during the lower Carboniferous period. This was the last occasion that a reigning monarch resided in the castle. And there are plenty more reasons why Edinburgh Castle is regarded as the most famous of all Scottish castles. In the 1960s the castle was illustrated on £5 notes issued by the National Commercial Bank of Scotland,[175] and since 1987 it has featured on the reverse of £1 notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland. 2. In 1482, Albany marched into Scotland with Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) and an English army. [12] This could, however, refer to another of the tribe's hill forts in the area. Today, it functions as an officers' mess, and as the office of the Governor since the restoration of the post in 1936. Edinburgh boasts one of the world’s most famous castles, towering over the city. [179], Edinburgh Castle viewed from the front courtyard, Key: ǂ = demolished ¤ = now ruins § = partly demolished, Garrison fortress: Jacobites and prisoners of war, Wilson claimed that Father Hay had "no better authority for this nunnery than the misleading name castellum Puellarum". From this time until 1923, a garrison was continuously maintained at the castle. 1, p. 4, note 4, Grant (c. 1890), p. 15: McHardy, pp.13–20. [124] The Great Hall is still occasionally used for ceremonial occasions, and has been used as a venue on Hogmanay for BBC Scotland's Hogmanay Live programme. He became king of Scotland at 13 months old and united the crowns of Scotland and England in 1603. [67] Three years later, King James V (r.1513–1542), still only five years old, was brought to the castle for safety. [57] In 1639, in response to Charles' attempts to impose Episcopacy on the Scottish Church, civil war broke out between the King's forces and the Presbyterian Covenanters. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to get tickets for Edinburgh Castle. Christina Patrick An occasional poet, a logophile by heart, and a minimalistic soul by choice, Christina is a lover of chai, furry friends, and all good things. [107] St Margaret's Chapel was "rediscovered" in 1845, having been used as a store for many years. Fordun's account goes on to relate how Margaret died of grief within days, and how Malcolm's brother Donald Bane laid siege to the castle. [107], West of the Governor's House, a store for munitions was built in 1747–48 and later extended to form a courtyard, in which the main gunpowder magazine also stood. This rock is estimated to have formed some 350 million years ago. This plug was more resistant to erosion by glaciers at the last glacial maximum in comparison to the surrounding bedrock, leaving the famous defensive site we know today. [38] But in 1174, King William "the Lion" (r.1165–1214) was captured by the English at the Battle of Alnwick. [34], The archaeological evidence for the period in question is based entirely on the analysis of middens (domestic refuse heaps), with no evidence of structures. [42], David's successor King Malcolm IV (r.1153–1165) reportedly stayed at Edinburgh more than at any other location. Edinburgh Castle was built on a mass of volcanic rock to dominate the countryside around it. [44], A century later, in 1286, on the death of King Alexander III, the throne of Scotland became vacant. However, Fordun's chronicle was not written until the later 14th century, and the near-contemporary account of the life of St Margaret by Bishop Turgot makes no mention of a castle. After a day of exploring one of the most famous sites in Scotland’s capital, you will … [101], Over the next century, the castle vaults were used to hold prisoners of war during several conflicts, including the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), the American War of Independence (1775–1783) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). [54] David's Tower was begun around 1367, and was incomplete when David died at the castle in 1371. [7], The summit of the Castle Rock is 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level, with rocky cliffs to the south, west, and north, rising to a height of 80 metres (260 ft) above the surrounding landscape. By the start of the 12th century the castle served as a royal residence, a storehouse, as the headquarters of the sheriff, and as a prison. Discover some highlights of a visit to Edinburgh Castle, from the Royal Palace and Honours of Scotland to Mons Meg and the Scottish National War Memorial. [81], Much of the castle was subsequently rebuilt by Regent Morton, including the Spur, the new Half Moon Battery and the Portcullis Gate. Edinburgh Castle was originally built of wood by Malcolm III circa 1070. [159][163], A series of performances known as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (since 2010 the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo) takes place on the Esplanade each year during August.

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