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Edinburgh Castle
Built upon a large outcrop of basalt rock high above the city; Edinburgh Castle stands like a silent beacon casting a weary eye over the sprawling metropolis below. During the 11th century, Edinburgh established herself as one of the principle royal residences of Scotland. David I, the youngest son of Queen Margaret who died in 1093, built the earliest surviving part of the castle – St Margaret’s chapel.
During the turbulent centuries that followed, Edinburgh castle was attacked and rebuilt many times. In 1296, Edward I of England attacked and gained control of the castle. During 1314, armed with only 30 men at his command, the Earl of Moray in a daring commando raid attacked and retook the castle back again. The English and Scottish armies continued to take it in turns to occupy the castle during the preceding centuries.
1335 saw the English back in control until 1341 when Sir Douglas ousted the invaders and had the majority of the English garrison decapitated. The castle remained in Scottish hands until 1603.
Edinburgh’s turbulent and sometimes dramatic past included – The infamous “Black Bull’s Dinner” where 16 year old sixth Earl of Douglas and his brother David, were murdered in front of their young King (James II) who was ten at the time. Women accused of witchcraft were burnt at the stake.
Whilst Cromwell’s army were garrisoned at the castle, they destroyed buildings and erected structures with undue care and without regard to their historic significance. The massive vaults under the Great hall housed prisoners of war from France and America, from Spain and Germany as well as Italian and Dutch troops during the 18th and 19th century
Bonnie Prince Charlie had the dubious honour of being the last person to attack and fail at attempting to take the castle. This final affront occurred during the Jacobite uprising in 1745.
Edinburgh Castle has been the seat and birth place of Scottish Kings. It is the home of the one O’clock gun which is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1pm. Her royal apartments are the finest of any and she houses the ancient honours of Scotland – the crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State.
On St Andrews day in1996, the Stone of Scone, was returned from is seven hundred year exile in Westminster Abbey in London to Edinburgh Castle to be displayed alongside the ancient honours of Scotland. Every summer the Edinburgh Military tattoo takes place on the esplanade in front of the castle, thus continuing the military connection that started all those centuries ago.
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