Earl's Palace (Birsay)

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Earl's Palace
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The Earl's Palace is a ruined castle on the Scottish Orkney island Mainland . The structure is classified as a Scheduled Monument .

history

Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney , had the castle built as a replacement for the Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall, probably from 1569 . The first construction phase ended in 1574. About 20 to 30 years later, a second construction phase followed under Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney , in which the building was expanded. From the 1650s, the Earls of Morton used Earl's Palace. The building was abandoned around 1700 and fell into disrepair in the following centuries. Today it is only preserved as a ruin.

description

Earl's Palace is located near the coast in the northwest of Mainland near the village of Birsay . The structure has a rectangular floor plan, which is flanked by two two-story buildings. Three square corner towers emerge. The entrance was on the southern flank. A stone built above showed the year 1574 and the initials REO. The main wing with hall and kitchen was in the north. The servants' quarters were housed on the east and west flanks. A well in the inner courtyard secured the water requirement.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  3. ↑ Entry on Earl's Palace  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

Web links

Commons : Earl's Palace  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 59 ° 7 ′ 48.4 "  N , 3 ° 18 ′ 56.1"  W.