InfoBritain

 

Stirling Castle, Scotland

Stirling Castle sits in an imposing position on Castle Rock in Stirling, overlooking the lowest fording place on the river Forth. The combination of strategically important river crossing and perfect defensive position has led to a castle being here for at least a thousand years. But quite when Stirling Castle came into being is not known. The obscurity of the castle's origins has been useful in allowing myths to form. Claims have been made that Stirling Castle was King Arthur's Camelot. Even if there is no evidence that Stirling Castle, or any other castle, was Camelot, a sense of romance, even spirituality, seems to attach itself to castles like Stirling. Castles have always been related architecturally to religious sites. Early religious shrines consisted of circular earth banks and ditches, and so did early castles. Later in history churches continued to be built with stylised battlements and castle towers. Places of spiritual and physical security shared the same architecture, and so it is natural that there should be more to castles than military usefulness. King Arthur's Camelot is often portrayed as more of a church than a fortification. Historically Stirling Castle was never Camelot, but symbolically every castle aspires to be the court of King Arthur.

The two churches at Stirling Castle give more food for thought as to the symbolic nature of church and castle architecture. In 1566 James VI of Scotland and I of England was baptised in the Church of the Holy Rude just outside the castle gates. There are decorative battlements on the Church of the Holy Rude, and the usual fort-like tower. The second church at Stirling Castle actually lies within its walls. This is the Chapel Royal. There has been a chapel at Stirling Castle since its earliest days, and in 1543 Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in an earlier incarnation of the building. The present chapel was built by King James for the baptism of his son Henry in 1594. James was a peaceable man who sought moderation in all things. Fittingly his chapel is built on plain lines, and unlike the Church of the Holy Rude lacks nearly all marks of fortification seen in more ostentatious religious buildings. And yet at each end of the roof there is still a line of small stylised battlements.

 

 

 

 

View from Stirling Castle

Of course Stirling Castle isn't just about symbolism. There have been many battles and sieges since its recorded history began early in the twelfth century. In wars waged by England's Edward I against Scotland in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, Stirling Castle changed hands a number of times. It was during these wars that William Wallace and Andrew Murray led, in 1297, a Scottish victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge below the castle.

Stirling Castle continued as a military establishment until relatively recently. The British Army used it as a barracks until 1964. Ironically this military use was considered inappropriate! Since the Army's departure, work has been done in returning Stirling Castle to its "past appearance," though with such a long history you wonder quite how any particular past appearance was chosen. In the end the castle is not returned to any definite appearance it had at any one time, but to what we might call a "Camelot" look, as a generalised a symbol of security which continues to have relevance even in the modern age.

 

 

 

 

 

Address: Stirling Castle, Castle Wynd, Stirling FK8 1EJ

Opening Times: The castle is open all year, except 25th and 26th December.

11am - 5pm on January 1st.

April to September 9.30am to 6pm.

October to March 9.30am to 5pm.

There are exhibitions, a restaurant and a shop.

Directions: Stirling Castle is above the old town of Stirling, off the M9, junction 10. Car parking is available at the castle. Both bus and train stations are within fifteen minutes walking distance. Click here for an interactive map centred on Stirling. Postcode FK8 1EJ.

Access: Most areas are accessible to wheelchair users. There is a courtesy vehicle for disabled visitors. There are Braille information boards. A computer based virtual tour is provided in the Unicorn Cafe.

Contact:

telephone: 01786 450000

web site: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

 Share