InfoBritain

 

Stirling Castle, Scotland

This image is copyright free

Stirling Castle sits in an imposing position on Castle Rock in Stirling. This also happens to be the lowest fording place on the river Forth. The combination of a strategically important river crossing with a perfect defensive position has led to a castle being here for at least a thousand years. The origins of the castle are not clear, but it is possible that the Picts and the Romans had fortifications on Castle Rock.

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 places like Stirling. Castles have always been related architecturally to religious sites, a fact that, if you've read other pages about castles on InfoBritain, you'll know I keep coming back to. 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, as a place where the virtues were kept, is often portrayed as more of a church than a military establishment. Historically Stirling Castle was never Camelot, but symbolically every castle aspires to be the court of King Arthur.

As a symbol Stirling Castle was more important than its military function protecting a river crossing. There have been many battles and sieges since its recorded history began at the beginning of the twelfth century. In wars waged by England's Edward the First against Scotland in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the 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. Both sides knew that control of Scotland depended symbolically on control of Stirling 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. Stirling Castle is required to be less of a barracks, and more of a long lost Camelot.

The two churches at Stirling Castle give more food for thought as to the symbolic nature of church and castle architecture. The Church of the Holy Rude just outside the castle gates was the place where James the Sixth, later James the First of England was baptised in 1566, and then crowned in 1567. A careful balancing of guests was required to keep both catholics and protestants happy, an omen of the religious problems that would confront James during his reign. There are decorative battlements on the Church of the Holy Rude, and the usual fort-like tower. Looking at Stirling Castle and the Church of the Holy Rude side by side, you see one facing physical battles and the other spiritual struggles, both sharing the same architectural features. 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 James the First of England 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.

Opening Times: The castle is open all year, except for the Christmas and New Year bank holidays. From April to September opening hours are 9.30am to 6pm, and from 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

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