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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

The history of Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Each day a cannon is fired at one o'clock. Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest and most famous castles in the world.The castle dominates the city centre skyline and overlooks Princes Street. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place on the castle Esplanade each year. Here Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to a son James who became King James VI of Scotland and James first of England.

Two hundred year old graffiti in Edinburgh Castle's prison vaults is one of the inspirations behind the development of a major new exhibition within the castle which will explore the castle's connections with the American War of Independence as well as 18th century European conflicts including the French Revolution, through the stories of the men who found themselves gaoled at Edinburgh Castle.

The prison vaults lie beneath the Queen Anne building in the castle's Crown Square. The exhibition is one part of a £3.5 million construction project within the Queen Anne building to provide a permanent all-weather education centre; function and exhibition space and additional café space.

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most popular visitor attraction . More than 1 million visitors are drawn each year by its spectacular location and history. They can see the Crown Jewels, the One O'Clock Gun and the Stone of Destiny as well as the Great Hall, St Margaret's Chapel, and Mons Meg.

This new exhibition will explore more of the castle's complex story, with links to Scots-born John Paul Jones - renowned in America as founder of the US Navy and in Britain for capturing one of the Royal Navy's warships - and the turbulence of revolutionary Europe at the end of the 1700s.

The vaults at Edinburgh Castle were constructed around 1500 and later used as soldiers' barrack-rooms and a bakehouse. However they were used for many years as prisons of war from the 1750s into the early 1800s. Graffiti carved into prison doors reveal the names and sentiments of many of the men there, and some of them etched crude drawings of their vessels.

One drawing shows a gallows and noose, with the inscription Lord Nord (North) - the British Prime Minister at the time of the American War of Independence. Another shows a ship flying what appears to be the stars and stripes: one of the earliest known depictions of the American flag.

On St Andrews Day 1996 the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland and a resting place in the Crown Room in the Palace at Edinburgh Castle. For 400 years the Stone was the seat on which Scottish Kings were crowned until its removal to Westminster Abbey in 1296 . For nearly 700 years the kings of England and Great Britain were crowned on the Stone. Edinburgh Castle quick guide

Can you stay in the castle ?

No , accommodation is not available in the castle

Is the castle for sale ?

The castle is in public ownership It is run by Historic Scotland and it is not for sale .

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Can you visit the castle ?

Yes , the castle is open all year round . Admission fee is £7

How can I visit the castle ?

Edinburgh Castle is in the centre of Edinburgh , capital city of Scotland

About the Author

David Rankin has set up a website about Scottish castles . It features information about the history of 20 castles plus photos of each one