Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle – The Heart of Scotland

Standing atop Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle has been the pride of Scotland for many centuries. At certain points of its existence, it served as a fortress, seat of government, prison, armory, and even a royal residence. There is no doubt that Edinburgh Castle is a long-established symbol of Scottish history. Nowadays, the castle is open for everyone who desires to gaze upon such attractions as the Stone of Scone, the National War Museum & Memorial, the Scottish royal regalia, as well as Mons Megs – gigantic medieval cannons. Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most popular tourist attraction, and both the castle and the city of Edinburgh are World Heritage Sites, as listed by UNESCO. 

Ancient Origins: From the Bronze Age to Roman Times

Edinburgh Castle rests on a sheer rocky outcrop and rises above the horizon of Scotland’s capital. The site’s occupation goes way back to the Bronze Age, and, according to archaeological excavations, the top of the cliff was leveled artificially around 900 BC. Throughout the Iron Age, namely in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, the castle also had an additional hilltop fort. Most likely, this fort used to be the main building of the Votadini tribe. It was made primarily of wood and earthworks, and two large ditches protected its entrance. Smaller buildings inside the fort were also composed of wood; many of them also had hearths and stone floors. The remains of a stone-built drainage system were also found at the site. Moreover, imported jewelry found within the fort suggests that the Votadini and the Romans traded with each other in southern and central Britain.

The First Mention of the Castle: The Poetic History of Gododdin

The 7th century CE collection of poetic verses, The Gododdin, makes the first mention of the castle. During that time, northern England and southern Scotland were under the control of the Gododdin tribe, who built Edinburgh Castle as a defense fort. The original name of the fort was Din Eidyn. However, following the Angles’ conquering of the Gododdin, it was translated to English and thus became Edinburgh. As the castle continued existing as a fortress in the early Middle Ages, none of its objects or parts prior to the 11th century CE were preserved. Despite this, archeologists managed to obtain some relics that belonged to the original residents of the fort. 

A Modern Symbol of Scotland and a Tourist Landmark

In this day and age, Edinburgh Castle is the most famous tourist destination in Scotland and is visited by more than one million people each year. The castle is not only a fascinating monument with each of its stones engraved in history, it also hosts the National War Museum as well as three other regimental museums. Since the castle is a part of Edinburgh, it was also awarded the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. 

Fortifications: Gates, Towers, and Stairs

The main gates of the castle are located on the eastern side. In 1888, they were built as a replacement for the previous old construction. The second additional gate, built in the 1570s, has a portcullis as well as three wooden doors for reinforcement. In 1887, the Argyle Tower was also constructed on top of this structure. Another gate, namely inner Foog’s Gate, was added in the second half of the 17th century. When you pass the portcullis gate, you will see the Lang Stairs consisting of 70 stone steps, which will lead you right to the central area of the castle. There is, however, a less tiring route, namely the cobbled roadway. It was also built in the 17th century and used specifically to deliver big cannons inside the castle. 

Military and Royal Buildings of the Castle

The official residence of the Commander of the Army in Scotland is located in the Governor’s House, which was built in 1742 and is a great representation of the Georgian style. Likewise, the Regimental Museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is located in the New Barracks that was constructed in 1799 and acts as a military barracks. The Museum of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland can be found in the Drill Hall. The dog cemetery is also worth mentioning, as it is one of the most peculiar sites within the castle. This cemetery was built in the 1840s for soldiers’ dogs that died during the battles as well as regimental mascots, such as the famous Dobbler, who, for nine long years, accompanied the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to Sri Lanka, China, and South Africa.

The Stone of Destiny – A Sacred Symbol of Scottish Monarchs

The grand Edinburgh Castle houses a number of important historical objects, the biggest and most significant of which is the Stone of Scone. This sandstone block also referred to as the Stone of Destiny, is directly related to the medieval Scottish kings’ coronations at Scone Abbey (Isle of Scone in Perthshire). According to the legend, the Scottish king will rule where this stone resides. In 1296, after Edward I of England exported the stone from Scotland as a result of political propaganda, it was brought back to the Scots in 1996. 

The Scottish Crown Jewels: A Royal Legacy

The Honours, which are the items of the Scottish Crown Jewels, are located in the Crown Room next to the Stone of Scone. These jewels, namely the crown, scepter, and sword of state, originated in the 16th century. For the first time, they were used together in Stirling Castle in 1543 as part of the coronation of Queen of Scots – Mary. Later, each jewel was transported to a different room within the castle and hidden away in a chest. To elaborate, these events took place during the war between Scotland and England. Eventually, in 1818, Scottish historian and poet Sir Walter Scott came across the Crown Jewels, which is how they were rediscovered. After not being seen for more than a century, the jewels were publicly displayed in the Crown Hall and have remained there ever since.

Legendary Cannons: Mons Meg and the One O’Clock Gun

As for the renowned Mons Meg cannon, it now rests at Edinburgh Castle. This cannon is a kind of artillery rumored to have been created for James II of Scotland in the mid-15th century. Its weight reaches a massive six tons and it was once capable of firing cannonballs up to 3.2 km (2 miles). In 1754, Mons Meg was delivered to the Tower of London to escort soldiers in battles. Following that, in 1829, it was brought back to Edinburgh Castle. The castle also exhibits another famous cannon, the One O’clock Gun, although it is more famous due to its sound. The tradition of firing this cannon originated in 1861 with a view to navigate passing ships, and still continues to this day, as the cannon is fired every day at 1 pm (except Sundays).