|
Edinburgh castle is situated on top of an extinct volcano, overlooking the city and can be seen from all around. The castle is at the top of the Royal Mile which then runs the whole way down the Holyrood Palace at the bottom. The castle is a powerful national symbol and is part of Edinburgh's world heritage site. The castle was where the crown jewels were held, state records and was the headquaters for the sheriff of Edinburgh.
 TIMELINE
The castle dates back to around 900 BC when there is first archaeological evidence of human settlement on the castle.
Around 1130 David 1 builds a royal castle on the rock with a chapel deicated to his mother. The chapel still remains today
1296 The castle is taken by England after a three day seige
1314 The castle is reclaimed by Scotland under Robert the bruce
1334 England take the castle again
1341 Scotland recapture the castle again
1457 The great cannons, named Mons Meg arrives at the castle as a gift for James 2
1566 Mary Queen of Scots gives birth to her only child in the castle
1574 The castle is rebuilt and gates are added to reinforce it's defences
1633 Charles 1 is the last monarch to sleep in the castle befroe his coronation as King of Scotland
1650 Oliver Cromwell invades and captures the castle
1757 - 1814 Thousands of prisoners of war are held in the castle
1929 Mons Meg is returned from London and replaced
1861 The 1 o clock gun is fired for the first time
1950 The first Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held at the castle
1996 The stone of destiney is returned to Scotland and put on display in the castle
Present The castle is Edinburgh's most popular tourist attraction with over 1.25 million visitors a year
INTERESTING FACTS - Did you Know????
The stone cannonball fired from Mons Meg in 1558 was later found 3km (almost 2 miles) away.
King James 4 was able to spy on his subjects in the great hall through a barred window up and to the right of the fireplace.
In 1830 some bones of a child were found along with some cloth in the walls of the palace. The cloth bore the letter J.
In Febuary 1720 21 pirates were captured and thrown into the castle dungeons. They were later tried and hanged.
Beneath the floor of King James's birth chamber is a pit prison. It is not known who would have been put down there.
 |