Historic Royal Palace to be Restored to Former Glory

10/06/2008

Historic Scotland has announced it is to go ahead with a £12 million project to return the royal lodgings at Stirling Castle to their Renaissance magnificence.

Visitors will not only be able to see how the king’s and queen’s halls and chambers may have looked in the mid-16th century, they will be welcomed and shown round by costumed interpreters richly dressed in authentic costumes of the era.

Stirling Heads

And the Stirling Heads – regarded by some as Scotland’s other crown jewels – will go on permanent public display. These intriguing hand-carved oak medallions, up to a metre in diameter, once adorned the ceilings of the palace, depicting kings, queens, courtiers, imps and other mythological creatures.

Chris Watkins head of Historic Scotland’s major projects team, said: “The conservation and presentation of James V’s magnificent Renaissance palace is the most ambitious phase of Historic Scotland’s project at Stirling Castle. “It will mark the culmination of many years of research and skilled conservation and craft work that have helped reinstate the splendour that the Stewart monarchs gave to Stirling.

“We have so far completed the refurbishment of the Great Hall and the Chapel Royal and this phase will help emphasise the grandeur of the palace, the royal lodgings and James V’s aspiration to create a Scottish court of European importance.

King James V

King James V began building the palace block in 1538 as a sumptuous residence for himself and his Queen, Mary de Guise.

Extensive archaeological and historical research has taken place to ensure that every detail in the presented lodgings will be as authentic as possible.

Unlike Linlithgow Palace, which stands on its own, the palace at Stirling is a block within the castle walls. It is, nonetheless, the most prominent building in the castle with magnificent facades, some adorned with splendid statues. It is quadrangular in design with a central courtyard known as the Lion’s Den.

Rennaissance

The designer of the palace was probably one of several French rennaissance master masons in James V’s employment, amongst whom we know the names of Mogin Martin, Nicholas Roy and John Roytell, though it is likely that Hamilton of Finnart, the king’s principal master of work, was also closely involved in the process.

The conservation project at the palace is due to be ready for public opening in the spring of 2011. The palace will be closed in the meantime, but there will new information displayed about the project.

Back to News