- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1400 · 14th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Coordinates
- 56.9457°, -2.1968°
History
The headland near Stonehaven was a religious site and stronghold in the early Middle Ages, and in 1297 William Wallace captured the English garrison here. In the late 14th century Sir William Keith, Marischal of Scotland, built a stone tower house, and his descendants, the Earls Marischal, expanded the castle into a grand residence. In 1651–1652 the Honours of Scotland were hidden here from Cromwell's troops; the castle withstood a siege of several months and the regalia were secretly smuggled out. In 1685 more than 160 Covenanters were imprisoned in appalling conditions in a cellar known as the Whigs' Vault. After the Jacobite rising of 1715 the estate was forfeited and the castle fell into ruin, with conservation beginning only in the 20th century.
What to see
A steep path with steps leads down and up the cliff to the castle, and the approach alone offers unforgettable views. On the headland stand the keep, the chapel, the palace with its restored drawing room and the grim Whigs' Vault. Seabirds nest all around, and the classic photograph of the ruins against the sea is taken from the coastal path from Stonehaven.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q746983
Popularity: articles about this site in 29 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).