10 Incredible Facts about Edinburgh Castle
Looming over our city from it’s perch on Castlehill, and popping into view from some comically random angles, Edinburgh Castle is truly the Eiffel Tower of Scotland’s capital.
None of our other iconic landmarks (stunning as they are) are as synonymous with this city. This site has been many things over the centuries – a hillfort, medieval stronghold, religious site, royal residence and prison – it’s a must visit attraction especially for those visiting for the first time. Before you cross the drawbridge for the first time here are some incredible facts about Edinburgh Castle. These will give you some historical background to the Castle’s development and a few tips as to what to make sure you see during your visit.
1. GEOLOGICAL
Geologically the castle sits upon the plug of a now (thankfully) extinct volcano which was formed roughly 350 million years ago. This resulting, distinctive terrain proved to be perfect for any defensive location, with the exception the eastern side every approach to the top means scaling sheer cliffs! Evidence of the site’s geological past can be easily seen when visiting the castle, large chunks of black basalt rock jut out from the castle’s walls.
2. OLDEST INHABITED PLACE
Archeological excavation has confirmed that the top of Castlehill has been inhabited since at least the early Iron Age (for around 3,000 years), making Edinburgh Castle very possibly the longest continuously inhabited place in Scotland. In it’s early years the Castle would have been a hill fort, a typical stronghold for that era and location. Excavations from the 1990s have also confirmed a trading connection with the Roman legions who attempted to conquer and occupy what is today Scotland in the first and second centuries AD.
3. OLDEST BUILDING IN EDINBURGH
It was during the reign of David I of Scotland (1124-1153) that Edinburgh Castle was first turned into a medieval, stone fortress and it became truly linked with the Scottish royal family. Along with the towers and walls, in 1130 King David also ordered the construction of a special chapel to honour his mother Queen Margaret. Margaret was famous during her reign for her piety and charitable acts during her reign, in fact she was so revered by the Church that she was made a saint in 1250. St Margaret’s Chapel still stands today, plays host to weddings and baptisims and at nearly 900 years old is the oldest building not just in the Castle but the entire city of Edinburgh!
4. Castle became a battleground
As Edinburgh Castle became a royal fortress, it became one of the most important strongholds in the kingdom of Scotland. Those who controlled it held sway over the country, and over the years it has been attacked no fewer than 23 times! Inevitably the Castle became a battleground during the Wars of Scottish Independence (switching hands multiple times between Scottish and English forces). Undoubtedly the most dramatic example of the castle being attacked was in March 1314 where a band of only thirty men (led by Thomas Randolph, the Earl of Moray) took the castle in a heroic night raid on behalf of Robert the Bruce. Their attack involved them scaling the cliffs themselves to the complete surprise of the English garrison.
5. BLACK DINNER
An inspiration for one of the most infamous events in television history – the Red Wedding – took place in Edinburgh Castle’s old great hall in 1440. The 16-year-old Earl of Douglas and his younger brother were invited to dine with James II of Scotland. However, the dinner was a trap organized by the King’s advisors and rivals of the Douglases (the Crichton family), done in conjunction of the boys’ own uncle. During the dinner soldiers suddenly seized the two Douglas brothers, dragged them outside and were beheaded (following a mock trial). This bloody meal is known to history as the Black Dinner.
6. A PRISON
In 1603 the King of Scotland, James VI who was born in Edinburgh Castle in 1566, succeeded his cousin Elizabeth I as King of England too. Therefore, the royal court mostly moved south to London, this helped facilitate the castle’s transformation from medieval fortress towards a military base which it still is today. Many of the most prominent buildings in the complex were constructed as in the eighteenth century as barracks buildings for soldiers quartered inside the castle. Another military function of the Castle during this period was to be a prison for POWs, mostly French sailors captured by the Royal Navy in sea battles off the coast of Scotland but also Americans during the American Revolutionary War.
7. dedication to man’s best friend
Through violence and less dramatic means many people have sadly lost their lives in Edinburgh Castle, surprisingly although there is a cemetery inside the walls it is for dogs not people. Soldiers traditionally liked having dogs, who were not just friends and mascots but also helpful sentries. In this small but charming dedication to man’s best friend are 20 headstones, the oldest surviving stone dates back to 1881 and the latest was for “Winkle” who was the then Governor of Edinburgh Castle’s dog.
8. 1 O’CLOCK GUN
Every day at 1pm since 1861 (with the exception of Sunday’s, Good Friday and Christmas Day) the people of Edinburgh have heard a field gun be fired from Edinburgh Castle’s Mills Mount Battery. This was done to tell ships approaching Edinburgh what the time was and the tradition has continued into modern times. If you can’t be inside the Castle for 1pm, a good place to hear it is on Princes Street to the north, it’s very loud and judging by their reactions you can instantly tell who’s a local and who is a tourist!
9. Honours of Scotland
Inside Edinburgh Castle (in a special exhibition area) are the Honours of Scotland – namely the crown, septre and sword of state crafted for the Scottish royal family in 1540. Following the parliamentary Union with England in 1707 the Honours were locked away in a storage room in Edinburgh Castle. Their location was found following an investigation promoted by the novelist Walter Scott. Inside this exhibition is also the famous Stone of Destiny, traditionally used to crown Scottish kings until 1296 until it was stolen during the English invasion of that year and placed underneath the English throne in Westminster Abbey. Incredibly the stone only returned to Scotland in 1996, 700 years after it was taken.
10. THE ROYAL MILITARY TATTOO
Every August the Castle Esplanade (a parade ground directly in front of the Castle entrance) plays host to the Royal Military Tattoo, an event which combines marching, live music, dramatic lighting and special effects for an incredible show. The traditional mainstays of the tattoo are the Highland regimental bands but today the tattoo is a more international affair with military bands and civilian dance groups taking part as well. Although, of course, the skirl of the bagpipes and traditional Scottish music are still front and centre of this entirely unique performance.