LISTENING TO THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND PODCAST has given us a decent understanding of Scotland’s history, intertwined as it is with England's. And so often the stories converge around Stirling Castle, sometimes under English control, sometimes Scotish, featuring personalities like William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and even Mary, Queen of Scots.
Robert the Bruce, victor at Bannockburn
William Wallace, aka Braveheart, defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. When the English returned for a rematch, Robert the Bruce bested Edward II nearby, at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1214. (The 700th anniversary recreation of the battle will be held later this month.) Mary, who would become Queen of Scots a few weeks after her birth, was born in the Castle before being secreted away to safety at Inchmahome Priory. The priory sits picturesquely on an island reached by ferry. It is mostly rubble today but the grounds contain chestnut trees allegedly planted by Mary when she took refuge there.
Inchahome Priory ruins
As castles go, Stirling Castle isn’t overly impressive like Germany's Rhine fortresses but its location is perfect, as are the views from the ramparts of Old Stirling. The creamy yellow Great Hall has been restored to its original splendor while the Palace shows every one of its 600 years. Archeologists have discovered that the outside of the Palace was once painted in colors as bright as those inside the Great Hall. They have even produced a video showing what some of the statues may have looked like.
Coat of arms of James V, Great Hall
Artist's rendition of the statue of James V on the Palace, as it would have been during his reign
