One of Scotland’s most significant and recognizable castles is Stirling Castle. It is perched atop Castle Hill, an obtrusive crag that belongs to the Stirling Sill geological formation. Here are ten fascinating facts about Stirling Castle that you might not be aware of.
1. It is encircled by high cliffs.
Due to the sheer cliffs on three of its sides, Stirling Castle is in a good defensive position. Its strategic position protects what, until the 1890s, was the River Forth’s furthest downstream crossing.
2. Buildings at Stirling Castle date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
The majority of sterling castle’s main structures are from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A few structures from the fourteenth century are still standing, although the town’s outside defenses date from the early eighteenth century.
3. One of the most popular royal homes was it.
Stirling Castle was one of the most often utilized Scottish royal palaces prior to the union with England. Both as a fortress and a palace, it was heavily utilized.
At Stirling, a number of Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned. This includes a number of people who were born or passed away there, such as Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542.
4. There have been a number of sieges.
According to historical records, Stirling Castle has been under siege at least eight times, counting the Wars of Scottish Independence. The final siege took place in 1746, although Bonnie Prince Charlie was eventually unable to take the fortress.
5. Today, it serves as a tourist destination.
Historic Environment Scotland is currently in charge of managing Stirling Castle as a tourist destination. Being a Scheduled Ancient Monument, it is also. The Great Hall, which has been recently restored to its 16th-century splendor, is the castle’s main attraction and one of its many interesting features.
This hall’s wooden roof is really stunning, and it’s not hard to picture the Scottish rulers holding banquets there. Because of this, it continues to be a busy and well-liked tourist destination.
6. A military base previously stood at Stirling Castle.
Stirling Castle served as a military outpost until 1964. The Regimental Museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is located inside the castle. This historical institution provides fascinating tales about the regiment’s wars and is an old-fashioned museum.
The museum is set out over a number of rooms that house various exhibitions regarding the regiment during the Crimean Wars, Boer Wars to World War I, World War II to Korea, and more modern battles. The uniforms, possessions, weapons, and medals of troops are displayed in glass cases.
7. At Stirling Castle, the 8th Lord of Douglas was brutally killed.
Although there were many murders at Stirling Castle, William Douglas, the 8th Earl of Douglas, was the victim of the bloodiest and most horrifying death to occur there.
Douglas was assassinated in February 1452 because he refused to comply with King James’ request that a league he had formed with Alexander Lindsay, the “Tiger” Earl of Crawford, and John of Islay be dissolved.
Along with dozens of his warriors, the king repeatedly stabbed him. Sir Patrick Gray allegedly “struck out his brains with a poleaxe,” and his body was then tossed out a window and into the grounds, according to the Auchinleck Chronicle.
8. In Stirling Castle, the first human flight experiment was conducted.
An effort at human flight was made in 1507 by an Italian alchemist by the name of John Damian. He had been King James IV’s alchemist during that period, and his duty had been to essentially turn less precious resources into gold.
After numerous attempts, he was unable to accomplish this, costing the king a great deal of money. Quickly, it became known that Damian was a phony and might lose his job as a member of the king’s court as a result.
He stated he would use a set of wings he created to fly to France in an effort to disprove his detractors. Instead of utilizing eagle feathers as planned, he chose to utilize chicken feathers.
After the wings were prepared, Damian decided to take off from Stirling Castle’s walls.
He leapt in front of a small audience, including the king, who then watched as he crashed to the ground. It goes without saying that shortly after that, he left his post in the king’s court.
9. At Stirling Castle, the world’s oldest football was discovered.
Football matches were being played in the castle’s courtyards more than 500 years ago, according to historical records. Nobody is really sure how the world’s oldest surviving football, which dates to 1540, ended up behind the paneling at Stirling Castle.
Nonetheless, there are rumors that Mary, Queen of Scots, adored sports, particularly football. Even a game she played was noted in one of her diaries.
The oldest football still in existence was found in the Queen’s chamber, although there have always been rumors that the queen kept it there to keep witchcraft from harming it.
The ball, which is roughly half the size of modern footballs, was constructed from an inflated pig bladder and covered in cowhide. The discovery of the football, according to the Scottish Football Museum, suggests that the game evolved rather than being created.
10. Several music videos have included shots of the castle’s grounds.
Over the years, an outdoor concert arena has been set up on the ground next to the castle. R.E.M., Bob Dylan, and Runrig are three examples of bands who recorded their live concert DVDs at Stirling Castle.
A TV broadcast of Stirling’s Hogmanay events, which are how Scots welcome the new year, is also staged here each year.
