Linlithgow Palace has a history with James I and his successors, as they contributed to the expansion of what was reborn as a “pleasure palace” after a fire wiped out its former self. Other ancient Scottish sites and artifacts discussed in this article include Doune Castle, Bullion Pictish Stone, and the Ormaig Rock Carvings.
Doune Castle
The Doune Castle is located at Dunblane in Stirling , a product of Robert Stewart, who served as the first duke of Albany during the late 1300s , at the time of Robert II’s reign. Situated on high ground that overlooks the River Teith, it was positioned not too far from the place where the well known Battle of Stirling Bridge occurred.
During the 1400s, Doune became a royal castle after Robert Stewart’s son was thrown into jail and later executed. King James I saw to this, where his successors (James II, James III and James IV) all used the castle to their advantage , as a retreat since it was not too far in the east of the palace. In later times, the castle served as a dowry gift to the wives of Scottish kings. In modern times, the castle has basked in the spotlight of Hollywood, as the film titled “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” used Doune for many of its scenes.
Bullion Pictish Stone
Uncovered in 1933 during a round of road construction, the Museum of Scotland (in Edinburgh) is home to the stone that highlights a fascinating Pictish image. A bearded horseman with no hair is seen drinking from a large drinking horn. Additional detailing of the horn shows a bird’s head with a curious look situated at the point. In the man’s hand, he is carrying a shield. The horse appears to have seen many travels.
Ormaig Rock Carvings
Situated close to Kilmartin, Ormaig serves as the site of a collection of rock sheets that show carvings of cup-and-ring marks. When taking a look at one of these rock sheets (which were revealed during the 1970s), you will encounter a nice assortment of wonderfully preserved carvings that present a variety of “rosette” patterns.
Linlithgow Palace
The palace located in Linlithgow, West Lothian that bears the same name has ties to James I who reigned from 1406 to 1437. During this time, a lot of money was spent and when the Linlithgow Castle suffered a terrible fire in 1424 , he set aside more than £5,000 (a great deal of money at that time) for the construction of a palace geared towards pleasure to stand in its place. Workers started to build this palace in 1424 or 1425. The castle would see many different expansions and changes that took place over the next hundred years whenever the successors of James saw fit.
The hall and entrance are viewed as some of the best characteristics of the castle, which join inviting kitchens and the rest of the grounds. These are features attributed to James I. Little work was done on Linlithgow Palace when James II was in charge, as he was too interested in the technology associated with weaponry advancements, like guns. Sadly, he would later lose his life when a cannon exploded after he fired it. James III was a little more interested in Linlithgow and focused on adding to the north and west ranges connected to the palace.
