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Edinburgh Castle
By peace | March 16, 2007
The Castle Esplanade is the venue of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the annual occasion on which, over a period of three weeks in August, the Army presents a lively programme of music, marching and historical re-enactments under floodlights before large and appreciative audiences. No one is sure who first used the castle rock as a settlement, but it was long before the Romans came sailing up the Forth and landing at Cramond.
The oldest building in all Edinburgh is to be found within the Castle precincts. It is St. Margaret’s Chapel, a tiny Norman building which has been standing there intact for more than 900 years. It has survived all the sieges and bombardments to which the fortress on the rock was subjected during that period. On several occasions the castle was razed - but the demolishers invariably spared the chapel of the good St Margaret because of its religious significance. Today, members of the castle garrison still have the right to be married within the Chapel.
Before leaving the Esplanade, look in the north-east corner for a small iron wall-fountain; it is popularly known as the Witches’ Well, and it commemorates the grim fact that, centuries ago, many women held to be guilty of witchcraft were put to death at the stake on this spot. To the north, between the Castle and the Firth of Forth, the spectator has his first glimpse of Edinburgh’s new town. To the east, below the Castle ramparts the visitor is recommended to take a close look at the Old Town.
History of Edinburgh Castle
The great volcanic rock on which the castle stands, rears high above the modern city. There is evidence of a Bronze Age settlement about 1000BC. The Roman army came here later.
- It was natural that a fort should be built on such a commanding and defendable site. We know that the fort was made of stone during the reign of Malcolm III (1058 to 1093).
- Edward I of England, in his efforts to conquer Scotland, took Edinburgh Castle in 1296, but in 1314 the Earl of Moray took the castle back for Scotland in a daring commando raid with only 30 men
- The English took it back in 1335, but in 1341 Sir William Douglas again removed the invaders. He tricked the garrison into thinking his band of men were merchants, they seized the castle and decapitated most of the English garrison
- The castle would now remain in Scottish hands until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Attempts to take it were unsuccessful. In 1400 Henry V of England besieged the castle but had to withdraw to deal with a rebellion in Wales by Owen Glendower
- 1440 Edinburgh Castle was the site of the infamous “Black Bull’s Dinner” where 16 year old sixth Earl of Douglas and his 14 year old brother David were murdered in front of their 10 year old King (James II). The death of Douglas was carried out by the ambitious Chancellor Crichton and was intended to break the Douglas power.
- The castle was further strengthened in 1573 and held out against an attack by the Covenanters in 1640, by Cromwell in 1650 and by the army of William and Mary in 1689.
- It continued to be strengthened and during Jacobite rising in 1745. Bonnie Prince Charlie’s lack lustre efforts to take the castle were the last time that the castle came under attack
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