Spynie Palace

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The David 's Tower with parts of Ruin

Spynie Palace is a ruined castle about 3 km north of Elgin in Scotland, on the south bank of the Spynie hole.

The A941 runs from Elgin in the north to Lossiemouth. Halfway a signpost of Historic Scotland marks the turnoff.

History

Until 1686, the castle is one of several country seats of the bishops of Moray was. The location - right on the estuary - bot anchorages for fishing boats and merchant ships. Since the bishops had no fixed seat, they were either on their possessions in Kinneddar, Birnie or Spynie on. In addition to St Andrews Castle Spynie Palace is the largest of the surviving bishoprics from the Middle Ages in Scotland.

Five centuries used the bishops Spynie Palace as a country residence. End of the 15th century he was considered one of the most magnificent buildings in Scotland. David 's Tower has been preserved largely to this day.

Middle Ages

The Diocese of Moray was founded in the early 12th century. Decades later, towards the end of the century, the Church of the Holy Trinity was chosen in Spynie as a cathedral. Already at that time the building was probably used as a seat for the incumbent bishop, which is not clearly documented. Excavations 1986-1994 showed, however, that was erected a wooden castle before the construction of the still preserved ruins in the same place.

1207/1208 Spynie Palace was appointed by Bishop de Douglas Bricius the seat of the diocese. As a result, its importance grew as a residence. In contrast to the 12th century there were at that time already bricked building in the courtyard. Although 1224 Bishop Andreas de Moravia moved to Elgin Cathedral, the palace continued to be used as a country residence.

Alexander Stuart, 1st Earl of Buchan, the notorious "Wolf of Badenoch ", burned in 1390 in revenge for his Bishop Alexander Bur ( 1363-1397 ) arranged excommunication the town of Elgin, including the cathedral down. After the death of Bur in 1397 the excommunication was lifted Stuart and appointed by his brother, King Robert II, the principal of the palace. A year later he was forced to cede it to the new Bishop William de Spynie.

The original wooden buildings were replaced by stone, it was built the first stone castle to Spynie with a rectangular area of ​​49 × 44 meters. The castle was surrounded by a seven foot wall, at the south side was the main gate.

15th Century

The initial appointment of a palace - constable in 1470 highlighted the important role that occupied the palace, both within the church and the secular concerns.

The extent of today be visited palace were achieved by larger extensions that lasted until the early 16th century. As part of these renovations, the main gate was moved from the south side to the east side; a new building in the northern part of the castle is now home to the great hall.

The most visible change was the imposing David 's Tower, which was started in the years after 1470 by Bishop David Stewart. The tower was to serve as protection against attacks by Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntley († 1470 ). Gordon was excommunicated by the bishop because of tax liabilities. Bishop Stewart died before its completion, which was led by Bishop William de Tulloch to an end.

In its original form possessed the tower over six floors and an attic. In the basement there was a circular dungeon with a diameter of about five meters, in which only could enter through a narrow slit of light and air.

David 's Tower is very simple, it has no significant architectural features. However, the tower dominates the ruins on the southwest corner. He stands 22 meters high and offers a beautiful view of the surroundings and Spynie hole; with its dimensions of 19 by 13.5 meters, it is one of the tallest residential towers built in Scotland.

A similar structure in Scotland was the great tower of Glasgow Castle, which was built in 1426-1446. 1789 this plant was, however, completely demolished to make way for a hospital.

16th and 17th centuries

The last Roman Catholic Bishop Patrick Hepburn could narrow the Water Gate in the north of the palace walls to reinforce the defense and paste Tower David's loopholes. On the southern front of the tower, the coat of arms of bishops Patrick Hepburn and David Stewart, as well as the coat of arms of Scotland are to be seen.

After his parents were divorced, was from around 1540 James Hepburn, later 4th Earl of Bothwell and Lord High Admiral of Scotland, brought up and educated by his great-uncle Bishop Patrick Hepburn as a child in Spynie Palace. Mary Stuart spent the night in 1562 in the course of their journey through the north of Scotland as a guest of the bishop at the castle. Five years later she married - not without controversy in the population - third wife James Hepburn.

1573 George Douglas was appointed by the Church of Scotland for the first Protestant Bishop of Moray.

1690 under Queen Mary II (England ) and her husband, King William III. ( Orange ), replaced the episcopacy by the Presbyterian constitution. The final Protestant Bishop William Hay refused the oath of allegiance. He was successful Meanwhile impeached and had to leave Spynie.

The former bishop's residence was plundered step by step in later years and numerous iron works, wooden doors and floors were stolen.

1973 was the ruin into state ownership; the public could Spynie Palace first visit in 1994. Historic Scotland is responsible for the conservation and management today. The ruins are open to visitors year round. The opportunity to participate in a guided tour, there is not, the parts obtained are, however, sufficiently marked and described in detail.