Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall

Bishop's Palace is a ruined castle and former bishop's residence in the Scottish town of Kirkwall on the Orkney island of Mainland. In 1971 the building was added to the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A. In addition, the facility is classified as a Scheduled Monument. The Bishop's Palace is located in the center of Kirkwall.

History

The castle was built simultaneously with the opposite St Magnus Cathedral, the residence of the bishops of Orkney under Bishop William the Old in the 12th century. After the defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263 the Norwegian king Haakon IV stayed in the castle and died there. Apparently Bishop's Palace was used sporadically at best in the following decades and the building fell into disrepair until 1320 in a ruinous state. 1526 came the ruin briefly in the possession of William Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair. King James V. stationed 1540 troops both in Kirkwall Castle and Bishop's Palace.

Bishop Robert Reid of the castle took on even more in the 16th century. It was restored by the substance obtained, increase and added extensions. A good portion of the resulting building today dates from this construction. As of 1568, there was Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney over the islands and also had Bishop's Palace. His son, Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney built with the Earl's Palace his residence in the vicinity of the Bishop's Palace and planned to integrate this into the structure. Due to insufficient financial resources this could not be put into action. Patrick Stewart is considered tyrannical, extremely unpopular among the people sovereign. After his indictment for treason in 1614 tried Patrick's brother Robert to foment a rebellion, during which the castle was besieged. Whether the damage of the structure resulting from this siege, is not clear. Today, the Bishop's Palace is only preserved as a ruin.