Scalloway Castle

Scalloway Castle is the ruins of a tower houses in the Scottish village of Scalloway on the Shetland island of Mainland. 1971 Scalloway Castle was inducted into the Scottish lists of monuments in the highest category A. Moreover, it is classified as a Scheduled Monument.

History

Scalloway Castle was built in the years 1600-1607 for Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, a grandson of James V. It should replace his old mansion in Sumburgh. For the construction of Andrew Crawford was obliged, who also built among others Muness Castle on Unst, which is why both buildings are similar. Stewart ruled over the archipelago as a king and was unpopular among the population. 1615, a few years after completion of Scalloway Castle, he was imprisoned in Edinburgh and died. After Stewart's death, the island administration was housed in Scalloway Castle. Furthermore, it temporarily served as accommodation for troops of Oliver Cromwell. With the relocation of the Shetland capital Lerwick Scalloway Castle was abandoned. The stones of the outer buildings were reused and the main building in 1908 the State overwritten. Of the outbuildings are superficial to find no trace today. However, the basis of archaeological data could be localized foundations north of the Tower Houses.

Description

The ruin is situated on a promontory at the southeastern end of Scalloway opposite the harbor. It has an L- shaped plan and is preserved today in part to the full height of four storeys. The roof has collapsed, however, as well as the shelves. The masonry consists of rubble stone, while the windows of sandstone blocks from the island of Eday are enclosed, which were also used as cornerstones to the building edges. The building corners are reinforced with bay towers with ornate corbels. Below the ruins is a vault that was once the basement and kitchen were housed.