Inside Edinburgh Castle
What You’ll Find Inside the Edinburgh Castle
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The Edinburgh Castle looms over the Scottish capital like it owns the city. And probably it does.
This castle stands on castle rock, overlooking the city centre. It has stood on this spot since 1018AD. And it was this rock that gave Edinburgh its name.
Every Scottish castle seems to have a spooky story, Edinburgh Castle does to.
If you are the type of person who prefers the ‘real’ to the paranormal, here are a couple of things you must see at Edinburgh Castle, apart from the ghosts
The Half Moon Battery
The Half Moon Battery is a great place to snap photos and admire Edinbrugh. This ‘Battery’ also hides a secret.
Under the Half Moon Battery lies a tower. The David’s Tower was a three storeyed structure. This old Tower was forgotten for centuries after it was destroyed. They only found out about it 105 years ago!
Mons Meg
I like the name.. and also the canon
Mons Meg is the oldest resident of Edinburgh Castle. It was gifted to James II in 1457 by the Duke Philip of Burgundy.
This huge canon could be fired only few times a day. It would overheat due to the gunpowder.
Mons Meg has a capacity to fire about 150 Kgs of Gunpowder at a time with a range of 3.2 kms!
This canon is unfortunately out of commission now
St Margaret’s Chapel
Queen Margaret, the wife of King Malcom Canmore, was the first Queen to live in the Edinburgh Castle. She was a devote Roman Catholic.
After her death in 1093 AD, her son David I built a chapel in her memory
Today this small chapel is the place to get married or christen babies….in case you’re looking for wedding destinations.
It’s the oldest surviving building in Scotland. The original arch remains intact. And it’s bomb proof!
the Chapel is looked after by the St Margaret’s Chapel Guild. This Guild is formed by women whose names are all Margaret!
The War Memorial
The War Memorial building was built to remember the Scottish Soldiers who lost their lives. This beautiful memorial houses old books which record the brave men who went down fighting.
Scottish soldiers who perished in both the World Wars and military campaigns post the wars, are all honoured here. Poppy wreathes remember the numerous lives lost for the country.
The memorial signifies courage, peace, justice and the survival of the spirit.
The Great Hall
The moment you step in, your gaze lifts up to the marvellous ceiling. The giant beams in rich brown shade are beautiful and they are wooden!
The armaments that line the Hall are numerous.
What most visitors don’t know is the Great Hall had a beam installed in its walls. You could spy over the people in the Hall. This beam was closed up when Mikhail Gorbachev was to visit the castle. He never did make it here though.
Prisons of War
You mustn’t forget and think it was all about the royal pomp. This castle also housed several prisoners.
Visitors can have a look inside the dark, damp dungeon like prison.
The clothes, hammocks and the sense of sadness is all very sinister.
The prison housed French privateers in the 18th century followed by Americans, Polish, Spanish, Italians, Dutch, Irish and Danish.
There were some intelligent prisoners here. A bunch of them managed to make a hole in the wall and escape! Don’t know what happen to them but you can still see the hole!
And lastly
The Royal Palace
The Scottish Crown Jewels are called ‘Honours of Scotland’. They’re one of the oldest surviving crown jewels in Europe.
In 1707 after England and Scotland merged by the Acts of Union, the Crown Jewels were kept away in the Crown Room forgotten for a 100 years. They were rediscovered by Sir Walter Scott in 1818.
Stone of Destiny or the Stone of Scone is a part of coronation ceremonies. It was taken to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The stone remained in the Abbey till four Scottish students removed the stone. It was mysteriously found on the altar of Arbroath Abbey and is now safely at the Edinburgh Castle
And that’s that of Edinburgh Castle. If you are at the Castle around 1 o’clock make sure to listen to the One O’clock Gun fired 6 days of the week since 1861. The other places to explore are the Regimental Museum and the Queen’s Embroideries.
Before I leave, here’s something for you to ponder upon. What might have been the various stories Edinburgh Castle has seen since the 11th century? Comment your thoughts below
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