Earl's Palace at Birsay Orkney - Wee Guides to Scotland castles and mansions

Wee Guides to Scotland
Earl's Palace, Birsay

Goblinshead

130 Inveresk Rd
Musselburgh
EH21 7AY
SCOTLAND

Once a fine and stately building, the Earl's Palace at Birsay is a ruined 16th-century courtyard castle, started by Robert Stewart, Earl of Orkney about 1574 and completed by his son, Patrick Stewart, before 1614. Father and son oppressed the islanders, and taxed them to pay for the palace at Birsay and at Kirkwall. Earl Patrick was charged with treason and executed in 1615 after his son, Robert, had led a rising. Robert shared the fate of his father. Nearby [HY 239285] on an island is the Brough of Birsay, an early Christian settlement, which was later used by Norsemen, and became an important centre. Earl Thorfinn of Orkney had a house here, and there was a substantial 12th-century church. The island is reached by a causeway, which floods at high tide.

Directions:	Off A966, 12 miles N of Stromness, Orkney
Ownership:	HS	text	Ord. Survey Map Ref:	HY 248279 6
Open:	Open all year.
Key:		Click Here for explanation of Key and other abreviations

Fax:+44 (0) 131 653 6566 Tel: +44 (0) 131 665 2894
email:goblinshead@sol.co.uk