Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bishop's Palace |
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Bishop's Palace, seen from St Magnus Cathedral tower
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| General information | |
| Status | in ruins |
| Type | palace |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| Town or city | Kirkwall |
| Country | Scotland |
| Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
The Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, is a very old building. It was built in the 1100s, around the same time as the famous St Magnus Cathedral next door. This palace was home to the first bishop of the cathedral, a man named William the Old. He was part of the Norwegian Catholic Church. Today, the palace is mostly in ruins, but it still looks a bit like a small castle.
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History of the Bishop's Palace
Early Days and Royal Visits
The Bishop's Palace was probably built like a typical royal Norwegian home. It had a large hall above storage rooms. There was also a tower house for the Bishop's private use.
A very important event happened here in 1263. King Haakon IV of Norway stayed at the palace during winter. He had just been involved in the Battle of Largs. Sadly, King Haakon died at the palace. His death marked the end of Norse (Viking) rule over the Outer Hebrides.
By 1320, the palace was not looked after. It had started to fall into ruins.
Changes in Ownership and New Additions
In 1468, the islands of Orkney and Shetland became connected to Scotland. This happened when Christian I of Denmark and Norway promised them as a payment. This payment was for his daughter Margaret's marriage to James III of Scotland. The money was never paid, so Orkney and Shetland have been part of Scotland ever since.
In 1526, the palace briefly belonged to Lord Sinclair. But he was soon told to give it back to the Bishop of Orkney.
When King James V of Scotland visited Kirkwall in 1540, he used the palace to house his soldiers. Soon after, Bishop Robert Reid began big repairs. He was the last medieval bishop of Orkney. Bishop Reid also founded the University of Edinburgh. He added a round tower to the palace, which was called the Moosie Toor.
Attacks and Sieges
In 1557, Mary I of England sent ships to Scotland. English troops attacked the cathedral on August 12. The next day, they tried to capture the Bishop's Palace. But the Scottish forces were too strong. Many English soldiers, including their leader, drowned trying to get back to their ships.
In 1568, the palace's ownership changed again. It went to Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney. Then it passed to his son, Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney. Earl Patrick wanted to make the Bishop's Palace part of his own grand Earl's Palace, Kirkwall. But he had many debts. This forced him to give the palace back to Bishop James Law.
In 1614, Earl Patrick's son, Robert, took control of both palaces. A siege (a military blockade) followed. We don't know if this siege damaged the buildings. Both palaces are now in ruins.
Visiting the Bishop's Palace Today
The Bishop's Palace is open for people to visit. Historic Environment Scotland looks after it. It is protected as a scheduled monument.
Please note that the palace and the nearby Earl's Palace are sometimes closed. For example, they were closed from October 2023 to March 2024. This was so experts could check the high walls and help preserve the building.
