Earl's Palace, Kirkwall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earl's Palace |
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The Earl's Palace
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| General information | |
| Status | in ruins |
| Type | palace |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Town or city | Kirkwall |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 58°58′50″N 2°57′32″W / 58.98056°N 2.95889°W |
| Groundbreaking | 1607 |
| Owner | Historic Environment Scotland |
The Earl's Palace is an old, ruined palace in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. It's built in a fancy style called Renaissance. You can find it right next to St Magnus's Cathedral.
Construction of the palace started in 1607. It was built by Patrick, Earl of Orkney. Many people were forced to work on building it. Today, you can visit the palace ruins.
Contents
History of the Earl's Palace
Why the Palace Was Built
The Earl's Palace was built because Patrick, the 2nd Earl of Orkney, felt that the nearby Bishop's Palace wasn't grand enough for him. Earl Patrick was known as a very strict ruler in Scotland. He decided to make the palace complex bigger by building a new palace next to it.
How the Earl Got the Land
There was a problem: Earl Patrick didn't actually own the land he wanted to build on. To get it, he made up false accusations against the owner. The owner was then put on trial and executed. This allowed the Earl to take the land for his new palace.
Rebellion and Destruction
In 1609, Earl Patrick was put in prison in Edinburgh. His son, Robert, started a rebellion to help his father. Robert took control of the new palace, along with St Magnus's Cathedral and Kirkwall Castle. An army, led by the Earl of Caithness, then surrounded these buildings. Kirkwall Castle was destroyed during this time. Later, both Earl Patrick and his son were found guilty of treason and faced serious consequences.
The Palace After Earl Patrick
After Earl Patrick's death, the palace was sometimes used by the Bishops of Orkney. This continued until 1688. At that point, the palace became property of the Crown (the government). By the 1700s, the grand palace had fallen into ruins.
The Earl's Palace Today
The Earl's Palace is now looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. It is a protected site, meaning it's an important historical place.
The palace and the nearby Bishop's Palace were closed to visitors from October 2023 to March 2024. This closure was necessary for experts to check the high parts of the stone walls. This work helps make sure the old buildings are kept safe and preserved for the future.
