Kirkwall Castle facts for kids

Kirkwall Castle, also called King's Castle, was an old fortress in Kirkwall, the main town in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It was built in the 1300s. The castle was intentionally destroyed in 1614. Its last remaining parts were removed in the 1800s. You could find the castle in the center of Kirkwall, near the corner of Broad Street and Castle Street.

History of Kirkwall Castle

Building the Castle

In the 1300s, Henry Sinclair was the Earl of Orkney. He received this title from King Haakon VI of Norway. Soon after becoming Earl in 1379, Henry Sinclair built Kirkwall Castle.

The Castle's Destruction

In the early 1600s, Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, had disagreements with Laurence Bruce. Patrick Stewart was arrested in 1610. In May 1614, his son, Robert, started a rebellion against King James VI.

Robert and his supporters took control of Kirkwall Castle. They also occupied the Bishop's Palace, the Earl's Palace, and St Magnus Cathedral. In August, the Earl of Caithness led royal troops to fight the rebels. Kirkwall Castle surrendered in September.

On October 26, 1614, the Privy Council of Scotland ordered that Kirkwall Castle be torn down. This order was carried out the following year.

What Happened to the Ruins?

The castle ruins stood until 1742. At that time, James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, gave the stones from the ruins to the Town Council. They used these stones to build a new town hall and a jail.

By 1865, only a 55-foot (17 m) section of wall remained. This wall was 11 feet (3.4 m) thick. It was removed to make it easier to reach the harbour. Today, a plaque on Castle Street, dated 1865, marks the spot where the castle once stood.