It was about time to leave Western Scotland and cross over to the Eastern side, to my second to last Scottish home. But as always I fit in some stops along the way. The first one, the very impressive ruin of Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Situated between the town of Linlithgow and Loch Linlithgow the Palace was the perfect stopping point between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, it was favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens from James I.
In September 1745, when Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the Palace on is march down south this fountain was made to flow with wine in his honour, shortly after that in 1746 the Government troops destroyed most of the Palace buildings.
A royal manor house probably existed on this site from the mid-twelfth century, when Kind David I founded the burgh. Linlithgow’s position made it an ideal site for a military base, and in 1302 the English king set about transforming it into a secure stronghold built mostly of earth and wood. (Marie-Stuart.co.uk)
1424 a disastrous fire destroyed most of the town and the royal manor. James I, immediately started to rebuild the church of St. Michael and Linlithgow Palace as a grand residence for Scottish royalty. The following kinds made significant additions.
After the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Royal Court became largely based in England and Linlithgow was used very little. Parts of the Palace started to collapse. King James then had it renovated and rebuilt.
