Castles in West Lothian    Castles in Wales  Castles in England   Castles in Scotland

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History

A fortified house was built here in the mid 12th century and in 1302 Edward I built a manor on the site.  However, the building seen today was erected on the site of the previous buildings on the orders of the Scottish King, James I, in 1425.  The grand scale of the building can be seen by the Great Hall which is 94 feet long and has a huge fireplace and lofty windows. 

Although the building was primarily a palace defence was very important.  The entrance was protected by a barbican and a drawbridge and the walls of the four corner towers were immensely thick. The windows of the lower floors were fitted with iron bars.  Machicolations were added in the early 16th century.  The fountain in the courtyard was a wedding present from James V to his bride, Mary of Guise, in 1538.  Their daughter Mary, Queen of Scots, was born at the palace in 1542. 

In 1633 Charles I slept at the Linlithgow and in 1650-1651 Cromwell spent the winter at the palace.  In 1746 the Duke of Cumberland's army camped at Linlithgow on their way to encounter Prince Charles Edward Stuart's army at Culloden Moor.  As the army left Linlithgow Palace, fires were left burning and the building was gutted. 

Now Linlithgow Palace is one of Scotland's most visited ruins.