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How Much Is Edinburgh Castle Worth?

Edinburgh Castle sits high above the Scottish capital, providing fabulous views out across the Firth of Forth. Perched on Castle Rock and located at one end of the historic Royal Mile, the castle attracts thousands of visitors every year. In realtor’s terms, the castle occupies a piece of prime real estate, but just how much is Edinburgh Castle worth?

Edinburgh Castle is worth around $1.25 billion (£1 billion). In truth, it is nigh on impossible to place a value on a site that is steeped in so much history. Set across 380,000 square feet high above the city of Edinburgh, you can value the land but not the historical significance.

For many, castles such as Edinburgh are priceless since you can not place a value on the history the site has witnessed. However, land has value, and in this article, I shall look at:

How much Edinburgh Castle may be worth on the market
How the castle generates income
Some of the history and attractions that continue to draw people to its walls

Edinburgh Castle with a blue sky behind it, seen from the road below — Although it is very difficult to ascribe a market value, Edinburgh Castle is likely to be worth over $1billion

A Sizable Plot

Castle Rock has always been a desirable location.

The view of the surrounding area makes it highly suitable as both a military and civil location. The rock cliffs guard much of the approach to the castle, with the Royal Mile the single thoroughfare leading to its gates.

The evidence points to a settlement on this site as far back as the Iron Age. Over the centuries the castle has continued to develop into the huge military fortification we see today.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the largest castles in the UK, as well as one of the oldest fortified sites in Europe.

The castle grounds cover over 380,000 sq ft. In 2022, prime land in central Edinburgh could set you back as much as £700 per sq ft. This equates to a value of £270 million for the square footage of Edinburgh Castle.

However, this can never factor in the history, symbolism, and continued military presence at the castle.

The following footage provides a flavor of the sheer scale of Edinburgh Castle.

Then there is the worth of the views. Edinburgh Castle is perched 443 ft above the city it overlooks.

Anyone who has looked out over the castle battlements can vouch that the views are stunning. The fact that Castle Rock is the remnant of an extinct volcano may still put off a few prospective buyers.

However, it is the volcanic rock that provides its identity and defensive advantages.

Who Owns Edinburgh Castle?

The current owners of Edinburgh Castle are the ministers of the Scottish government, and we assume they have no plans to sell soon. Therefore, placing a worth on the castle involves a good degree of speculation.

The Scottish government has Historic Environment Scotland to manage the day-to-day running of the castle.

For hundreds of years, Edinburgh Castle was a residency of Scottish monarchs.

The last monarch to spend a night there was King Charles I in 1633 before he was crowned King of the Scots at St Giles Cathedral. However, from the 16^th century, the castle primarily became a military base and a prison.

While the prisoners have all gone, the castle retains a military presence today. It is also home to the Scottish National War Memorial and regimental museums and exhibitions. The castle still has a governor, a position that was reinstalled in 1935.

However, in 1905 the War Office passed the keys to Edinburgh Castle to the Office of Works. Their role was to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of royal residencies and castles.

The running of the castle was finally passed back to the Scottish government toward the end of the last century. Management of the castle was given to Historic Scotland.

October 2015 saw the founding of Historic Environment Scotland.

This is a public body tasked with looking after Scotland’s historic environmental treasures, including sites like Edinburgh Castle. The castle is the organization’s most visited property.

Edinburgh Castle in the background, with a fountain in the foreground — For hundreds of years, the castle was a residency of Scottish monarchs

Visitor Numbers

Edinburgh Castle remains one of the UK’s leading attractions, a prime reason why the castle is valued so highly.

The castle sits at one end of the Royal Mile, with the Palace of Holyrood at the other end. Between the two sits St. Giles Cathedral. This is the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and history beckons whichever way you turn.

In 2022, Edinburgh Castle attracted over 1.3 million visitors.

As with all such locations, the castle felt the effects of the Covid pandemic. In 2020, the castle welcomed just over 276,000 people through its gates, an 87% drop off in visitor numbers from the previous year.

Therefore, the 2022 visitor numbers point to the castle rebounding from the pandemic with people keen to get out and explore once more. If we head back before the pandemic to 2019 we get a better picture of the castle’s worth to the area.

That year saw Edinburgh Castle attract 2.2 million visitors.

The 2 million visitors wandering around the castle grounds during the financial year 2017/18 added £14.7 million in income to the coffers of Historic Environment Scotland.

Visitors have a range of tickets to select from including single and family tickets. In 2023, adult administration prices started from £15.50.

The following table shows visitor numbers according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

Year	Visitor Numbers	% Change on Previous Year
2022	1,346,168	+218
2021	423,866	+53
2020	276,950	-87
2019	2,201,354	+4
2018	2,111,578	+2
2017	2,063,709	+16
2016	1,778,548	+13
2015	1,568,508	+5.9

A Unique Event Setting

The value of Edinburgh Castle is also its unique location for events. You would be hard pushed to find a better location to celebrate a landmark birthday or to hold your wedding reception.

Edinburgh Castle is geared toward staging events, both private and corporate. The regular upkeep and maintenance costs of a place like Edinburgh Castle will not be cheap.

The city of Edinburgh is also known for its festivals and the castle certainly plays its part. Every August the castle esplanade hosts the famous Royal Edinburgh military tattoo.

This spectacular event has been staged each year since 1950 except for a two-year Covid hiatus and brings in crowds from around the world.

Proceeds from the military tattoo go to charities, which can benefit by as much as £1 million from the annual performance. The backdrop of the castle with its looming walls lit for effect shows the castle’s true worth even before you have ventured into the inner wards.

Historic Worth

The historic worth of Edinburgh Castle is priceless. The castle has been the home of Scottish monarchs for centuries as well as an important military fortification. Its strategic worth to invading forces is signaled by the castle having been besieged on 26 occasions.

The castle we see today began to take shape during the 12^th century. It did not take long before it came to the attention of the English.

In 1296, Edward I took control of the castle from the Scots and the English were its custodians for the best part of two decades. This was until Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, and around thirty of his men helped turf the English out.

In an audacious plan, Randolph and his men scaled the rocky cliffs and went over the walls. The seemingly impregnable side of the castle was breached. Randolph was able to open the castle gates and allow the rest of the Scottish forces into the castle.

Castle ownership would swing back and forth again between the two old enemies during the Wars of Independence.

In 1566, Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI (James I of England) in the castle’s Royal Palace (source). After her forced abdication she fled to England in 1568 only to be imprisoned and ultimately executed.

In 1571, the garrison at Edinburgh Castle declared their support for the deposed Queen, setting in motion the two-year-long Lang siege.

The latter part of the siege was aided and abetted by English troops, who were once again helping besiege Edinburgh Castle. The upshot was that the castle suffered significant damage from the English cannon. The rebuild in the following years shaped the castle we recognize today.

More English Turbulence in Edinburgh

The English Civil War did not bypass Edinburgh Castle. The accession of James VI of Scotland to the English crown saw the 1603 Union of the Crowns.

Charles I was the last monarch to stay at Edinburgh Castle. This was in 1633, and Charles was there for his Scottish coronation. His nemesis Oliver Cromwell, besieged and captured Edinburgh Castle with his New Model Army in December 1650.

The castle’s turbulent days were not done with following the restoration of the monarchy. The initial Jacobite rebellion in 1689 in support of the deposed King James II saw the brief capture of Edinburgh Castle.

Attempts to do likewise during the succeeding rebellions failed. This included one led by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

As this brief history shows, Edinburgh Castle has witnessed some of the defining moments in Scottish history. It has played host to some of the most famous names in UK history too, even if some of them failed to breach its walls.

In 1822, George IV was the first monarch to visit the castle since Charles I. The royal palace was by then a military garrison and prison.

The Main Attractions

Besides the spectacular views, Edinburgh Castle’s worth to the thousands of visitors it receives each year is how much there is to explore within its walls. The following are five main attractions.

1. Mons Meg

This 6-tonne siege cannon was presented to James II of Scotland in 1457. At the time it was top-of-the-range military hardware and one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Mons Meg was capable of firing a 150 kg stone over a distance of two miles (source). You did not want to be on the receiving end of this fearsome weapon.

Mons Meg now stands proudly on display near St. Margaret’s Chapel. Staying on the theme of cannons, the daily firing of the one o’clock gun is always worth a watch. Mariners used to set their clocks by the gun and the tradition continues today.

The firing of the gun often puts the frighteners up unsuspecting visitors.

2. The Great Hall

The Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle lives up to its name.

Restored to its medieval glory, it was originally completed in 1511 for James IV. Walk in, look up and take in one of the finest examples of a medieval hammer-beam roof.

This room would have hosted feasts for the royalty and dignitaries of the time. Oliver Cromwell, not being a huge fan of anything connected to monarchy, decided the Great Hall was better served as a military barracks. Before its fine restoration, the hall also served as a hospital.

3. Honors of Scotland

Scotland’s own Crown Jewels are kept in the Crown House at Edinburgh Castle.

They date back as far as the late fifteenth century. This makes them older than the English equivalent, much of which dates to the coronation of Charles II in 1661.

The Honors were removed from the castle to escape Oliver Cromwell’s advancing army. They then did a vanishing act following the Act of Union in 1707.

They were discovered by the famous novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott in 1818, completing a story worthy of the man himself.

4. National War Museum

The National War Museum is a reminder of the castle’s military history. The large collection contains artifacts, letters, paintings, and more depicting Scottish military history and those who served their country.

As well as the National War Museum, there are regimental museums. These detail the history of regiments including the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Also within the castle grounds is the poignant National War Memorial, a shrine to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

5. St Margaret’s Chapel

This small chapel is the oldest surviving building in the Scottish capital. It was built on the highest point of Castle Rock in 1130 by King David I in honor of his mother. The castle has been partially destroyed and slighted throughout history, but the chapel was spared.

Today, the chapel is open to all visitors, whereas once upon a time it was the preserve of Scottish monarchs and their families. The chapel underwent a refurbishment in 1993 to commemorate the 900^th anniversary of the death of St Margaret.

How Old Are The Crown Jewels? Full Guide To The Main Pieces

The Crown Jewels is a collection of precious royal treasures that are housed in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. The collection contains the Coronation regalia used to crown a new sovereign. The collection has been added to over the centuries, but just how old are the Crown Jewels?

Many of the pieces within the Crown Jewels date back to the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. The Coronation regalia needed replacing having been mostly destroyed during the interregnum. One of the oldest surviving items is the Coronation Spoon which dates back to the 12^th century.

Seeing the Crown Jewels is one of the biggest attractions for visitors to the Tower of London. In this article, I shall explore the timeline of the collection and when some of the most famous pieces were made.

The Jewel House in the Tower of London that houses the Crown Jewels

What Are the Crown Jewels?

The Crown Jewels are made up of over 100 items and over 23,000 gemstones. It is a priceless collection of royal treasures that are held in trust by the Crown for the nation.

The collection is passed on from monarch to monarch and is the most complete royal regalia still in existence.

The best-known elements of the Crown Jewels are the Coronation Regalia. This includes the crowns, scepters, and orb presented to a new monarch at the moment of their coronation.

They symbolize the responsibilities of the monarch.

However, the Crown Jewels is a collection that has been added to over the centuries. As well as the more obvious trappings of royalty such as crowns, the collection also contains precious jewels, robes, banqueting plate, christening fonts, state swords, and altar plate.

The Original Crown Jewels

The ceremonial aspect of crowning a new king or queen stretches way back into history.

However, it was Edward the Confessor who started to keep the royal treasures together as royal regalia in the 11^th century. These could be seen as the original Crown Jewels.

The treasures were kept at Westminster Abbey before being relocated to the security of the Tower of London in the 14^th century. The Tower was better placed to look after this precious and growing collection of royal crowns, jewels, and assorted treasures.

However, with one or two exceptions, the Crown Jewels guarded in the Tower in the 14^th century are not the ones we see today. The first Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, saw to that.

Lost to History

The period of the interregnum after the English civil war was the low point in the history of the Crown Jewels. They’d had some shaky moments before then.

King John managed to lose some of the jewels while fleeing rebels in 1216. This happened as he tried to cross the Wash, a tidal estuary in East Anglia.

However, after the Royalist defeat in the civil war in the 17^th century, the victorious Parliamentarians were on a mission to dispose of anything with royal connections. This included the Crown Jewels which were melted down or sold off.

Five hundred years of royal treasures were gone, including those made for Henry III to replace the jewels lost in the Wash by his father, King John.

It would take the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 before a new collection of Crown Jewels could begin.

The Coronation Spoon

However, one item sacred to the Coronation ceremony did survive Cromwell’s purge of the Crown Jewels. This is the Coronation Spoon, used in the ceremony to anoint the new sovereign with holy oil.

The spoon dates back to the 12^th century and is one of the oldest surviving treasures in the royal collection. The first record of the spoon was in 1349 when it was listed in the regalia held at Westminster Abbey.

Even then it was recorded as an item of ‘antique form’ (source).

The reason the Coronation Spoon survived was it avoided the melting pot. The spoon was bought by Clement Kynnersley, who was a member of the royal wardrobe staff for Charles I before the king was deposed and executed.

It is Kynnersley who we must thank for saving this precious antique and returning it to Charles II following the restoration of the monarchy.

A New Set of Crown Jewels

The local goldsmiths and jewelers were put into overdrive to create a new set of Coronation regalia after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Robert Vyner was appointed the Royal Goldsmith and was in charge of overseeing the replacement of the lost Crown Jewels.

Much of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London today date from this time.

The following are examples of important pieces made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661 and still used today.

1. St Edward’s Crown

This crown is only ever worn at the moment a new sovereign is crowned. It is the centerpiece of the coronation ceremony.

The crown weighs a hefty 5lbs (source) and was built to replace the Medieval original melted down following the English civil war. Encrusted with jewels in a gold frame and with a velvet cap, the crown is an iconic representation of monarchy.

2. Sovereign’s Scepter With Cross

Also used at every coronation since 1661, the Scepter With Cross represents temporal power. The Scepter With Cross was given an upgrade in 1911 when the Cullinan I diamond was mounted into the cross.

The additional weight imposed by the 530.2-carat diamond required the scepter to be reinforced to cope.

3. Sovereign’s Orb

The orb is another key symbol at the Coronation. The simple design of the orb surmounted by a jewel-encrusted cross represents the Christian world and a Sovereign’s power derived from God.

The orb weighs 2.9 lbs and is placed in the sovereign’s right hand at the time of investiture.

4. The Ampulla

The Ampulla holds the oil used to anoint the sovereign. Its striking design in the shape of an eagle is based on a 14^th-century legend of a similar vessel given to Saint Thomas Beckett by the Virgin Mary.

An opening in the beak of the eagle allows the oil to be poured onto the 12^th-century Coronation spoon.

This video explains the anointment of a sovereign.

5. The Spurs

The gold Spurs provide more historical symbolism, representing knighthood.

Although made in 1661 under the watchful eye of Robert Vyner, they were altered in 1820 for the coronation of George IV.

This saw modern textiles and fabrics used to replace the straps and buckles on the spurs.

An Expanding Collection

Ever since Charles II replaced the Crown Jewels lost in the interregnum, succeeding monarchs have added to the collection. New crowns, jewels, plate, and robes would be commissioned for special occasions according to the taste of the monarch of the day.

Below is a table summarizing when significant pieces were made for Royal occasions before being added to the Crown Jewels collection. We shall then look at the dates in more detail.

Crown Jewel Piece	Date Made	Royal Occasion
Mary of Modena’s diadem	1685	Coronation of James II
Mary II Orb	1689	Coronation of William III and Mary II
Sword of Offering	1820	Coronation of George IV
Queen Mary’s Crown	1911	Coronation of George V
Imperial Crown of India	1911	Imperial Durbar in India attended by George V
Imperial State Crown	1937	Coronation of George VI
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Crown	1937	Coronation of George VI
Queen Elizabth II armills	1953	Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

1685

Early additions were made to the Crown Jewels during the 17^th century.

Charles II was not married at the time of his Coronation. Therefore when James II came to the throne in 1685, new Coronation regalia was required for his wife, Mary of Modena. Some poor soul was given just six weeks to prepare Mary of Modena’s diadem in time for the coronation of her husband.

1689

The stakes were raised higher after the Glorious Revolution in 1689 saw the departure of James II. The new joint monarchs were William III and Mary II. Therefore Mary was Queen in her own right and not a Queen Consort.

Her coronation regalia needed to be on par with her husband’s.

While she wore the state crown used by Mary of Modena, Mary II needed a new scepter and orb made for the occasion.

1820

Swords have always played a role in the Coronation ceremony. Three swords survived destruction during the interregnum. The Sword of Offering was added to the Coronation regalia by George IV in 1820.

It forms part of the monarch’s investiture, presented after the anointment. Made by Rundell Bridge & Rundell, the sword is encrusted with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

1911

This year saw two notable additions to the Crown Jewels. This commemorated the coronation of George V. A crown was made for the new Queen Mary and featured 2,200 diamonds. She would also wear just the circlet of the crown for the coronation of her son, George VI, in 1937.

Not to be outdone, the King also had a new crown designed for his inauguration ceremony in India in December 1911. This confirmed the king as Emperor of India.

The Imperial Crown of India was made for the occasion and upped the diamond ante by incorporating over 6,000 into the frame of the crown.

1937

The coronation of King George VI saw a replacement Imperial State Crown commissioned. This crown has a heavy workload compared to others.

As well as the crown worn when leaving Westminster Abbey at the end of a coronation, it is also worn for other ceremonies including the State Opening of Parliament.

Take a peek at the Imperial State Crown with Queen Elizabeth II.

Previous versions of the crown remain in the Crown Jewels collection. The 1937 model replaced the one made for Queen Victoria in 1838 and contains some of the most famous jewels in the world.

This includes the St Edward’s sapphire and the Black Prince’s Ruby.

The coronation of George VI also saw the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s crown added to the royal regalia. The crown made by the royal goldsmiths Garrard & Co is bejeweled with 2,800 diamonds.

It was worn again at the coronation of the Queen Mother’s daughter, Elizabeth, in 1953.

1953

Talking of which, this is the coronation where we see one of the most recent additions to the Crown Jewels. Armills have been a part of the Coronation ceremony for centuries.

These gold bracelets represent sincerity and wisdom. Queen Elizabeth was presented with new ones for her coronation as a gift from the Commonwealth.

The Gemstones of the Crown Jewels

A lot of focus on the Crown Jewels falls understandably on the crowns and the Coronation regalia. However, the royal collection contains important gemstones. Some of these are mounted on pieces used in royal ceremonies.

Cullinan Diamond

This huge diamond was found in South Africa in 1905. It was cut into 9 major diamonds and 96 smaller stones. The Cullinan I diamond is the second largest in the world and was set into the Sovereigns Scepter with Cross in 1910.

The smaller but no less impressive Cullinan II diamond was incorporated into the Imperial State Crown made in 1937.

St. Edward’s Sapphire

This jewel can also be found on the Imperial State Crown, positioned within the topmost cross. This could be the oldest gem in the collection, as legend has it that the sapphire was in a ring worn by Edward the Confessor.

The gemstone with its lovely blue hue was said to be buried alongside the 12^th-century king, before being removed in the following century.

The Black Prince’s Ruby

The importance of the Imperial State Crown will be coming more apparent, as this ruby is also set into the crown. The Black Prince is one of England’s most famous knights and the son of King Edward III.

It is a spinel rather than a ruby, but before 1783, all red gemstones were identified as rubies. Henry V is said to have worn this gemstone in his helmet on his way to victory at Agincourt.

Stuart Sapphire

The Stuart Sapphire is another gemstone fitted into the Imperial State Crown. The 104-carat sapphire is found on the back band of the crown.

The sapphire is thought to belong to Charles II before venturing on quite the journey around Europe. James II fled the country along with the Stuart Sapphire. It was eventually brought back to England by George III in 1807.

Koh-i-Noor

The most controversial of the Crown Jewel gemstones. It was presented to Queen Victoria by the East India Trading Company after they nabbed it as part of the Treaty of Lahore.

It was last set into the 1937 designed Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s crown having previously featured on Queen Mary’s crown in 1911.

Beefeaters Uniform – 9 Things To Look Out For

Beefeaters are one of the Tower of London’s most iconic images. They are the colorfully attired Yeoman Warders who have guarded the Tower since Tudor times. Although the role is largely ceremonial today, their distinctive uniforms remain instantly recognizable.

Nine things to look out for with a Beefeater’s uniform are:

Red or blue uniform
The Tudor Rose
ER to CR
The Thistle and Shamrock
The belt
The Beefeater’s hat
Trousers or stockings
The Insignia
The Ravenmaster’s badge

Beefeaters enhance the experience of visiting the Tower of London as guides and fonts of extensive historical knowledge.

In this article, I shall look at the nine distinctive elements of their uniform to look out for.

A beefeater chasing a raven at the Tower of London

What Are Beefeaters?

Beefeaters are the Yeoman Warders who have guarded the Tower of London since Tudor times. They were formed from the Yeoman of the Guard, the personal bodyguard established by Henry VII in 1485 after his victory at Bosworth.

Henry VIII decided the Tower of London needed a permanent force to guard this strategically important site. This was the task given to the Yeoman Warders. The Warders protected the Tower and the precious Crown Jewels, as well as guarding the prisoners held within its walls.

Today, most people will associate the role of the Beefeater as guide to the thousands of visitors who descend on the Tower of London. However, the Warders still have 21 duties to attend to each day.

One of the most famous and traditional events is the Ceremony of the Keys, which oversees the locking of the Tower’s main gates each night. It is one of the oldest rituals of its kind still performed today.

Yeoman Warders have ceremonial duties beyond the Tower walls too, including at the Coronation of a new sovereign.

To be considered as a Yeoman Warder you need to have 22 years of service in the armed forces and reached the rank of Warrant Officer. You will also need to show your long service and good conduct medal.

The official name is the Yeoman Warders of His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary. Not too much of a surprise then why people tend to stick to the term Beefeaters instead!

Why Beefeaters?

So, where does the term Beefeaters originate?

There is an element of conjecture about this. The most simple offering is that the term is a derivative of an old French word buffetier, meaning waiter or servant.

A part of a Beefeater’s job used to be serving the monarch their meals and ensuring the food was not laced with poison.

The term may also have been coined due to the Yeoman Warders being allowed to eat as much beef as they wished when dining in the presence of the monarch. It is said the Grand Duke of Tuscany commented on this in the 17^th century.

The surviving quote has him saying “A very large ration of beef is given to them daily at the court, and they might be called beefeaters.”

9 Things To Look Out For In The Beefeaters Uniform

The red Beefeater uniform with its gold trimmings is known across the world.

Instantly recognizable at state events, the uniform screams tradition.

However, red is not always the color worn by Beefeaters. This and eight further features of a Beefeater’s uniform will be delved into in the following section.

1. Red or Blue Uniform

The Yeoman Warders were formed from the Yeoman of the Guard, the corps that formed the monarch’s bodyguard. The Warders were detailed to guard the Tower, a job they have done for the last 500 years plus.

However, anyone who visits the Tower today will note the absence of the red uniform.

This was not always the case. The Yeoman Warders were soon allowed to don the famous red uniform after their formation. However, today the red and gold will only be brought out for ceremonial duties.

One of these is the ancient daily ritual of the Ceremony of the Keys. Performed every day since the 14^th century, the Chief Yeoman Warder locks the main gates in a ceremony that always begins at 9.53 pm on the dot.

Resplendent in red, the Warder hands the keys to the Tower’s resident governor once the gates are locked (source).

The color of the Yeoman Warder’s uniform for everyday duties is blue with red trimmings. This is the uniform the visitors that flock to the Tower will see.

The main role of a Warder is to assist the visitors and help ensure they have an informative and enjoyable time exploring the Tower.

The blue uniform was introduced in 1858 and is seen as more practical and durable for the role of the modern Yeoman Warder. Therefore, your selfie with a Beefeater at the Tower of London will be one with a Warder wearing blue, not the famed red.

The following clip shows both the uniforms worn by Yeoman Warders.

2. The Tudor Rose

The everyday duties blue uniform is more simply adorned than the state dress red uniform. One of the prominent features to note on the state dress worn by Beefeaters is the Tudor rose. This acknowledges the period in which the Yeoman Warders were formed.

Although formed in 1485, it was Henry VIII who decided to leave a permanent detachment of Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London. At this time Henry VIII had set up his main residence at Richmond Palace, before acquiring Hampton Court Palace.

The Tower of London remained a Royal Palace but was better known as a prison from then on. However, the Yeoman Warders retained the Tudor Rose on their state dress uniforms.

3. ER to CR

One part of the uniforms does change from time to time. This follows the death of the reigning monarch. Prominent on both the blue and red uniforms for the best part of the last 70 was the letters ER. These denote Elizabeth Regina. There is also the Roman numeral II between the letters, signifying Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the uniform is set to replace ER with CR in 2023. This will denote Charles Rex and will have the numeral III between the letters to signify King Charles III.

A crown sits above the royal cipher on the uniform. This further symbolizes that the Beefeaters have their foundation as a protective corps for the royal household and their palaces.

4. The Thistle and Shamrock

As well as the English Tudor Rose, the state dress of the Beefeater also contains a thistle and shamrock. Therefore, England, Scotland, and Ireland are represented when the state dress is donned on ceremonial occasions.

It is not too difficult to note a missing Welsh emblem.

Henry Tudor who became Henry VII was born at Pembroke Castle in Wales and made great play of his Welsh ancestry on his way to taking the throne.

Although the debate about how Wales fared under Henry VII continues, the Welsh dragon was on his heraldic coat of arms if not on the Beefeaters’ uniform.

5. The Belt

At state ceremonies, the Yeoman Warders are often mistaken for the corps they descended from, the Yeoman of the Guard. The state dress is the same distinctive red with gold trimmings for both the Yeoman Warders and the Yeoman Guards.

The Yeoman of the Guard are the oldest of the sovereign’s bodyguards. Many of their original duties such as guarding the interior of Royal palaces and tasting the sovereign’s food have gone.

They would also take to the battlefield in times of war. Today their role is also primarily ceremonial and like the Warders, their members will have served 22 years in the military.

Both the Yeoman Warders and Guards look the archetypal Beefeater in state dress uniforms. However, one clue to separate them is their belt.

Whereas Yeoman Warders wear a traditional style belt, the Yeoman of the Guard wear a cross-belt that runs diagonally across the front of their red tunic (source).

6. The Beefeater’s Hat

A common misconception is that Beefeaters wear a Bearskin hat. These are the tall fur hats that most of us will recognize as worn by guards such as those outside Buckingham Palace. They are amusingly called caps by the army, although not the idea of a cap most of us have.

Bearskin hats are worn by members of the regiment of foot guards assigned to protect the sovereign. Beefeaters wear a flat hat that is garlanded with bows in the colors of the Union Jack for state dress.

The hat worn for everyday duties at the Tower is less adorned. Visitors to the Tower will see the Yeoman Warders wearing a blue flat hat with red trimmings that matches the color of the rest of their day-to-day uniform.

7. Trousers or Stockings

Once again, there is a difference in garment choice between everyday duty wear and state dress when it comes to the legs. In their role as Tower guides, Yeoman Warders wear blue trousers as a part of their everyday duties uniform.

The more elaborate state dress uniform harks back to the Tudor times.

Therefore, the trousers are dispensed with. In their place are red knee breeches and red stockings, matching the scarlet red tunic. This is the traditional view of the Yeoman Warder.

It is one we imagine the Tower of London guards wearing back in Tudor times when they were first permitted to don the famous uniform.

8. Look for the Insignia

As you would expect, rank still plays a role within the Beefeaters at the Tower of London.

The Chief Yeoman Warden is the person in overall charge. They oversee the management of the Yeoman Warders and play a significant role in the ceremonial duties carried out by the Yeoman Warders.

Being Chief Yeoman Warder is a prestigious role and they will be the ones responsible for meeting visiting royalty.

They will also take part in the Ceremony of the Keys ritual each night that sees the locking and securing of the Tower’s gates.

Chief Yeoman Warder’s number two is the Yeoman Gaoler. There may be no prisoners to look after these days. However, the Yeoman Gaoler plays a prominent role in ceremonies as well as helping with the management of the Yeoman Warders.

To determine rank, look for the insignia on the right arm of the uniform. They are as follows:

Rank	Insignia
Chief Yeoman Warder	Four chevrons with crossed keys set below a crown
Yeoman Gaoler	Four chevrons with image of White Tower set below a crown
Yeoman Clerk	Four chevrons set below a crown
Yeoman Warder Sarjeant	Four chevrons
Yeoman Warder	No insignia
Ravenmaster	No insignia, badge with raven head, three merlons and laurel wreath

9. The Ravenmaster

It may sound like something out of Doctor Who, but the Ravenmaster remains an important position at the Tower of London. Ravens have been at the Tower since the 17^th century.

Legend has it that “if the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom of Britain will fall.” No pressure then!

Today, the ravens are housed in cages in the Wakefield Tower. The cages are open during the day, so the birds are free to roam the Tower grounds and beyond.

There are at least six resident ravens at any given time. Their wings are trimmed slightly to try and prevent them from flying too far away and putting the old legend to the test.

This video explores the Ravenmaster’s job.

The Ravenmaster has regular Yeoman Warder duties to attend as well as looking after the ravens, including ensuring they are fed and housed each night. A look at the uniform will confirm who is the Ravenmaster as they go about their daily duty assisting the visitors to the Tower.

The Ravenmaster wears a badge on the lower right arm of their tunic to signal the position. The role is by appointment and does not represent a rank.

The circular badge has a red background and unsurprisingly depicts a raven’s head in the center. The head is atop three gold merlons with a gold laurel wreath circling the base of the badge.

How Tall Are Castle Walls?

The primary function of a castle wall is protection. Not only must castle walls be sturdy enough to repel projectiles, but they must also be tall enough to make scaling them a difficult objective. Any visitor to a castle will tell you how imposing the looming walls feel as you stand at their base. Therefore, you might wonder how tall are castle walls?

The average height for castle walls is 30 feet. Castle walls evolved with the siege weapons they faced. Medieval castle walls need to be taller to protect against projectiles that could be hurled further and higher. The arrival of the concentric castle design saw two curtain walls, the inner wall taller than the outer wall.

The height of a castle wall varied from castle to castle, with the average being 30 feet. In this article, I shall look at the evolution of the castle wall and why it was so important in the defense of a castle. I will also look at examples of castles that opted to build castle walls higher than the average.

Harlech Castle in Wales, whose walls are around 39 feet high

The Role of the Castle Wall

The castle wall was the crucial first line of defense against any attacking force. Castles were often built to impose a monarch’s or lord’s rule over the local area. They were a symbol of power, used to subjugate a local population and deter future rebellion.

However, they were also primarily defensive structures.

They were designed to withstand attack and subsequent siege. The castle or curtain wall was critical as the first line of defense. Once penetrated, the inner castle was likely to fall rather rapidly.

The walls needed to be sufficiently sturdy to withstand catapulted projectiles. They also needed to be tall enough to make scaling a tough prospect.

They were the boundary walls behind which were the buildings required for everyday castle life. The design of the wall was arguably the most crucial element of castle architecture.

What Is the Average Height of Castle Walls?

On average, castle walls were built to a height of at least 30 feet, although they could be built much higher. The walls at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk are 44 feet tall, while those at Knaresborough Castle in North Yorkshire were 40 feet high.

Stone walls required solid foundations, and the taller the wall the stronger the foundations required. The base of a wall was its most vulnerable point, and this vulnerability could increase with the height of a wall.

Towers and moats helped to protect the base of the wall which was often a blind spot for the castle defenders manning the battlements above.

Therefore, it was about finding the balance between practicality and maximizing defensive capabilities. Stone walls cost money too, and every additional foot delved deeper into the purse of whoever was paying the bill.

This often came back to the locals who ended up paying higher taxes.

A castle wall 30 feet in height was still a significant obstacle for a besieging force. If you could not scale the walls, you needed to bludgeon your way through using a trebuchet.

Undermining the walls to make them topple was another tactic. If all else failed then it became a game of patience, waiting for the castle to run out of food and drink.

The following table provides examples of the heights of several castle walls:

Castle	Location	Height of wall
Portchester	Hampshire, England	20 ft
Berwick	Northumberland, England	30 ft
Chepstow Town	Monmouthshire, Wales	30 ft
Conwy Castle	Conwy, Wales	30 ft
Beaumaris	Anglesey, Wales	35 ft
Conisbrough	South Yorkshire, England	35 ft
Knaresborough	North Yorkshire, England	40 ft
Framlingham	Suffolk	44 ft

Conwy Castle with walls around 30 feet high — The imposing Conwy Castle has walls that are 30 feet high

Curtain Walls Were Nothing New

Of course, defensive walls were not invented by medieval castle designers. We can see the evidence in the hill forts dating back to the bronze age.

These forts were sites built on higher land. They used earthen mounds, ditches or wooden palisades to enclose the site (source), usually following the contours of the land.

Ancient Egypt and Rome are further examples of civilizations that saw the benefits of curtain walls. These could be around forts or whole cities, offering protection to those within when aggressors were knocking at the door.

When the Normans built castles across the British Isles to enforce their rule, sturdy castle walls were a must.

The Normans wanted to promote their power and subjugate the locals to the new reality of Norman rule. However, they also needed somewhere to retreat behind in time of rebellion, where they could await relief from a besieging force.

From Wood to Stone

Early medieval castles built their protective walls using timber. This posed the problem of rotting timber in a damp British climate, and therefore the need to frequently replace sections of the wall.

This was inconvenient, potentially pricey, and not ideal if it occurred at the same time as an invading force turned up who spied a weak spot.

There was also the small matter that timber walls were vulnerable to fire. Hence, over time, stone became the go-to material for castle builders.

Stone was stronger, tougher to penetrate with projectiles, and less susceptible to fire. Given the choice of hiding behind a wooden defensive wall or a stone one, there was only one winner.

Stone brought its own challenges. The cost was one, and castles became an indicator of wealth. Yet, heavy stone walls built to 30 feet were apt for subsidence if not built with due care.

Therefore, castle wall design needed to adapt too to build walls that would last the test of time as well as all that a besieging army could throw at it.

The Main Elements of Building a Castle Wall

Once you have found the preferred location for your castle, your chief architect will be taking note of the ground. 30 feet walls made of stone required strong foundations to avoid subsidence and potential collapse.

Ideally, you will dig down to the bedrock, which once leveled out will provide the solid foundations required for the walls.

Unfortunately, life is not always perfect. If you did not hit a suitable layer of bedrock then you needed your workforce to build a suitably wide ditch. This would be filled in with rubble, which could then be compacted and leveled out as you would with bedrock foundations.

Once the foundations were in place the task of building the walls could begin. Building walls 30 feet or higher needed a fair amount of wooden scaffolding consisting of timber poles tied together using rope.

It may not pass today’s health and safety rules, but building regulations were not top of the considerations at this time.

As the height of the walls grew, a system of pulleys and hoists allowed for the necessary materials to be lifted to where they were needed. The stone was quarried as locally as possible. It was then cemented into place using mortar made from kiln-baked lime, and mixed with sand and water.

Castle walls may also flare out at the base. This helped to spread the load of the additional weight required to build higher stone walls.

Adding the Battlements

Once the castle walls reached their designated height the stone is leveled off. This allowed the design to include additional defensive features. These are centered around the battlements which run along the walls between each connecting tower.

Central to the battlements is the crenelated parapet, which has two main features:

Merlons – upright extensions of the castle wall, offering a castle defender protection from incoming arrows and crossbow bolts. These sections tended to be at least shoulder height.
Crenels – the gaps between the merlons where a castle defender could keep a lookout or fire arrows down at an attacking force. They were spaced out at regular intervals along the parapet.

Opting for Higher Than Average Castle Walls

While castle walls average out at 30 feet tall, there was no rule to say you could not build them higher if so desired. If you had the financial means and the foundations to support them, you could build taller walls to loom over the surrounding country.

Castles were statement buildings. They exuded the power and wealth of their owners. Taller castle walls magnified the imposing nature of this stone ‘beast’. The following are two examples of castles whose walls were at least 10 feet above the average height.

1. Knaresborough Castle

The stone walls at Knaresborough Castle were built to a height of 40 feet.

The castle sits high up on a rocky outcrop in North Yorkshire in England and was a favorite of medieval monarchs. As well as using Knaresborough as his base in the north, King John was particularly fond of its hunting grounds.

However, it was Edward I who rebuilt the castle we see today, including its taller-than-average curtain walls. The castle was important to Edward, the Hammer of the Scots, in his campaigns north of the border. His son Edward II completed the construction during the early part of the 14th century.

Knaresborough is a good example of how advances in weaponry can outpace defensive fortification design. The arrival of more powerful cannons meant tall and thick castle walls could not offer the protection they once did.

In 1644, the Royalist forces holding Knaresborough castle surrendered after the Parliamentary cannons breached part of the curtain wall (source).

Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy visiting castles, most of the curtain wall was taken down four years later. This was to prevent any future use of the castle by the Royalists. However, the grand stone King’s Tower remained and was used as a courthouse and prison.

2. Framlingham Castle

Framlingham upped the ante further by building its castle walls to a height of 44 feet.

These impressive curtain walls connected by 13 towers encircle an inner residence with a rich history. The height and strength of the defensive walls were such that it was felt a stone keep was not required.

Like many castles, the original Norman structure was built from wood. Located in Suffolk, the castle walls that remain today were built in the early part of the thirteenth century.

The original castle was destroyed when its owner, Hugh Bigod, 1^st Earl of Norfolk, rebelled against King Henry II in 1273.

Framlingham became center stage in England’s historic royal dramas during the 16^th century. It was at Framlingham Castle that Mary I was proclaimed Queen after the death of young Edward VI.

The Duke of Northumberland tried to have his daughter-in-law Lady Jane Grey, a protestant like Edward, proclaimed Queen.

However, the Catholic Mary was determined to claim her right as the legal heir to the throne. She took cover behind the huge walls at Framlingham Castle, a property that formed part of her East Anglian estates. Here she gathered her supporters and it soon became clear that Northumberland’s cause was a lost one.

This video illustrates the sheer scale of Framlingham Castle’s towering walls.

Ongoing Castle Design

Castle designers needed to keep updating their designs to offset advances in siege weaponry. They came up with the concentric castle, seen by many as the peak of medieval castle design. Now you did not have just one castle wall to build, but two.

The inner wall was taller than the outer wall to allow archers to fire over the heads of defenders on the lower wall. As the outer wall needed to average at least 30 feet to act as an effective first line of defense, the taller inner wall could be up to 40 feet in height.

A classic example of a concentric design is Beaumaris Castle on the island of Anglesey in Wales. Designed by the renowned castle builder Master James of St George for Edward I, the taller inner wall was constructed to a height of 35 feet.

The space between the two castle walls was called the ‘death hole’. As the name implies, this is not a spot where a besieging soldier wants to get trapped as you were open to fire from all sides. This was not likely to end well.

However, as we have seen with Knaresborough, the advent of ever more powerful cannons spelled the end for castles as effective defensive military fortifications. However tall and thick you built the walls, the cannons could now bring them down.

How Big Is Edinburgh Castle?

Edinburgh Castle is perched high above the Scottish capital on an outcrop of volcanic rock. The castle dominates the skyline, with the city spread out beneath its defensive walls. As you walk up the Royal Mile, the castle looms large ahead, but just how big is Edinburgh Castle?

Edinburgh Castle measures 384,669 sq ft (35,737 sq m), making it one of the largest castles in the UK. It sits 443 ft (135 m) above sea level, providing excellent views over the surrounding area to its defenders in days gone by and its tourists today.

Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified locations in Europe. The castle has evolved since it was first built, with buildings destroyed and added through the centuries. In this article, I will delve into how Edinburgh Castle grew into one of the biggest castles in the UK.

Edinburgh Castle 443 feet above sea level — Edinburgh Castle occupies 334,669 square feet and is 443 feet above sea level

A Prime Defensive Location

The outcrop on which Edinburgh Castle sits is known as Castle Rock (source). The commanding view this site offers has long attracted settlers. There is archaeological evidence pointing to a bronze age settlement on Castle Rock.

With three steep cliffs guarding the approach and fantastic views that allow you to spot any potential foe, Castle Rock offers a prime defensive location. The Romans took advantage of the site and built a fortress and settlement here.

The Romans packed their bags and left Britain for good around 410 AD. By 638 AD, Edinburgh was in the hands of the invading Angles from Northumbria.

They developed the fortress on Castle Rock further. The Viking raids were becoming an increasing problem.

In 1018 AD, Malcolm II regained control of Edinburgh for the Scots, taking advantage of the Angles’ focus on the Viking invaders. By 1093 a royal castle had been established on Castle Rock. Called the Castle of the Maidens, the site was now a politically important location.

The following table offers some perspective on the size of Edinburgh Castle compared to other large castles in the UK and Europe.

Castle	Location	Acres	Square Feet	Square Meters
Malbork	Poland	35.5	1,546,360	143,591
Caerphilly	Wales	30	1,306,800	121,405
Prague	Czech Republic	16.5	718,609	66,761
Windsor	England	13.5	590,239	54,835
Tower of London	England	12	522,720	48,562
Pevensey	England	9.1	396,396	36,826
Edinburgh	Scotland	8.83	384,669	35,737

St Margaret’s Chapel

In 1130 AD, David I began the fortification of Edinburgh Castle, laying the foundations for the castle we recognize today.

However, an equally important part of the design was the new chapel dedicated to his mother, Queen Margaret (source).

The 12^th-century chapel is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. The city has long been fought over. To gain control of the city, the castle was always seen as a must-win location.

Control the castle and you control the city.

Therefore, its strength also became its weakness. The castle has been besieged on 26 occasions, often successfully.

St Margaret’s Chapel is the one building to remain standing throughout the castle’s turbulent history. Scottish royalty has gathered to worship here and the chapel still holds weddings and christenings today.

The Rebuilding of the Castle

Edinburgh Castle became the focus of a battle for supremacy between English and Scottish Monarchs. As a result, the castle walls took a fair old pounding. In 1314, Robert the Bruce ordered the castle’s defensive walls destroyed to hinder any future English occupation of the castle.

David II succeeded his father, Robert the Bruce, to the throne.

In 1360 he began to rebuild Edinburgh Castle. The crowning glory of his design was David’s Tower which took nine years to complete.

Unfortunately, David would not live to witness its completion. Standing 30 meters high, the tower became the heart of this imposing fortress.

Part royal residence, part defensive tower, only a segment of David’s Tower survives today, having been discovered during excavation work in 1912. The bulk of the tower was destroyed under cannon fire during a siege in 1573.

It was later replaced by the Half Moon Battery.

Edinburgh Castle walls — In 1314 Robert The Bruce ordered the destruction of the castle’s walls. They began to be rebuilt from 1360

A Royal Palace Is Added

Edinburgh Castle continued to evolve, often necessitated by the impact of conflict.

By the 15^th century, Edinburgh was the recognized Scottish capital.

King James III of Scotland decided the castle needed a royal residence to reflect this. In 1460 he began work on the castle’s Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace is located in Crown Square within the castle grounds and was originally an extension of David’s Tower. The palace suffered damage during the same siege which saw the downfall of David’s Tower.

This was the Lang siege, a result of Mary Queen of Scots’ ill-fated marriage to the Earl of Bothwell.

The Royal Palace has been the scene of further significant events in Scottish history. James the VI of Scotland, who would also become King James I in London, was born in the Royal Palace in 1566.

The Great Hall

A royal residency worth its salt would not be complete without a Great Hall. Edinburgh Castle boasts one of the finest medieval Great Halls, completed in 1511 during the reign of James IV.

Unfortunately, James did not get to enjoy his hall for long. Being married to Margaret Tudor, the sister of Henry VIII, did not prevent war with the English. James IV perished in 1513 at the Battle of Flodden.

The Great Hall is renowned for its spectacular hammer-beam roof. The hall would have impressed the important guests who dined within its walls. With the addition of the Royal Palace and Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle was becoming a Renaissance royal palace to rival any in Europe.

Charles I was the last monarch to spend the night in Edinburgh Castle. This was on the eve of his coronation as King of the Scots in 1633. After this, the castle reverted back to predominantly military use.

By 1737, the Great hall was a barracks that could hold 312 men.

The Great Hall has since been restored to its former glory and is one of the highlights of a visit to the castle. It serves as a good pointer as to how the castle was evolving and growing in significance during the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

The following video provides an inviting taster of this magnificent hall.

Continual Development

New developments enhanced the castle’s military function.

The Jacobite Risings which began in 1689 prompted further enhancements of the castle defenses.

More men stationed at the castle meant more barrack space. The Queen Anne building was one of the additions to the castle grounds as additional barracks for officers.

The Governors House was added to the castle grounds in 1742 and further barracks in 1799. The castle’s military Governor shared his bright new building with the Master Gunner and the castle’s Storekeeper.

The North wing of the house continues to host a Governor. However, the Governor’s role is a ceremonial one today, the position being reintroduced in 1933 having been abolished during the middle part of the 19^th century.

It is now a Crown-appointed position.

A New Tower and Gatehouse

The castle continued to expand during the latter part of the 19^th century to meet an ever-evolving role.

The Argyle Tower we see today above the portcullis was built in 1880 by the Scottish architect Hippolyte Blanc. This was part of restoration work carried out on the castle during the Victorian era.

Another addition came in 1888 when a new and more striking gatehouse was built. The design was for a more imposing structure than the gatehouse it replaced which dated back to the 17^th century.

Statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were placed on either side of the gatehouse in 1929, symbolic reminders of Scottish history.

The introduction of these statues marked the 600^th anniversary of the death of King Robert the Bruce. The gatehouse and Argyle Tower signal the entrance to the castle as you wander up the Royal Mile. They mark the outer boundary of the castle buildings.

Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

The 100-meter-long esplanade greets visitors to Edinburgh Castle. Being built on a rocky outcrop, the castle offers a single point of access from the East.

The approach is along the famous Royal Mile, with Holyrood palace located at the opposite end of the mile to Edinburgh Castle.

Today the Esplanade is the location of the iconic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

This area just beyond the gatehouse was originally cleared and flattened in 1753 as an area for military drills and training for the castle garrison. It has been altered over time to match the castle’s needs.

Today the esplanade has many plaques and statues for visitors to explore. The esplanade gives you a real feeling of the size and scale of Edinburgh Castle as well as providing great views across the city.

Edinburgh Castle extensions — Edinburgh Castle has grown over the centuries, with significant extensions being made in the 19th Century

Things You Can See Within the Castle Grounds

There is much to see and do for the modern-day visitor to Edinburgh Castle. The Great Hall and the Royal Palace are great attractions, but the following are further must-see highlights.

1. Honors of Scotland

The Scottish crown jewels are the oldest in the UK. They include the crown and scepter used in 1543 for the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots.

These precious treasures have been moved and hidden at least twice to prevent them from falling into the hands of invading armies.

In 1707 they were locked away in a chest within the castle and forgotten, before being found again in 1818. They can be viewed as part of an exhibition in the Crown Room on the first floor of the castle’s Royal Palace.

2. Stone of Destiny

Alongside the Honors of Scotland is the Stone of Destiny, Scotland’s coronation stone.

The stone was central to the coronation of Scottish monarchs for centuries until it was taken to London by King Edward I. Here, it became a part of the coronation ceremony for English monarchs. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 and sits proudly in the Crown Room.

3. Queen Mary Chamber

Mary Queen of Scots opted for the security of Edinburgh Castle to give birth to her son and successor James in 1566.

These were turbulent times, but the castle walls gave brief respite to a pregnant Mary. The bedchamber where she gave birth to the future King of Scotland and England is open to visitors.

4. National War Memorial

Opened in 1927, the National War Memorial commemorates the fallen from the first world war and subsequent conflicts.

Located on the north side of Crown Square, the memorial was created within the old North Barracks building.

5. Mons Meg

This huge siege cannon dates back to the middle of the 15^th century.

Built in Mons in Belgium, it was sent to James II in 1457 to help fight the English. The gun could fire a 150 kg gunstone two miles.

This impressive piece of medieval weaponry is now positioned outside St. Margaret’s Chapel.

6. The One O’Clock Gun

Talking of cannons, Edinburgh Castle is famous for its daily tradition. At one o’clock every day except on Sunday, the 105mm field gun is fired from Mills Battery.

While a great spectacle for visitors today, the daily firing of the gun originally allowed ships to set their maritime clocks. Nowadays it can certainly make you jump if you’re not expecting the boom.

7. The Queen’s Embroideries

Mary Queen of Scots often passed her time in exile sewing embroideries. Replicas of her intricate needlework patterns are presented in the Queen’s Embroideries display in the Royal Palace.

The replicas were created using only techniques and materials of the time.

8. Prisons of War

The castle was also used to hold prisoners of war.

Found in the Dury’s battery, this exhibition recreates the vaults used to house prisoners. Original doors make up part of the exhibition, containing graffiti of names and ships left by prisoners.

9. National War Museum

Opened in 1933, the National War Museum houses a large collection of artifacts, letters, and artworks depicting 400 years of Scottish military history.

The museum is housed in a former storehouse which was also used as a hospital.

Who Lived in Caernarfon Castle? A Full History

Caernarfon Castle is one of the great medieval military fortifications. This magnificent structure in North Wales attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is a place steeped in history, but who has called Caernarfon Castle home through the centuries following its construction?

King Edward I was the first resident of Caernarfon Castle. Constructed to help subjugate the local Welsh population, the castle continued to be a military garrison for many years. Caernarfon Castle remains a Crown property but is now maintained by the Welsh Government’s historic environment service Cadw.

Caernarfon Castle was built at great expense by Edward I. Work commenced in 1283 and the final phase was only completed in 1330. It formed part of the iron ring of castles stretching across the coastal region of North Wales. In this article, I will look at the history of this imposing medieval fortress.

Before the Arrival Of Edward I

Caernarfon was no stranger to invading parties before the English king Edward I conquered Wales.

Caernarfon’s first fortification was a timber-built motte and bailey affair. This was constructed toward the end of the 11th century as the Normans continued their push into Wales.

It was constructed on the orders of Hugh d’Avranches, Earl of Chester. However, ownership of this newly constructed stronghold was short-lived. The town and the fortification were back in Welsh hands in 1115.

Among the early residents were the famed Welsh princes, Llywelyn the Great, and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

A New Castle and a New Royal Resident

The English king, Edward I, rarely missed an opportunity for a slice of symbolism.

Once he had subdued the troublesome Welsh in the north of the country he set about building a series of castles to deter future uprisings. One of these was the imposing Caernarfon Castle, built on the site of the former Norman structure.

Designed by Edward’s castle builder-in-chief, Master James of St. George, Caernarfon became Edward’s administrative capital of North Wales.

Royal apartments befitting the King and his wife Eleanor of Castile were designed within the formidable Eagle Tower.

A New Prince of Wales Is Born

If the castle itself wasn’t enough of a statement of intent, the birth of the future King Edward II at Caernarfon was another powerful signal.

The prince was born on 25^th April 1284, just a year after construction on the castle began (source). He was known as Edward of Caernarfon and was the fourth son of Edward I

However, Edward I had another trick up his sleeve. In 1301, the English king gave the title of Prince of Wales to his son. He was the first English Prince to hold the title. It was more symbolism from the English King.

The castle and the bestowing of the title of the Prince of Wales to his son was the king saying that it is my royal family that rules Wales now.

Caernarfon was not the permanent residence of the English monarchy. The royal family was back in England a few months after the birth of their son, whose next visit was for his investiture as Prince of Wales.

By then he was the heir to the throne, and the tradition of the heir as Prince of Wales has continued.

Temporary Welsh Ownership

For all the power of the English monarchy that the building of Caernarfon Castle exuded, it was never going to deter uprisings completely. The Welsh were used to their independence and fiercely proud.

In 1294, a fresh rebellion broke out under the stewardship of Madog ap Llywelyn.

Caernarfon was top of the list of priorities for the leader of the rebellion.

It was a town and castle which stood for English power. Take it and you could show that the English grip on Wales was not invincible. And take it they did.

The Castle was still under construction at the time and had temporary timber barricades.

Madog ap Llywelyn held ownership of Caernarfon Castle for the best part of a year.

However, there was an air of inevitability about what happened next. Edward I was not going to be best pleased with this new challenge to his authority in Wales.

The English were back in Caernarfon the following year and the castle was back in Edward’s hands by September 1295. Work on the castle was stepped up, rebuilding the areas destroyed by the rebels.

A Military Garrison

Caernarfon Castle was a military defensive stronghold. Therefore, it was permanently garrisoned, with a constable in residence who was usually also the Mayor of the town of Caernarfon.

When the rebels stormed the castle in 1294, they killed the castle’s constable.

The constable and the garrison of between 30 and 40 men maintained the administrative status quo at Caernarfon Castle for the next 200 years.

It was an uneasy relationship between the English and their Welsh ‘subjects’. Now and then it spilled over into open revolt, with the castle a prime target.

The major rebellion of this period occurred at the beginning of the fifteenth century. Led by Owain Glyndwr, it saw Caernarfon Castle besieged in 1401, and again in 1403 and 1404.

The latter sieges were aided by the French. However, the castle was much better prepared than back in 1294 and the castle remained in English hands.

View of Caernarfon Castle from over the river — View of Caernarfon Castle across the River Seiont

Quieter Tudor Period

Just as the Tudor age was a historically significant time in British history, so it was for the fortunes of Caernarfon Castle.

In 1485, Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII, faced off against King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Henry triumphed in what was the last major conflict of the War of the Roses.

Why this was so significant for Caernarfon Castle and the rest of Wales was Henry Tudor’s Welsh ancestral background. He was born in Pembroke Castle in 1457 and never forgot his roots. Indeed, he was proud of his Welsh roots and enjoyed Welsh culture.

Therefore, when Henry Tudor became King Henry VII a thawing of relations between the English and Welsh occurred. Previously, the locals were often discriminated against when it came to administering Wales for English benefit.

Henry VII had no problem with the inclusion of Welsh nationals into administrative positions. The Welsh economy benefited too.

The Castle Falls on Hard Times

As good as this change in royal dynasties was for the relationship between the two countries, it was not so great for Caernarfon Castle.

With hostilities much a thing of the past, the need for a defensive stronghold diminished.

Gradually, without its previously important role, the desire to spend valuable money on the castle’s upkeep diminished as well. The once magnificent fortress began to fall into disrepair.

By the 1660s, the neglect was so bad that the Eagle Tower was one of the few structures which still had its roof intact.

Under Siege Once More

Although Caernarfon Castle was looking a sad sight in places, the main element of a defensive fortification, the castle walls, were still in decent shape. Therefore, when civil war broke out in England, the castle was once more in the firing line.

Caernarfon Castle has always been and still is a property of the Crown.

When war broke out in 1643 between the Parliamentarian forces of Oliver Cromwell and the Royalists loyal to King Charles I, Caernarfon Castle was garrisoned by royalists.

The castle was besieged on three occasions by Parliamentary forces. In 1646 the castle was under the governorship of Sir John, Lord Byron.

Byron was a military commander loyal to the royalist cause. He had recently retreated to Caernarfon from Chester.

Byron surrendered Chester in February 1646 to the besieging Parliamentarian forces surrounding the city. Intense bombardments and starvation had sealed the deal. Unfortunately, Byron would not fare any better at Caernarfon.

Caernarfon Castle was also surrendered to the Parliamentarians by Byron in 1646, who subsequently fled overseas into exile. This episode during the English civil war marked the last time Caernarfon Castle was involved in a conflict.

Its future was once again in doubt.

Further Decline

In 1660, a government order was given to demolish Caernarfon Castle.

The town fortifications were to be removed while they were at it too. However, the order was either retracted or simply never carried out. Historians and lovers of castles have celebrated this reprieve ever since.

Unfortunately, not demolishing the castle didn’t mean it was going to be properly maintained either. Once the Civil War ended, Caernarfon Castle began to follow a pattern familiar in the years before 1643.

The castle continued to decline and fall further into disrepair.

The castle’s neglect lasted for the next couple of centuries. Yet its fame as one of the great Welsh castles never faded away even while the actual structure did.

The ruins became a focal point for visitors as far back as the 18^th century. This was the beginning of the castle as a tourist attraction.

Caernarfon Castle tower — Caernarfon’s interest as a tourist destination began in the 18th century

A Victorian Resurgence in the Castle’s Fortunes

Interest in history continued to grow during Victorian times.

Out of this, the government decided to fund a major restoration of Caernarfon Castle. The man who was tasked with overseeing the work was the castle’s deputy constable, Llewellyn Turner.

Some would say Turner overstepped the mark at times. Others would say the alterations he made were necessary. The controversy at the time was that Turner chose to rebuild and restore rather than simply preserve the castle.

From 1908 as the castle underwent more repairs, the task of saving the castle was handed over to the Office of Works.

Ultimately, visitors today are the lucky ones and can appreciate the determination to restore Caernarfon Castle to its former glory.

Castle Constables Remain to this Day

Throughout this period, Caernarfon Castle has continued to have appointed constables.

Today, this position is largely ceremonial. The constable will be on hand to welcome royals and other VIP guests visiting the castle.

Some famous names have held this position.

The former Prime Minister David Lloyd George was the constable of the castle between 1908 to 1945. The photographer and former husband of Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon, also held this role until his death in 2017.

The current constable of Caernarfon Castle, Edmund Bailey, was appointed in 2018 by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Bailey has been the Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd since 2014.

The following table shows a list of the most recent constables.

Constable of Caernarfon Castle	Held Office Between
John Henry Puleston	?? – 1908
David Lloyd George	1908 -1945
William Ormsby-Gore	1945 – 1963
Lord Snowdon	1963 – 2017
Edmund Bailey	2018 – present

Investiture of the Prince of Wales Returns.

The timing of the repairs to the castle allowed for the return of a significant event. Having the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, as a major proponent helped too.

In 1911 the investiture of the Prince of Wales returned to Caernarfon Castle.

The prince concerned would later become King Edward VIII, before his abdication of the throne in 1936.

Prince Edward donned his ceremonial garb for the public ceremony, although he was officially given the title the year before. The last time Caernarfon Castle witnessed this event was not quite so public, as Edward I introduced the royal title for his son.

Caernarfon Castle once again staged this ceremony in 1969 when Prince Charles was the recipient of the title of Prince of Wales (source). The 20-year-old Prince was under the added scrutiny of the millions watching the event at home on their televisions.

The following footage shows his investiture at Caernarfon Castle.

Transferred to Cadw

The people you will come across within Caernarfon Castle today are mostly the tourists who flock to see its sights.

The Castle can attract over 200,000 visitors every year.

Although still a Crown property, the running of Caernarfon Castle was transferred to Cadw in 1984, the Welsh government’s historic environment service.

The castle is a grade 1 listed structure and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Since the start of construction in 1283, Caernarfon Castle has seen many residents come and go in a chequered history.

Now under the careful oversight of Cadw, this magnificent Medieval fortress continues to see an upward turn in its fortunes.