This is one of my favourite places just a couple of miles from home, I have visited many times.
Spynie Palace was for five centuries the residence of the Bishops of Moray. During this time it stood on the edge of Spynie Loch, a sea-loch giving safe anchorage for fishing boats and merchant vessels . A thriving settlement grew up around it. Today, nothing remains to be seen of the medieval town, but the gaunt ruin of Spynie Palace represents one of the largest Surviving medieval bishop's houses in Scotland. The earliest buildings have not survived, the earliest surviving masonry dating from the 14th century. In the 15th century the great tower house known as David's tower after Bishop David Stewart. was built. The picture below shows the great tower.
Click on pictures to enlarge them.
David's tower seen through the trees from the road leading to the Palace.
Due to land drainage over the years this is now all that remains of Spynie Loch. I took this shot from the top of the tower.
A fireplace inside the tower. There were six floors in the tower.
Another view of the inside of the tower.
This is the water gate where goods were unloaded from boats in the loch.
A view from the top of the tower of part of the great hall and the well which would have been in a small well room.
An arch leading into a small chamber in David's tower
The east gate which had a portcullis and two murder holes.
The north range.
South range
The courtyard and part of what once was a chapel
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13 comments:
Amazing to have something like this so close to you.
Why did the bishop live in a tower, I wonder? Status, protection, visibility, vanity . . . or a combination of all of those? Perhaps it was to mimic the bishop's mitre.
This is certainly a good time of year for visiting sites - they're nice and quiet :) The picture of the east gate really appeals to me as the tree trunks are peeping through.
Amazing! Thanks for the tour.
Quite some palace. Fascinating to imagine what the rooms would have been like.
Hi Chris, Don't you just love to go to places like that???? I always sit among the ruins and think about days gone by.... Just think of how vital and how busy Spynie Palace was at one time in history.... Neat post. Thanks!
Hugs,
Betsy
Thanks for taking us along on your visit to another fascinating place. I love the pictures, but I like the history even more. It's hard to envision Spynie Loch as big enough to handle merchant vessels.
i love that ruins, beautiful place and shoots. congratulations.
Murder holes?! Had to Google that one, but now I know. You have shown us spectacular views today, Chris. It would be such a privilege to examine it close like you are able. I can understand why this is one of your favorite places.
By the way, I am tagging you. The info is on my blog if you'd like to play along. =)
http://azindylifeandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/04/ive-been-tagged-whos-next.html
Wow what a fantastic place........
What an amazing structure. I am imagining what it would have been like when it was in use. I love places like this, thank you for the tour.
Is that a fireplace in the tower? Wonderful photographs! What a great place to explore!
Thank you all for your comments. Karen, yes that is a fireplace in the tower. I agree with Betsy Linda and SquirrelQueen, it's great to imagine what it would have been like in the past. Lindy, did you find the murder holes grusome? They were violent times back then and I wouldn't like to have been around then.
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