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An important milestone in history
The castle or palace of Scone (Scone Palace) is an amazing place. It occupies an important milestone in the history of all of Scotland as it was here that 42 coronations of Scottish kings took place and the walls of this luxurious palace have repeatedly met great people.
The Palace was built in the 12th century by monks, but the history of this place begins much earlier. The ancient Picts founded the capital of their kingdom here. The followers of Saint Colombo christianized the local Picts with the subsequent establishment of a monastic community in the 4th century and the next important event was the assignment of Scone, the title of the capital of Northern Scotland. This was done by the king of the Scots who defeated the local Picts. From that time on all Scottish kings would be crowned in this place.
Scone became a centre of religious life in the middle ages when a Catholic abbey was established here. Only fragments of ruined walls and an old cemetery remain today as the abbey was burnt down in 1559.
Scone Palace has been completely rebuilt twice during its existence – in the 16th and 19th centuries. The current palace is an embodiment of Georgian gothic and is residential – it is home to the Earls of Mansfield who are related to the current King. The family occupies the first and third floors while visitors and tourists can visit other rooms and stroll through the magnificent park which surrounds the walls of the palace.
History of the Stone of Destiny
The famous Moon Hill lies in front of Scone Castle. An old legend says that it was formed as a result of everyone who came to the palace for the coronation of the monarch, bringing a handful of earth from their homeland and leaving it here. As a result a mound of quite impressive size was formed. The hill is crowned by a small chapel located on the site of a former church which was completely destroyed by the Protestants. In front of the entrance to the chapel is a famous historical landmark with a unique, sometimes mystical history – the Stone of Destiny on which all the kings of Scotland have been crowned.
The stone at the entrance to the chapel is a replica of the original artefact. The fate of the real stone is a mystery. There are many different hypotheses about where the stone first appeared in Scone. Tradition says that this stone served as a pillow for the biblical patriarch Jacob when he had a dream about a ladder leading to heaven – the first prophecy indicating the coming of Christ to Earth.
Another version is that Ramses II’s daughter, Scotia came to this land after wandering around the world for a long time where she decided to stay and chose King Gatela as her husband. From their marriage came the Picts and Scots and the land was named after the beautiful princess. Scotia transported this stone which began to be used at the coronation ceremony of rulers.
There are many other versions, but one thing is known – the stone was always kept in the church and was taken out only when the next monarch was crowned. For this ceremony the Stone of Destiny was covered with beautiful embroidered material, after which the king was seated upon it. The stone indicated the authenticity of the monarch. If an impostor sat on it, then loud, ringing sounds came from the stone, foreshadowing deception.
The Stone of Destiny was captured by King Edward I in 1296 and taken as a trophy to Westminster Abbey. The relic remained there for 700 years until Scottish students stole it and took it back to Scotland. The Stone of Scone was found and returned to the Abbey in 1951 and from 1996 to this day, the location of the Stone of Scone is Edinburgh Castle.
Palace Decorations
Modern Scone Castle, rebuilt at the insistence of the 3rd Earl of Mansfield in 1803 by the architect William Atkinson, is famous for its halls which preserve the memory of the presence of monarchs and the rulers of Scotland.
The Octagon opens up to the eye upon entering the Castle – a hall in the Gothic style, shaped like an octagon. After passing through it we find ourselves in the Royal Room where Charles II spent the night in 1651 before ascending the throne.
Next comes the Dining Room where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dined in September 1842 when they stopped at Scone Castle on their way to the Highlands. The furnishings in this room are elegant, austere and laconic. The room contains a wealth of porcelain and bronze pieces and the interior is decorated in a soft pink palette.
The Drawing Room is striking in its magnificence. It was designed in honour of the second Earl of Mansfield who was a diplomat and represented the interests of the British Embassy at the court of Louis XVI. Many of the items that are found in the room today were brought here directly from Versailles. One of the most famous is the desk at which Marie Antoinette wrote her letters. The walls of the room are decorated with large portraits of monarchs George III, Queen Charlotte and counts, etc.
A luxurious library, an attribute of British palace architecture, is, of course, also present in Scone Castle. The room with high shelves, a fireplace and an oak table in the Gothic style makes a vivid impression.
The castle also contains the longest room in Scotland, the 45-metre long Long Gallery which houses antiques and antiquities.
One cannot fail to mention the Lennox Hall where on the walls one can see carpets embroidered by the hands of Mary Stuart herself. The Queen embroidered them while imprisoned in the fortress of Loch Leven.
Surroundings of the palace
It is fascinating and pleasant to explore the territory surrounding the walls of Scone Castle. Going outside, guests are greeted by a gate which was built in the 16th century. After passing through it, the road forks: the path to the right leads to the old cemetery, to the left – the “Wild Garden”. The garden is home to amazing trees such as the oldest yew in Scotland, shrubs and flowers, the scent of which spreads throughout the area and intoxicates walkers.
The Castle grounds also feature a labyrinth built from hedges or more precisely beech trees with a fountain in the centre. The labyrinth is shaped like the heraldic Murray star. It is interesting for both adults and children to walk through it.
A trip to Scone Castle in Scotland is a great opportunity to spend time in a cosy, picturesque place that is steeped in history and the spirit of kings. A walk through the halls of the palace, decorated with beautiful furniture, paintings, porcelain and other works of art will give you visual pleasure and a lot of pleasant emotion.
