More photographs of Edinburgh Castle
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The earliest stone buildings are known to be 12th-century. Of
these, St. Margaret's Chapel remains at the summit of the rock. In 1314
the Castle was captured by Randolph, Earl of Moray and he destroyed all
the buildings in the Castle, except for the little chapel.
David II set about rebuilding Edinburgh Castle after the War of
Independence in 1356/7. Construction continued for the next 100 years,
with the area now known as Crown Square being built over vaults
in the 1430s. Royal apartments were built, forming the nucleus of the
later palace block, and a Great Hall was in existence by 1458. In 1464,
the access to the castle was improved, with the current approach road
up the north-east completed.
James IV constructed the present Great Hall by 1511. The round
Constable's Tower was destroyed in the Lang Siege of 1571–73 and the
Portcullis Gate was built to replace it. The Gate was rebuilt in 1584,
and again in 1750 and 1886,
when the upper parts, known as the Argyle Tower, were added. The
Governor's House to the south was built in 1742 as accommodation for
the Governor, Storekeeper, and Master Gunner. West of the Governor's
House, two stores for munitions were built in 1753, on either side
of a courtyard.
