Over the centuries many people have been inspired to write descriptions of Stirling Castle. Among them was Helen Graham, daughter of General Samuel Graham, the lieutenant governor in the early 19th century. For many years the castle was her home. These are two passages from her diaries and quotes from other visitors:

“… when we came in sight of the vale of Stirling, its amphitheatre of mountains and tall castle towering in the middle of that vale, the evening lights played beautifully on its ancient walls, we all with one consent agreed that go where we might a more beautiful scene we could not behold.”
Helen Graham, Monday, April 11th, 1825.

“A complete November fog today. And one might have fancied this a house on a rock in the middle of the sea or an island in the Pacific Ocean, such a mist was on the vale beneath us and nothing was to be seen from the windows, but a dripping jackdaw now and then, or the tops of some bushes in the garden.”
Helen Graham, Tuesday, November 2nd, 1824.

“… the castle is built on a rocke very lofty, and much beyond Edenborough castle in state and magnificence, and not much inferiour to it in strength, the roomes of it are lofty, with carved workes on the seelings, the doors of each roome being so high, that a man may ride upright on horseback into any chamber or lodging.”
John Taylor, 1618. Quoted in The Mental Feast of Pure Delight, by Robert Ritchie.


“brilliant clear day – valley of the forth. mist rising from it. Smoke from cottages … sun here & then lost – then gleaming again – Castle high above me on crags – crows and choughs wheeling round it – cool morning breeze – smoke wreathing up from thatchd cottages – cocks crowing – twittering of birds – reapers in distant fields mostly women – Old men take their morning walk around the castle rock.”
Washington Irving, 1817. Quoted in The Mental Feast of Pure Delight, by Robert Ritchie.

If you have read any good descriptions of the castle let us know – or if you want to write one of your own we’d love to see it. Email Nicola.McCrae@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

The Mental Feast of Pure Delight, by Robert Ritchie, is a booklet containing a variety of historical quotations about Stirling and its castle which is available from libraries throughout the district and costs £3.50. Orders from further afield should be directed to Carol-Ann Cattigan on 01786 432385 or at cattiganca@stirling.gov.uk.

It’s not everyday you get a fierce eagle and a lion in the same room – especially in the company of a rampant unicorn. But that’s heraldry for you! I’m leading a small team of ladies who are making superbly embroidered cloths of estate carrying the coat of arms of Mary of Guise, the young widow of James V, who lived in the royal palace at Stirling Castle.

Recently we brought together the elements of one of the cloths for the first time. It was stunning – the central shield with its great red lion had been made by Mary McCarron from South Lanarkshire, the eagle and unicorn by Eileen Rumble from near Dundee and the royal crown, stitched with pearls, by Liz Boulton of Cumbernauld.

It’ll take a full year to make both the cloths – which will hang in the queen’s chambers when the palace reopens next Easter. And when you see the exquisite craftsmanship, and realise that the larger will be 1.5m high, you start to understand why. The ladies use a lot of traditional materials, which can also add to the time. Heraldry demands a lot of sparkly gold, so in keeping with ancient practice, the ladies were sewing using metal wire. That’s far from easy.

What’s more everything has to be accurate. I put together the original designs, all of which had to be approved by Scotland’s Lord Lyon King of Arms, to be sure the heraldry was spot on. Despite having to keep to the designs, there is a lot of artistry involved in the embroidery. Eileen spent a long time judging exactly how to place the eagle’s eye. Just like painting a portrait, the tiniest alteration can transform the effect. Palace visitors will, I’m sure, have the very spooky feeling that Eileen’s eagle is staring at them no matter where they stand in the room.

I hope that if Mary of Guise were to revisit the palace she would be pleased by the cloths of estate. Bright, strong and showy – they are truly in keeping with the tastes of the time. After all your heraldry was there to impress, leaving guests in no doubt that you were very important. In some ways it all seems very alien, having mythical beasts and crowns and other symbols to announce who you are. On another level, in our celebrity-obsessed era, it should be very familiar. Just think of it as marketing – having a trademark look – your own personal brand.

Emeritus Professor Malcolm Lochhead of Glasgow Caledonian University is a leading textile artist.

See and read about the palace project

● See our new four-minute mini-movie about the palace project at www.youtube.com/historicscotlandtv.

● Read about the craftsmen and women who are helping recreate the palace interiors in the online version of Heritage Homes magazine at www.heritagehomesmag.co.uk/comp.html.

Pipers at the gates, jousting in the garden, a children’s orchestra in the Great Hall and the launch of our very own movie. We’re busy at the moment. Last week we had an excellent free event called Medieval Mayhem. Costumed performers taught kids some basic tournament skills in the Queen Anne Gardens. The youngsters were armed with lances (bendy and blunt), donned helmets (cardboard) and charged across the lawns (not a horse in sight) at special targets. It’s amazing what a few props and a young imagination add up to. They came away with their eyes shining. For five minutes they really had been medieval knights – for fans of 70s British children’s TV, it reminded me of Mr Benn and the magic shop where he tried on outfits and was transported to another time or place for an adventure.

 Visitors also love our young pipers, Joss Bryson (13) and Stewart Reid (18), of the Balaklava Pipe and Drum Band, who are providing top entertainment with popular favourites like Scotland the Brave. They not only sound good, they look splendid, kitted out in full Highland uniforms. They’re around each Monday, Wednesday and Friday until the end of August if you want to catch them.

If you were watching the BBC Scotland evening news last week you might have seen The Big Noise making their Stirling Castle debut in the Great Hall. It was quite something – schoolchildren from the recently regenerated Raploch estate, below the castle walls, who have formed a classical orchestra. The project is the first of its kind in the UK and was inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema movement. It’s such a hit that learning an instrument is now just about the norm in Raploch with eight out of 10 eligible children taking part.

We have also launched our own four-and-a-half-minute internet mini movie. The star of the show is the royal palace, and it’s an excellent chance to get a glimpse of what’s going on in our £12 million project to return it to its Renaissance magnificence. To take a look just click on www.youtube.com/historicscotlandtv. 

Gillian MacDonald, Executive Manager