Cathedrals · Scottish Islands
Kirkwall Earl's Palace
In or near Finstown.
Kirkwall Earl's Palace in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
Andy Farrington — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
About
Kirkwall Earl's Palace is a place of interest in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom — drawn from open-data sources for visitor reference. See the linked Wikipedia article for the full description.
Photo gallery
Official information
The Orkney Museum showcases the history of Orkney from prehistoric times to the present, featuring a significant collection of archaeological artifacts. Visitors can explore the Baikie Library and Drawing Room, which reflect the museum's history as a family home, and learn about local traditions and social history through various exhibits.
From the Wikipedia article
The Earl's Palace is a ruined Renaissance-style palace near St Magnus's Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland. Built by Patrick, Earl of Orkney, its construction began in 1607 and was largely undertaken via forced labour. Today, the ruins are open to the public.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The palace was built after Patrick, 2nd Earl of Orkney, decided that the accommodation provided by the Bishop's Palace was inadequate for his needs. Lord Orkney is widely acknowledged to have been one of the most tyrannical noblemen in Scotland's history. He decided to extend the complex by building a new palace on the adjoining land. This was complicated by the fact he did not actually own this property. He quickly acquired it by fabricating charges of theft against the unfortunate owner, trying him and having him executed. Upon his imprisonment at Edinburgh in 1609, his bastard son Robert began a rebellion on his behalf and seized the palace, along with nearby St Magnus's Cathedral and…
Visiting
The palace is currently in the possession of Historic Environment Scotland as a protected scheduled monument. The palace and the nearby Bishop's Palace are closed to the public October 2023 - March 2024 during which time high level masonry inspections are being carried out as part of the building's conservation.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 58.9805, -2.9589
- District
- Orkney Islands
- Postcode
- KW15 1DH
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orkney and Shetland
- Phone
- 01856 873191
- Established
- 1601
- Opening
- Monday to Saturday 10:30am – 5:00pm; closed Jan-Feb
- Official site
- www.orkneymuseums.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q2456165 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Earl's Palace, Kirkwall (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Kirkwall Sheriff Court and Former Police Station, Watergate
Gardens · 0.0 km
Kirkwall
Cathedrals · 0.1 km
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
Cathedrals · 0.1 km
Bishop's Palace
Castles · 0.1 km
Covenanters' Fountain
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Kirkwall and St. Ola War Memorial
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War Memorial, St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
Orkney Museum
Museums · 0.2 km
Orkney Hotel
Hotels · 0.2 km
Paterson Church, School Place, Kirkwall
Historic churches · 0.2 km
St Magnus Cathedral
Cathedrals · 0.2 km
Town Hall, 23 Broad Street, Kirkwall
Historic houses · 0.2 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Kirkwall Earl's Palace?
- Kirkwall Earl's Palace is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode KW15 1DH).
- What is Kirkwall Earl's Palace?
- Kirkwall Earl's Palace in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Kirkwall Earl's Palace?
- Drivers can use postcode KW15 1DH.
- When was Kirkwall Earl's Palace built?
- Built or established in 1601.
- Who owns Kirkwall Earl's Palace?
- Kirkwall Earl's Palace is owned by Historic Environment Scotland.
- How do I get to Kirkwall Earl's Palace?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode KW15 1DH. It sits within the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency.