Kirkwall Castle
Kirkwall Castle (also King's Castle) was a 14th-century stone fortress in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, built soon after 1379 and deliberately demolished by order of the Privy Council in 1614–1615. Its stones were later reused in town buildings and the last visible ruins were removed in the 19th century; the site is now marked by a plaque on Castle Street and archaeological foundations have been uncovered beneath the road.
First raised
1379
Its prime
1600
Today
Demolished
As it stood in 1600
What Kirkwall Castle looked like in its prime.
A compact 14th–century stone fortress occupying a corner plot at Broad Street and Castle Street within the town of Kirkwall, built of long-running masonry curtain walls of local stone, with very thick wall sections (documented at roughly 11 feet thick) forming a continuous urban frontage; no surrounding moat, directly abutting narrow town streets and lying close to the harbour and St Magnus Cathedral; at its prime the walls formed a solid, roofed interior range and an internal courtyard.
Its story
The story of Kirkwall Castle.
Kirkwall Castle, also known as King's Castle, stood at the corner of Broad Street and Castle Street in the centre of Kirkwall. Henry Sinclair, who held the Earldom of Orkney from King Haakon VI of Norway, built the castle soon after being granted the earldom in 1379. In May 1489 Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair, and Patrick Hepburn, 1st Earl of Bothwell, were both made keepers of the castle and granted administrative offices in Orkney.
In 1528 William Sinclair, 5th Lord Sinclair, complained that James Sinclair's men had taken the castle at Easter, and at the time of the Battle of Summerdale relatives of James Sinclair were said to have been captured at Kirkwall Castle and executed. In the early 17th century, amid Earl Patrick Stewart's feud with Laurence Bruce, Sheriff of Shetland, Robert and his supporters occupied the castle along with the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces and St Magnus Cathedral, until George Sinclair, 5th Earl of Caithness, led royal troops against the rebels and the castle surrendered in September.
The Privy Council had the castle deliberately demolished in 1614–1615. Its ruins stood until 1742, when James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, granted the stones to the Town Council to build a new town house and jail; the last visible remains were cleared in the 19th century, and the site is now marked by a plaque on Castle Street, with foundations uncovered beneath the road.
Step inside
5 places to explore in 1600.
The record describes 5 distinct spots at Kirkwall Castle — including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Kirkwall Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1600 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Kirkwall Castle.
The families that held Kirkwall Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Built by Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, soon after 1379; Sinclairs held and kept the castle into the 16th century.
Nearby
