Clan Rising

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.

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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 explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from Broad Street and Castle Street cornerCurtain wall along Castle StreetHarbour-side frontage where castle met the harbourSite-marker viewpoint on Castle StreetFoundations beneath Castle Street (excavation spot)

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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.

  • Sinclair

    Built by Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, soon after 1379; Sinclairs held and kept the castle into the 16th century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Kirkwall Castle.

Ring of Brodgar, ScotlandAncient siteRing of Brodgar16 km awaySkara Brae, ScotlandAncient siteSkara Brae23 km away

Questions about Kirkwall Castle

What is the history of Kirkwall Castle?

Kirkwall Castle was a 14th-century fortress built soon after Henry Sinclair received the Earldom of Orkney in 1379. Sinclair and Patrick Hepburn were made keepers in 1489, while Sinclair men were involved in control of the castle in the 16th century. In 1614, royal troops forced its surrender during a rebellion, and the Privy Council ordered its demolition.

What is inside Kirkwall Castle?

Kirkwall Castle was built as a stone fortress and had a roofed interior range surrounding an internal courtyard. Its very thick local-stone curtain walls formed a continuous urban frontage, with wall sections documented at roughly 11 feet thick. The castle had no surrounding moat and stood directly beside narrow town streets near the harbour and St Magnus Cathedral.

Why was Kirkwall Castle built, and what was it used for?

Kirkwall Castle was built as a fortress to secure Henry Sinclair’s position after he received the Earldom of Orkney in 1379. It stood in the centre of Kirkwall, close to the harbour, with thick stone curtain walls and an internal courtyard. No later change of purpose is stated in the supplied material.

Where is Kirkwall Castle?

Kirkwall Castle was in Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands. It stood at the corner of Broad Street and Castle Street in the centre of the town, close to the harbour and St Magnus Cathedral. The site is now marked by a plaque on Castle Street, with archaeological foundations beneath the road.

When was Kirkwall Castle built?

Kirkwall Castle was built in the 14th century, with its first construction dated to 1379. Henry Sinclair built it soon after being granted the Earldom of Orkney. The castle therefore belongs to the late 14th century.

Was Kirkwall Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Kirkwall Castle was attacked or occupied on several recorded occasions. James Sinclair’s men took it at Easter 1528, and Edward Sinclair of Strom defended it against an English landing party in August 1557. In 1614, Robert Stewart and his supporters occupied the castle; royal troops led by George Sinclair attacked, and the castle surrendered in September.

Which family or clan held Kirkwall Castle?

The Sinclair family held Kirkwall Castle into the 16th century. Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, built it soon after 1379, and Sinclairs held and kept the castle during that period. Henry Sinclair, 4th Lord Sinclair, was also made a keeper in 1489.

What did Kirkwall Castle look like in its prime?

Kirkwall Castle was a compact stone fortress occupying a corner plot at Broad Street and Castle Street. Its long-running local-stone curtain walls were roughly 11 feet thick in places and formed a solid urban frontage. At its prime, the walls enclosed a roofed interior range and an internal courtyard, without a surrounding moat.

Is Kirkwall Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Kirkwall Castle is demolished and no longer stands as a complete castle. The Privy Council ordered its demolition in 1614, carried out the following year, and the last visible remains were cleared in the 19th century. A plaque marks the site, while foundations have been uncovered beneath Castle Street.

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