Linlithgow Palace Revisited
I’ve renewed my membership for Historic Scotland which means I now have free entry into Linlithgow Palace. When I visited last year I walked around the grounds which is free, but this time I took the car all the way in and parked up in the grounds and spent time wandering around the inside of the palace itself. It had closed for awhile after the pandemic due to concerns around the stonework, and although a fair bit is still under scaffolding, the palace is back to welcoming folk again.
I was excited to climb the stairs all the way to the highest point of the palace and enjoy the amazing view of the grounds and loch. This is a highlight for me and if you can handle heights it’s well worth the effort. I was fortunate the weather was still bright and sunny which is has been for awhile now in Scotland, and at certain points inside the palace the sun’s rays were streaming in, adding a certain sparkle to the ancient stonework.
I took a great many photographs, and have chosen to feature what is known as the Kings Fountain for this blog. Built by James V in 1536-38, this highly ornate octagonal fountain takes centre stage in the courtyard and is the main feature you come across upon entering the palace. It is the oldest surviving fountain still in its original location in the United Kingdom. It is over sixteen feet high, with water piped up to the crown on top, from where it cascaded into a number of bowls and spouted out through various carvings, including human heads. Mermaids and Unicorns feature in the many figures and symbols that make up the carvings on display. Apparently when Bonnie Prince Charlie visited in 1745, the fountain was made to flow with wine. It was restored between 2000-2005, and although water can flow through it once more, it is turned off to prevent the risk of the stonework eroding. I hear the water only runs on Sundays in July and August so hopefully when I visit next time it coincides with one of those dates. In the meantime there is a good YouTube video of the fountain in action.