Stirling has appeared throughout the history of Scotland, especially during crucially important events. The city and surrounding area has an amazing selection of spectacular tourist attractions and masses of photographic opportunities. In the following article I introduce 3 places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Old Town Jail, Stirling Castle and Argyll’s Lodging:
Stirling Castle
Situated 250 feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on 3 sides by shear cliffs is Stirling Castle. The castle is immensely important in the history of Scotland, there have been several coronations at the castle, including Mary Queen of Scots coronation in 1543. Stirling Castle was also witness to a horrifying murder in 1452. The 8th Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. The castle is the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, unfortunately no longer stationed there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, can be found inside the castle.
Stirling Old Town Jail
The Stirling Old Town Jail of today is not the original jail, for four hundred years, Stirling’s prisoners were secured in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was seriously overcrowded, and smelt dreadful, with twenty four prisoners per cell, and zero toilet facilities. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, because of the fearful living conditions there, and in 1847 the current jail opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial prison, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military jail in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a tourist attraction, and was only restored in the 1990’s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled elevator that rises to a viewing platform at the very top of the jail. From this superb spot a person is able to look out across the Forth Valley, and enjoy the spectacular view of the Highland mountains.
Argyll’s Lodging
Argyll’s Lodging is found on Castle Wynd, near the center of Stirling and is Scotland’s best existing renaissance mansion. The house was built around 1630, by Sir William Alexander, originator of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who became Secretary of State for Scotland, and was then appointed the 1st Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was extended by the ninth Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, laigh hall, bed chamber and drawing room, have all been superbly furnished and restored, as they would have been when the 9th Earl lived there, circa 1680.
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