The DiCamillo Companion - Database: History, Gardens, Movies

Holyroodhouse (Palace of Holyroodhouse)
Edinburgh
Scotland

History

Earlier House(s) / Building(s)

House Replaced By

Built / Designed For

House & Family History

According to legend, David I founded the Palace as an Augustinian monastery in 1128. In 1501 James IV built a Palace for himself and his bride, Margaret Tudor (sister of Henry VIII) on the site of Holyroodhouse; today only a fragment of the gatehouse from that Palace is extant. James V added a large Tower between 1528 and 1532, and a new west front between 1535 and 1536. Mary, Queen of Scots lived at Holyroodhouse from 1561 to 1567 and married two of her husbands in Holyrood Abbey. In the Tower Apartments Mary witnessed the murder of her secretary, David Rizzio. Oliver Cromwell's troops were billeted at the Palace during the Civil War and it consequently experienced significant damage. Charles II was crowned in Scotland and started a significant campaign to rebuild and repair the Palace. Bonnie Prince Charlie occupied Holyroodhouse and held court at the Palace during his attempt to reclaim the throne. Charles Philippe, Count of Artois, later King Charles X of France, spent time at Holyroodhouse in 1795 and in 1830, after his abdication as King of France. Queen Victoria brought back the practice of the monarch staying in Holyroodhouse after her purchase of Balmoral Castle in the Highlands. George V and Queen Mary, installed electricity, bathrooms, and generally brought the Palace into the modern world. The State Apartments contain important plasterwork ceilings, a fine Grand Staircase, carved woodwork, tapestries, and many extraordinary paintings. The Great Gallery of Holyroodhouse is decorated with 89 of the original 110 Jacob de Wet portraits of the real and legendary kings of Scotland, from Fergus I to Charles II. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the Queen's official residence in Scotland (Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace are the monarch's official residences in England) and sits today at the end of the Royal Mile, surrounded by beautiful grounds.

Collections
This field lists art objects that are currently or were previously in the collection of the house.

For information on the history of British currency, click here. To use a chart that allows you to compare the purchasing power of money in Great Britain from 1264 to any other year, including the present, click here. To use a currency conversion to see the current value of the British pound, click here.

In 2002 a new Queen's Gallery at Holyroodhouse will open, displaying graphic art from the Royal Collection, including many Old Master drawings, watercolors, and prints from the Print Room at Windsor Castle.

Comments

Gardens & Park top

Garden, Park, Follies and Outbuildings

The grounds contain the ruins of Holyrood Abbey.

Chapel & Church

Movies top

Location for Movies / TV

"A History of Britain" (2000 - TV documentary series).