The ruins of the Earl’s Palace in Birsay, are a mere shadow of a grand reformation residence that once stood oppressively over the local Orcadians.

Around 1565, Robert Stewart, the illegitimate son of James V, was granted rule of Orkney and Shetland by Mary, Queen of Scots. Built around 1574, he built his pretentious main residence in Birsay.

Facing North west from the central courtyard

Various inventories and descriptions lay testament to the lavish interiors and sumptuous decor of the rooms that went hand in hand with the pain and suffering brought about the Orcadian people by their unjust and tyrannical ruler.

Dominating the village and shore of Birsay, the building was constructed around a central courtyard and well.  Being part fortress, part residence, three large towers flanked its walls with gun holes along the ground floor.

The first floor had large sumptuous rooms with a stunning gallery in the west wing.  The ceilings were elaborately painted with biblical scenes.

According to the inscription above the entrance, the work was started in 1574, with the great hall and beside it, Lord Robert’s private chamber.

The West Gallery

It is thought that the second phase may have taken place after Lord Robert acquired the Earldom in 1581. A great hall and chamber were added on the north side of the courtyard.

After the death of Earl Robert, later Earls only paid scant attention to this dwelling and writings indicate that it was falling into ruin by 1701.

Presence

Walking around the ruins, it is hard to imagine how lavish and extravagant this place would have been. However, it’s presence is out of keeping with the rest of the landscape and it would have been a very imposing structure in it’s day.

Visiting

In Birsay on the A966.
Grid reference – HY 248 277.
Access – Free of Charge

More Information

Birsay Heritage Trust

Robert Stewart – First Earl of Orkney - Undiscovered Scotland

Historic Scotland – Places to visit

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The Orkney Heritage Society are making 2010 the Year O Orkney Dialect. They aim to raise awareness of the rich heritage reflected in the dialect and encourage its use in everyday life.

History of Orkney Dialect
The Orkneyjar website has some excellent information on old Orkney dialect and explains that;

“For almost 950 years – from approximately 800AD until the middle of the 1700s – the spoken language in Orkney was a variant of Old Norse known as Norrœna or Norn.
Remnants of this now extinct language can still be clearly heard in today’s Orcadian dialect – a dialect shot through with Norse words and turns of speech”.

Orkney Dialect Competition
Whit like? 2010 is noo officially the Year o Orkney Dialect!  As part o this, wur runnan a poetry competition, details o which you kin fiind on this website.

If you are interested in aalso runnan sometheen as part o the Year o Orkney Dialect, then please get in touch, as a calander of events is being compiled.

Quite a bit of local interest has already been shown in this project, with Stromness Primary School creating a word waal where the children can see and learn to use dialect words in everyday speech.

If you have an interest in the old dialect words of Orkney (and Shetland), then the free downloadable ebook above will be of interest to you.

If you’re a bit more academically minded, then why not give the “Orkney Dialect for Beginners” evening class a go!

More information

Orkney Heritage Society
Year O Orkney Dialect on Facebook
Orkneyjar - Find out lots more information about the Orkney Dialect
Scots Language Centre - The network for Scots languageSimilar Posts:

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