Eric Stair-Kerr

Stirling Castle Eric Stair-Kerr

This illustrated book contains the history of Stirling Castle in Scotland, a place famous for its beautiful design, for accommodating various royals and for its decisive role in Medieval wars.

The author tackles the various facets of Stirling Castle's history, beginning with how the site of the building was selected for its geography. The rugged, hilly landscapes were considered ideal for defensive structures - the County of Stirling was the site of several decisive battles between the Scots and the English. The strenuous efforts of King Edward I, who sought to subdue Scotland just as he had subdued Wales, resulted in Stirling Castle becoming an emblem of Scottish strength and resistance.

Significantly, the great fort was chosen as the birthplace for royal children, with James VI being the last monarch of Scotland to choose Stirling Castle for this purpose. Following the 17th century, and with gunpowder rendering its defenses obsolete, the castle's military purpose ceased and it became instead a monument to Scotland's history and culture. The concluding chapters of this book note the presence of Stirling in poetry, and the fact it accommodated many distinguished guests. The architecture and design of the fort is detailed along with drawings, allowing the reader the greatest comprehension.