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Edinburgh CastleUpper Ward
The Foog's Gate, also known as the Foggy Gate, was built in the 17th century as the main entrance from the Middle Ward, replacing the Lang Stairs. The walls on either side of the gate were built during the reign of Charles II. The two buildings to the left of the gate were built to hold water tanks.
Beyond the chapel is the Forewall Battery, which was built in the 1540s and was substantially reconstructed after the Lang Siege. Further along is the Half-Moon Battery, which was built after the Lang Siege over and around the ruin of David's Tower. This tower was named after David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, and stood over 30m/100ft high. It provided three storeys of royal accommodation – a ground floor vaulted strong room, a first-floor reception hall and a second-floor bedchamber. Only the ground floor now remains following the tower being destroyed during the Lang Siege. The Royal Palace was originally built as an extension to David’s Tower. Between the Forewall and Half-Moon Batteries is the Fore Well, which provided the main water supply for the Upper Ward from the early 14th century. The well was 34m/110ft deep, but only the bottom 3m/10ft actually held any water giving it a capacity of just 11,135 litres/2,240 gallons – barely enough to sustain a garrison in siege time. The well was replaced by a piped water supply in the 19th century. |
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The Upper Ward of
Beyond
these, and the building that now acts as a shop, is St. Margaret’s Chapel.
This is the oldest building in the castle, and possibly Edinburgh, which
was built by David I as a private chapel for the royal family and dedicated it
to his mother, Margaret, who died in the castle in 1093. It was probably once
part of a larger building – the rubble masonry at the front differs from the
squared blocks around the other three sides. Inside, the chapel is divided into
two by a chevron arch – the apsidal chancel at the eastern end houses the altar
and the rectangular nave for the royal family's use. The chapel passed out of
use in the 16th century and was converted into a gunpowder store. The
stone-vaulted ceiling dates from that time, but the original purpose was
rediscovered in 1845 and the chapel was restored to its present condition.
In
front of the chapel is Mons Meg, a medieval siege gun that weighs over 6000kg –
about 6 tons. It was one of a pair of guns presented by Duke Philip of Burgundy
to his niece's husband, James II, in 1457. Originally called Mons, after the
town where it was made in 1449, the gun was the leading edge of artillery
technology, firing gun stones weighing 150kg/330lbs, and designed chiefly to
make a loud noise to frighten the enemy.
The
platform on which Mons Meg stands looks down onto the Dog Cemetery – the burial
place for regimental mascots and officers’ pet dogs since the 1840s.
