|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
| |||||||||
|
|
Stirling CastleOuter Close
At the east side of the close are the late eighteenth century Main Guard House (left) and early nineteenth century Fort Major's House. Beyond these is Elphinstone Tower (right), which was reduced to half it's former height around 1689 so the Three Gun Battery could be formed. At the northern end of the Outer Close is the Grand Battery of 1689 with the seventeenth century Master Gunner's House adjacent to that. Beside the Master Gunner's House are stairs leading down to the sixteenth century Great Kitchens, which served the Great Hall. These were built against the wall on the north east side of the close. The vaults above the kitchen were removed in 1689 to allow a solid base for the Grand Battery to be constructed. In 1921 they were partially re-excavated and reconstructed. Next to the kitchens is the North Gate, the outer part of which dates to 1381 - possibly the earliest visible part of the castle. It was extended inward and heightened on a number of occasions (mostly around 1511-12). This gate leads to the Nether Bailey. The road that passes under the early nineteenth century bridge, connecting the Palace to the Great Hall, leads to the Inner Close. |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Outer Close is the lower of the two principal
courtyards in the castle. This area is dominated by the Palace (to the left, the
south of the close) and the gable end of the Great Hall (to the west). 
