Kirkwall - Bishop’s Palace

Bishop's Palace is the ruined former bishop's castle and residence in Kirkwall.

The castle was built at the same time as St Magnus Cathedral under Bishop William the Old in the 12th century. After the defeat in the Battle of Largs in 1263, the Norwegian King Håkon IV stayed in the castle and died there. It seems that Bishop's Palace was only used sporadically and the building fell into a ruinous state already by 1320. Bishop Robert Reid took care of the castle in the 16th century. He had the surviving structure restored, extended and added extensions. A large part of the building that remains today dates from this construction phase.