Cadzow Castle, in the High Parks of Hamilton, is one of the most spectacular castles in Lowland Scotland. Yet it is so enigmatic that even its original name is lost to us. Teetering on the sheer cliffs high above the River Avon, for most of the last two hundred years the landscaped ruins have been shrouded in trees. The Dukes of Hamilton amplified this air of romantic mystery to create a sublime Gothick ruin as a counterpoint to the pure classicism of Hamilton Palace and their nearby lodge at Chatelherault. With the demise of Hamilton Palace in the 20th century, the ruins of the castle, now in the care of Historic Scotland, stand as a testament to the ambitions of the mighty Hamilton family in the 16th century. Excavations from 2000 to 2003 revealed the complexity of its fortifications as well as its turbulent history, while providing glimpses of a once lavish residence, with tiled floors emblazoned with heraldry, and painted plaster interiors. Cadzow's part in the power politics of 16th century Scotland can now be better understood - a world of courtly pursuits and vicious factional conflicts, of high art and military power, of lordly ambition and high treason. Thanks to its association with one of the most powerful families in Scotland, the history of this innovative and spectacular castle is interwoven with the lives of great men and great events.

The Castle in the Woods: Excavations at Cadzow Castle 2000-2003

History

Ewart, Gordon

Europe

Historic Environment Scotland

The Picts were a sophisticated and powerful people who dominated much of what is now Scotland for hundreds of years, before uniting with the Gaels to form the nation of Alba (later Scotland). Their language has all but disappeared, but their cultural heritage survives, above all in the form of hundreds of incised and carved stones, many marked with their distinctive symbols.  Pictish symbols have provoked much curiosity and prompted many interpretations, some more fanciful than others. They are still the subject of debate among experts.  This extensively illustrated book explores all the available information on the Picts in an appealing, accessible and authoritative way.  It also includes full guides to the important collections of Pictish carved stones at St Vigeans in Angus and Meigle in Perth & Kinross.

The Picts: Including Guides to St Vigeans Museum and Meigle Museum (Discover Scottish History)

Harden, Jill

Shops are an integral part of our everyday life. Over the last 200 years, Scotland's shop owners - from Stranraer to Lerwick - have been renewing, changing and replacing their shop-fronts in an attempt to keep up with the latest fashions in retail architecture. Scotland's Shops embarks on an in-depth investigation of shop development in Scotland. It offers examples of good practice in conservation and makes a strong case for the conservation of shops of all periods, given their significant contribution to the character of our townscapes. There is much to be celebrated in our retail architecture and this book highlights the tremendous variety of architecture and materials which can be found in towns across Scotland.

Scotland's Shops

Lennie, Lindsay

Beautiful full-color official guidebook with historical insights to the castle.

Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland: Official Souvenir Guide)

Historic Scotland

Peter Yeoman

Kirsty Owen

Stirling Palace is one of the finest Renaissance buildings in Britain, begun in about 1538 for the young King James V and his wife, Mary of Guise. This book explores how revolutionary new ideas, coming from Europe and embraced by James and his Court, influenced the creation of this magnificent building. In parallel, Harrison also reveals the details of the major project, begun in 2001, to restore the interiors of the Palace to their former glory.

Rebirth of a Palace: The Royal Court at Stirling Castle

Harrison, John

From the Early Neolithic farm at Knap of Howar to the flamboyant chapel built by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s, the Orkney Islands are amazingly rich in historic and prehistoric sites. At their centre is a cluster of spectacular Neolithic monuments domestic, ceremonial and burial now inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Orkney later became a flourishing Norse centre, with St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall as its striking centrepiece. The palaces of the notorious Stewart earls also survive as a relic of Renaissance grandeur; while later periods have left evidence of industry, war and worship. In this extensively illustrated guide, Orkney-based archaeologist Caroline Wickham-Jones introduces more than 60 monuments in concise and accessible terms, set in context by a brief history of the islands. A site location directory is also included.

Monuments of Orkney: A Visitor's Guide (Explore Scottish Monuments)

Wickham-Jones, Caroline

Skara Brae (Historic Scotland: Official Souvenir Guide)

Ancient Civilizations

From its vantage point overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle dominated the region for centuries. The probable site of a Pictish hill-fort, it may have been the scene for St Columba's reported encounter with a Pictish chief in the 6th century. Around 1230, the Durward family was granted the lordship of Urquhart, and soon built the first castle. Over the next three centuries it was repeatedly remodelled, soon becoming a royal residence. But its strategic position meant it was frequently under attack. Both Edward I of England and Robert the Bruce ravaged it during the Wars of Independence; the MacDonald Islesmen were frequent raiders in the 1400s and 1500s; and the Jacobites laid siege during the Rising of 1689-90. It stands today as a gaunt but handsome ruin in the heart of the Highlands.

Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland: Official Souvenir Guide)

Doune Castle (Historic Scotland: Official Souvenir Guide)

Building Knowledge: An Architectural History of the University of Glasgow

Nick Haynes

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Books by Historic Environment Scotland