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History

From Peel to Palace: The History, Form and Function of Castles in Scotland

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

This course explores Scottish castle building, from duns and brochs to large castles, palaces, tower houses and Renaissance reconstructions, later castellated mansion houses and modern day rebuilding. We will consider a variety of source material, including maps, folk tales and legends. An afternoon field trip will be offered as the final session.

Please note, this course takes place in the National Museum of Scotland (meet at the Information Desk in the entrance hall) and includes a field trip in East Lothian.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Introduction: architectural terms, written sources, use of maps, place names, functions.

2. Duns, brochs and crannogs: definitions, structure, building materials, location.

3. Early castles - 11th-13th centuries, features, motte & bailey, castles of enceinte, Norse towers.

4. Middle castles: 12th century onwards, keeps and larger castles, land ownership.

5. Palaces: royal, ecclesiastical.

6. Tower houses: 15th-17th centuries, Renaissance reconstructions.

7. Decline of castle, rebirth of castellated mansions: 18th-19th centuries, mansion houses, additions to old castles, complete new build, abandonment, 20th-century renovations.

8. Architects and designers: Bryce, Wallace, Mylne, Lorimer, gardens, par terres, avenues, vistas.

9. Ghosts and hauntings: folk tales and legends associated with castles.

10. Field trip in East Lothian.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture-based with class discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Understand architectural terms related to Scottish castles;

  • Explain and analyse the different functions of 'castles', and identify the different forms;

  • Distinguish between phases in castle building;

  • Engage critically with a variety of original sources.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

  • Coventry, M., 4th edition, 2006. Castles of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn.

  • Tabraham, C., 1997. Scotland's Castles. London: Batsford.

Recommended:

  • MacGibbon, D. & Ross, T., 1887-92. The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland. (5 vols). Edinburgh: David Douglas; facsimile version published 1990, Edinburgh: Mercat Press.

  • Tranter, N., 1986 The Fortified House in Scotland. (5 vols). Edinburgh: Mercat Press.

Web Sources

http://maps.nls.uk/scotland/index

http://maps.nls.uk/pont

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.