So, the XVIII century has come. The wind of change has blown up to Sterling. During the Jacobite uprisings, the castle (for the umpteenth time!) Is hastily put in order, but not all, but partially. But these measures did not take into account the historical peculiarities of Sterling, no matter how hard they tried to "comb" it and bring the look of the castle to their vision of the countless "owners" of the fortress.
Old and new: Sterling Castle (front) and modern wind turbines behind it on the hillside.
In 1746 the castle garrison repelled the last Jacobite attack. A 30-year lull reigned. The long-suffering castle began to decline again (and in the literal sense of the word too). In 1777, the ceilings in the royal chambers collapsed. Made of oak, they seemed to last forever. Alas! They did it easier with interior decorations: part of the decor was simply plundered.
Another ten years passed, and in 1787 Robert Burns arrived here. "Piit", who came to an indescribable delight from the architecture of the castle and from the sight of the surroundings framing the "pearl", was shocked by the deplorable state of the fortress. With a dejected look, Burns examined the destroyed buildings, looked with bitterness at the Great Hall, which stood forlornly without a roof. But after all, kings once lived in it, the Scottish parliament sat, magnificent receptions were held. There was nothing left … Burns thought it was significant and meant, apparently, the beginning of the end of the Stuart family.
The castle moat and the bridge above it.
The treasury was constantly short of money to repair the castle. Probably, it was just that lucky chance, thanks to which they did not have time to interfere in the unique architecture of Sterling and remake it according to the building canons of the 18th-19th centuries. During the wars of Napoleon Bonaparte, the serf quarters were housed by a regiment of highlanders led by the Duke of Argyll (later the duke's military formation was called Highlanders of Argyll and Sutherland). Most of the castle was adapted for barracks, including the Great Hall, the Palace and the Chapel. Since 1881, the regiment's headquarters was located in the castle, and the regiment itself was located in the fortress until 1964.
In the 19th century, the great Sterling was remembered in Great Britain.
In 1849, Queen Victoria paid a visit to the fortress, and what Her Majesty saw shocked to the core. Ruined, having lost its face, grandeur and former gloss, "tortured" by the military guests, poorly versed in historical and cultural values, the unfortunate castle needed immediate restoration. However, the quick repairs were not destined to take place …
There are cannons on the bastions …
The misadventures of the castle did not end there. In 1855, a terrible fire breaks out in Sterling, which destroys part of the Old Royal House. Robert Billings, a very famous architect at that time, was invited to restore it. After carefully examining the premises, walking through the halls and looking into every corner of the former royal chambers, Billings decides to begin work on the restoration. The first in the restoration plans was the Great Hall, in which in the 18th century 12 rooms were piled up from one hall, and in the end, nothing remained of its former splendor. But the plans were just plans. Only a hundred years later (!) The work was completed.
They seem to be ready to open fire on the town located below, but their cast-iron gun carriages raise some doubts in me personally. Most likely, they are "of the wrong system."
Sterling did not ignore the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII. In 1906, he finally made an attempt to rid the castle of the presence of the military, he successfully succeeds, and this became a turning point in the life of the fortress. Sterling turns into a museum.
Aerial view of the modern castle. Drawing.
In 1921, the kitchen was dug up and partially restored. Once upon a time, in 1689, the arched ceilings were demolished here for the artillery battery under construction at the top. The unlucky builders of the past could not know what such liberty would result in the reconstruction of the castle. As a result … the kitchen was dug up by archaeologists from the future.
The castle is, of course, fully fortified. It is now clear why he withstood more than eight sieges.
But today this room is one of the most interesting places in the entire castle. The atmosphere of the 16th century cuisine has been revived here. The interior, kitchen utensils, wax figures of cooks, cooks, cooks and even cats and dogs that seem alive in the semi-darkness - everything is so realistic that it would never occur to you to doubt that these are now just inanimate exhibits of the museum. It seems that the whole kitchen is busy with its own business, the work is in full swing in the literal and figurative sense: here they put dough on the dough, take out fragrant bread from the oven, someone furiously pluck a bird; and on the table a nimble red-haired cook poured milk, and a holiday came for the cat: no one drives her off the table, but on the contrary, he helps, if only the stern cook would not notice the mistake and give the boy a slap …
Big hall.
By 1964, the Scottish regiments had left Stirling, and only then the restoration work began at full speed in the castle. The Royal Chapel was restored, the fortress walls were "patched up", the Great Hall was finally put in order, which, as we already know, Jacob IV built for all sorts of solemn occasions. And in 1999, the grand opening of the renovated Great Hall took place, and Queen Elizabeth II was also present at the celebration. Further, according to the plan, to return to its former form the royal chambers of His and Her Majesty Jacob V and Maria de Guise. The restorers decided to bring the furnishings of the bedrooms as close as possible to the form in which they were in 1540. And since the rooms of most castles of that time were decorated with tapestries, it was decided to do the same in Sterling. For this purpose, weaving workshops were organized in the castle, away from prying eyes. In workshops equipped with the latest technology, using the latest technologies, tapestries of the past era are recreated here, but … taking into account the weaving technologies of the 16th century. Thus, a whole series of the famous 15th century tapestries "The Hunt for the Unicorn" was revived.
The coffered ceiling is simply beautiful, as are all the recreated interiors of the castle with tapestries on the walls.
The castle was revived and played in all its splendor. The former dungeons have miraculously turned into cozy cafes and souvenir shops, which cannot but delight visitors to Sterling.
It was decided to give the upper floors of the castle to the military museum.
And now here you can see such gallant guards in skirts.
The castle, as befits a real medieval castle, has its own secrets, secret places and … ghosts. And where can we go without them? After all, this is a real castle! So, on the territory of Sterling there is a courtyard called the Lion's Den. According to legend, a lion once lived in this courtyard, which Jacob V brought from France.
Visitor center selling tickets to the castle.
They also say that the oldest part of the castle, where the Great Hall is located, the Old Building of King James IV, and the Royal Chapel are still inhabited. And it is not the courtyard people, not the builders and not the guards who live here. In the numerous passages of the ancient castle, one often sees the ghost of a soldier of those ancient times. No one knows what this lost soul is looking for in the corridor labyrinths. There is one more disembodied "guest" of the castle, the so-called Green Lady. Rumor has it that this is the ghost of the maid who, at the cost of her life, saved Mary Stuart during the fire. It is said that the appearance of a ghost portends a catastrophe or fire.
Modern Sterling. That's how they live there. Just like centuries ago. In some houses, sinks and bathtubs still do not have faucets - this was the custom before, but there are corks on chains to pour water into the sink and wash. Why change something if it already serves ?!
Ancient cannons still stand on the powerful walls of the castle, which, it seems, until now reliably protect the fortress from the enemy. A beautiful view of the Fort River, the ancient Church of Hollirud, the cemetery at the foot of the fortress and the ancient city located at the walls of the castle - all this suggests one idea. How many wars fell on this fortress, and it survived! Like a Phoenix bird, she was reborn from the ruins in order to serve her people again and again, the inhabitants of the glorious town of Sterling, who (so stubborn!) Did not want to give up their land to anyone.
And the town itself honors and loves its history, tremblingly preserves every brick of medieval houses, which, if possible, tried to preserve. Well, those who go for a walk around the town, as a rule, do not notice any cars, or signboards, or road signs that have taken root in the ancient city …
