Spynie Palace

Spynie Palace Details

Spynie Palace, ruined massive C15 tower of the Bishops of Moray on site of and incorporating parts of C12-C14 courtyard castle.

  • Closest To: Elgin, Lossiemouth
  • Access: Chargeable Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NJ230658

Spynie Palace is a ruined tower house and courtyard between Elgin and Lossiemouth in Moray, and was erected for the Bishops of Moray over several centuries – the oldest parts date to the 13th. It is built at the top of a slope that once led to the open salt water loch of Spynie, but is now boggy fields. Spynie is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland and is open for a fee with good parking.

The old castle was probably destroyed during the Wars of Independence and rebuilt in some strength afterwards, although the great tower – the largest by volume to survive in Scotland – was built by Bishop David Stewart in response to threats by the then Earl of Huntly as he considered the castle not to be secure enough. It became the seat of a secular barony in the 16th century and fell into disrepair by 1690, when it was annexed to the Crown, and all the timber and iron were removed.

Official Historic Scotland page

HES Canmore database entry

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