Near Elgin, in Moray, Spynie Palace was the fortified residence of the bishops of Moray, dominated by David's Tower, the largest medieval tower in Scotland. It was from here that the last Catholic bishop weathered the storm of the Reformation — and here that he hid a famous fugitive.
The palace of the bishops
The residence of the bishops of Moray, Spynie is marked by its David's Tower (built 1462-1482), a colossal keep over twenty metres high. The last Catholic bishop, Patrick Hepburn (1538-1573), lived through the whole religious crisis here: he saw Scotland tip into the Reformation (1560) while keeping his fortress. The palace also served as a political prison — Elizabeth I's agent, Christopher Rokeby, was held here in 1566.
Bothwell's refuge
In 1567, after the debacle of Carberry Hill that sealed Mary Stuart's fall, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell — the queen's third husband, in flight — found refuge with his kinsman the bishop, at Spynie, before fleeing north and into exile. The old tower of the bishops thus crosses, for a moment, the destiny of the Queen of Scots. Spynie was abandoned in 1689.
What to see
- David's Tower (22 m; circular dungeon), the largest medieval tower in Scotland.
- The fortified portcullis entrance.
- The remains of the bishops' residential chambers.
Did you know?
In 1567, in flight after Carberry Hill, the Earl of Bothwell — the man Mary Stuart had married and whose marriage had precipitated her fall — hid at Spynie with his kinsman Bishop Hepburn, before reaching Scandinavia where he would end his days in captivity, sinking into madness.
Practical information
Spynie Palace lies at Spynie, near Elgin, in Moray; a site in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. Hours liable to change; check against the official sources.
Quiz
- Who were the masters of Spynie Palace?
- The bishops of Moray
- The kings of England
- The Cistercian monks
- Who took refuge here in 1567?
- The Earl of Bothwell, Mary Stuart's fleeing husband
- John Knox
- James VI
- What is the great tower of Spynie called?
- David's Tower
- The Tower of London
- The White Tower