The earliest parts of the Bishop's Palace date from the 12th century. It was here that King Haakon of Norway died in December 1263 following his defeat at the Battle of Largs. The King's body was temporarily buried in the cloister of St Magnus Cathedral before being taken to Bergen Cathedral in Norway the following spring. The bishop's house was later much altered, and the round tower built in 1541-48.
The adjacent Earl's Palace was built by the notorious Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, between 1600 and 1607 in a splendid Renaissance style. Earl Patrick Stewart, and his father before him, exercised an extraordinary tyranny over the Orkneys. His palace almost certainly was built by forced labour. He himself was beheaded shortly after its completion, his execution being delayed to allow him time to learn to recite the Lord's Prayer.
Shop.
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| Open |
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April to September, daily, 9.30am - 6.30pm.
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| Admission / Cost |
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Adult £2.50, Child £1.00, Concession £1.90.
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| Disabled Access |
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Bishop's Palace unsuitable for people using wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Reasonable access to ground floor of Earl's Palace.
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| Additional Information |
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Staffed property.
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| How to find us |
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In Kirkwall on A960
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Contact Information
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Bishop's and Earl's Palace (HS)
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Kirkwall
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Orkney
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KW15 1PD
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Tel: 01856 871918
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| Website |
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Willkommen in Schottland
Bienvenue en Ecosse
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