Stirling Castle (16)
On the far side of the Inner Close from the King's Old Building, stands the newly lime-washed Great Hall.  Most of Stirling Castle would once have been rendered in this colour.

The Great Hall was the central part of King James IV's extensive building programme, intended to give Scotland a palace of European standing.  It was built on land that drops away from to the east from the Inner Close, as can be seen at the righthand end.  In 1500 work began to clear a site, and old tower being demolished and its stone reused.  A vaulted undercroft was built to bring the floor of the hall up to the level of the close.  The hall was lit by pairs of high windows, except at the south end, where full-length bay windows gave prominence to the dais end, where the king and queen sat.  This end was later connected to the palace (the quadrangular building to the right) by a bridge.  The hall was heated by no less than 5 fireplaces and 4 spiral stair connect the various levels, including a trumpeter's gallery and a minstrel's gallery.  The Great Hall was also used for holding parliaments while the royal court was at Stirling.
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