Scone Palace

Scone Palace.

Scone Palace (pronounced skoon) is a Listed Historical Building near Perth, but, more importantly, a place of coronation for Pictish and Scottish kings. The present palace existed as early as 1705 and was extensively remodeled in 1776 by the Fifth Viscount of Stormont, Earl of Mansfield, with addition of elaborate French furnishings. From at least 1705 Scone has been the home of the Earls of Mansfield.

The present palace is the third edifice to be built on the site, which once stood as an ancient tribal gathering place of the Picts. The site was used by the Pictish Culdee Cell of Holy Men as early as the 6th century AD. At scone the Pictish King Nectan to swore loyalty to the customs of Rome in 710 AD. Then the place of coronation was called the Hill of Credulity, which is the same as the present Moot Hill. In 1057 Scottish King Malcolm, slayer of MacBeth was crowned at Scone. The first palace was the palace of the Abbots of Scone, where, in the Middle Ages, the Pictish Kings stayed during and sometimes after coronation. In the year 1100 the Pictish Chief Gillean was at Scone.

Alexander II and Alexander III, both crowned at Scone, ruled collectively from 1214 to 1286. For centuries the greatest treasure at Scone was the Stone of Scone upon which the early Kings of Scotland were crowned. When Edward I carried off the Stone of Scone to Westminster Abbey in 1296, the Coronation Chair that still stands in the abbey was specially made to fit over it. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone in 1306 and the last coronation was of Charles II, when he accepted the Scottish crown in 1651. Afte coronation of Charles II, the Regalia were transported to Dunnotar Castle. The English army, seeking these royal objects, laid siege to Dunnotar. The Regalia were said to have been smuggled out by the Scots during the siege, but have never been recovered. The Stone of Scone is now in Edinburgh. In 1604 Scone was the family seat of the Lords of Scone.

Maze at Scone Palace

Presently on view in the state rooms of Scone Palace are fine collections of furniture, ceramics, ivories, and clocks. Some of the prized contents of Scone Palace are Rococo chairs by Pierre Bara, and Dresden and Sevres porceleins. The gardens and grounds are also open to the public. The gardens of Scone feature Moot Hill, the mound was said to have been created by pilgrims each carrying a bootful of soil to the site in a gesture of fealty to the king. A repica of the Stone of Scone sits on Moot Hill, where coronations occurred. Elsewhere in the garden, there is a modern day maze created of hedges.

The grounds of the Palace are the best-known breeding locality in Scotland for Hawfinch. There are fine woodlands on the grounds and policies of Scone Palace, some of the fir trees being at least 250 years old.

References

• Adam, Frank and Thomas Innes, The Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 1934, Kessinger Publishing (2004)
• Christie, Christopher, The British Country House of the Eighteenth Century, Manchester Univeristy Press, Oxford (2000) ISBN 0 7190 4724 2
• Montgomery-Massingberd Houses of Scotland

External links

Scone Palace Website