THE birthplace of iconic Scottish figurehead Mary, Queen of Scots is set to reopen to visitors this month.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has revealed that visitors will once again be able to explore Linlithgow Palace – which has over 2,000 years of history – after a prolonged period of closure.
Access restrictions were put in place at the start of last year as a safety precaution while masonry inspections were carried out.
These inspections assessed the impact of climate change on the condition of masonry at some historic sites at a high level, in combination with other factors such as building techniques and the vulnerability of certain types of stone.
A number of areas have been the subject of conservation repair, however some minor access restrictions will remain in place while further work is ongoing.
The reopening was delayed due to a recent incident of heritage crime where walls, flagstones and the historic three-tiered courtyard fountain were defaced with graffiti.
Craig Mearns, Director for Operations at HES, said:”We are very pleased to be able to re-open Linlithgow Palace to the public.
“Our teams have worked tirelessly not just to make it a safe and enjoyable place to visit, but also to address the damage that was done to the historic site this spring. That work is still on-going.
“We know that the local community and visitors alike have been eagerly awaiting the re-opening and, as a result of our planned and completed conservation work, this amazing site can be enjoyed by everyone once more.”
Also forthcoming will be a new audio guide for visitors, which will tell the lesser-known stories of the ordinary people who lived and worked there.
Initially a Roman settlement, there has been a royal residence where Linlithgow Palace now sits since the mid-1100s.
After the earliest residence was damaged by fire, King James I began work on the new ‘pleasure palace’ following his captivity in England.
The palace was a welcome rest stop for royals between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle and was frequently in use.
Linlithgow Palace will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm every day.
