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Elgin is also a good base to visit the many
other Speyside Single Malt Distilleries with
Dufftown just 17 miles south. Distilleries List.
Elgin Golf Club
is on the south side of the Town, founded in
1906.
Spynie Palace is 3 miles north by the
road to Lossiemouth, built from the 1100s for
the Bishops of Moray and Elgin Cathedral, a top
Visitor Attraction in the area.
Lossiemouth is 6 miles north with two
Beaches, west and east. The East Beach is
amazing.
Elgin History
Before 1100s - there was a Wooden Castle on
Lady Hill, 300 yards west of where the Elgin
centre is today.
1040 - King Duncan was wounded in Battle
with the forces of Earl Macbeth, at Pitgaveny,
3 miles northeast of Elgin. King Duncan was
taken to Elgin Castle where he later died. This
is the Macbeth from the
William Shakespeare Play.
1130 - King David I took control of the
area, making Elgin a Royal Burgh, then
replacing the Wooden Castle on Lady Hill with a
Stone Castle.
The Royal Castle at Elgin was popular with
Scottish Kings, especially for Hunting Trips in
the Vast Forests, such as: David I, William I,
Alexander II, and Alexander III.
1180s? - the Muckle Church was built in the
centre of Elgin, at the Market Square on the
High Street.
1207 - the Bishops of Moray had a small
Cathedral and Palace at Spynie, 3
miles north of Elgin.
1224 - King Alexander II granted land to the
Bishops of Moray to build the vast Elgin
Cathedral, a short distance east of Elgin
centre.
1296 & 1303 - King Edward I of England
stayed at Elgin Castle during the First War of
Scottish Independence, a time the English were
in control of Elgin.
1308 - forces of Robert the Bruce began
pushing the English out of Scotland, with Bruce
becoming King of Scotland. The Scots forces
damaged many of the Castles the English had
occupied, including Elgin Castle, so the
English could not use them in future Wars.
1390 - Bishop Alexander Bur of Elgin
Cathedral excommunicated Alexander
Stewart, Wolf of Badenoch, for marriage
infidelity. Stewart was a descendant of Robert
the Bruce, brother of King Robert III.
Alexander Stewart and his followers then
attacked the area, burning the towns of Forres
and Elgin, including two Monasteries and Elgin
Cathedral. The Cathedral was re-built over the
following years.
1560 - the Reformation in Scotland made
Catholic Worship illegal, leading to Elgin
Cathedral being abandoned and falling into
ruin. The Muckle Church in the centre of Elgin
was then used as the main place of Worship, as
a Protestant Church.
1701 - the Medieval Tolbooth in Elgin
centre, next to the Muckle Church, was burned
down by a Prisoner.
1746 March - Prince Charles Edward Stuart
traveled from Inverness to Elgin where he
became unwell, leading to him staying there for
11 days with a Mrs Anderson, at Thunderton
House. This Building was used as an Inn for
some time, with the Inn closing in 2014, with
plans later being made to convert the Building
to a Museum and Hostel.
1746 April - Prince Charles and his Jacobite
Army were defeated by Government Forces at
Culloden, 35 miles west of Elgin, the
last Jacobite Battle.
1800s - most of Medieval Elgin was replaced
by new buildings, leading to the scenic High
Street and Market Square seen today.
1819 - Dr Gray's Hospital was built at the
far west end of the High Street, with large
Columns and Dome. Dr Alexander Gray made his
fortune working with the East India
Company.
1828 - St Giles Church was
built on the site of the Muckle Church in the
centre of Elgin. This new Church has a
Classical Frontage with Columns and 112ft high
Tower.
1832 - the Anderson Institute was
built in the east end of the town for about 50
children and elderly people. Lt. General Andrew
Anderson was born in Elgin, leaving £70,000 to
the people of Elgin. He also made his money
working with the East India Company. This
Building is now a Care Home for the
Elderly.
1839 - the 80 foot high Monument for the
Duke of Gordon
was erected on Lady Hill, on the remains of
Elgin Castle.
1842 - Elgin Museum was built on the east
end of the High Street.
1846 - the Elgin Fountain was built on the
west side of St Giles Church, on the site where
the Medieval Tolbooth once stood.
1852 - the Morayshire Railway opened,
connecting Elgin and Lossiemouth, with
Lossiemouth being 6 miles north on the Coast
with a busy Harbour. This line was soon
extended 13 miles south to Craigellachie
Village, where there are a number of Single
Malt Whisky Distilleries.
This was a busy time for these Railways as
Herring Fishing was at its peak, and the
Distilleries were transporting their Whisky,
and bringing in Barrels from Europe and America
to mature their Whisky.
The area prospered through Fishing, Whisky,
and Linen.
1858 - the Rail Line between Inverness and
Aberdeen, passing through Elgin, was
completed.
1882 - the Muckle Cross was moved to the
east side of St Giles Church.
1880s - Elgin and Lossiemouth had become one
of the most prosperous areas in Scotland, with
a number of Banks, Insurance Companies,
Newspapers, and Hotels.
1897 - the Glen
Moray Whisky Distillery opened on the west
side of Elgin.
1906 - Elgin Golf Club was founded.
1964 - the Elgin to Lossiemouth Railway
closed.
1968 - the Elgin to Craigellachie Railway
closed.
1990 - Elgin Railway Station was re-built
for Trains running between Aberdeen and
Inverness.
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