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Scone Palace

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Scone Palace is just over 2 miles northeast of Perth centre in a large Country Estate. The Palace, Chapel and Grounds are now top attractions in Scotland. There is also a Cafe and Gift Shop, built in 1803 for the 3rd Earl of Mansfield, a Murray, on the site of a much earlier Abbey.

Can be visited most of the year with an entrance fee, check the website for times. Postcode: PH2 6BD

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Early Scotland was divided into many tribal Kingdoms, each with their own Leader. Scone served as the Capital of the Picts Kingdom from as far back as 50 BC.

After the King of Scots, Kenneth Mac Alpin defeated the Picts in the 800s, he began the process of uniting all Scottish Tribes under one King, most Kings were Crowned at Scone.

The image top is of the large car and bus park with entrance ticket office.

The image second top is of the east side of Scone Palace, main entrance. This Palace was built in 1803 for the 3rd Earl of Mansfield, a Murray, replacing an earlier Abbey and Abbot's Palace. Large Image.

You can take a Tour of just the Grounds and Chapel, or a Tour that includes Guides showing you around the Main Rooms of the Palace. The interior has a number of grand rooms, including one that holds replicas of the Scottish Crown Jewels, with the originals being on display at Edinburgh Castle.

Scone Chapel sits on Moot Hill about 60 yards east of the Palace. This Chapel was built around 1804 to replace an earlier Chapel on the site from around 1604, and buildings from much earlier. Large Image.

In front of the Chapel is a Replica of the Stone of Scone. The original Stone was where most early Scottish Kings were Crowned from the 800s.

The Stone was taken by King Edward I of England during the wars between Scotland and England in 1296. It was then used at Westminster Abbey in London for the Crowning of English Kings and Queens, later British Kings and Queens.

The Original Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland in 1996, with it now being on display in the Perth Museum 2 miles south.

After the Stone was taken in 1296, Scottish Kings were still Crowned at Scone, with the last being Charles II in 1651.

The booklet you receive when entering gives a Map of the Grounds with the main attractions marked, such as Graves, Kids Play, Gardens, and Pavilion with notice boards giving information on Plants and Trees imported for the Estate from the 1740s to 1900s.

David Douglas, 1799 - 1834, was born at Scone Village and worked on the Estate as a Gardener. He became famous for exploring the West Coasts of the US and Canada, bringing back over 800 species of Plants and Trees, including the mighty Douglas Fir, named after him.

You can view Douglas Firs from the Pavilion.

Scone History

50 BC - the area of Scone and Perth is part of the Kingdom of the Picts. Scotland was made up of about nine Kingdoms at that time.

Scone was the main area of Worship for the Picts, where they Crowned their Kings.

839 - the Vikings defeated the Picts in northern Scotland as they tried to take control of the country.

848 - Kenneth Mac Alpin defeated the remaining Picts to become the King of Scots. He then set about trying to unite all the Scottish Kingdoms under one King.

The Scots and Vikings fought a series of Battles over the following centuries in a bid to control Scotland.

1114 - King Alexander I re-established an Augustinian Priory at Scone.

1163 - Scone Priory was raised to the status of an Abbey.

1263 - the Battle of Largs in southwest Scotland sees the Scots of Alexander III defeat the Vikings, starting the withdrawal of the Vikings from the Scottish Mainland and Islands.

1296 - the Stone of Scone is taken by the forces of King Edward I of England during the Scottish Wars of Independence. It was then placed in Westminster Abbey in London for Kings and Queens to be Crowned on it there.

1306 - Robert the Bruce is Crowned King of Scots at Scone, with him regaining independence for Scotland in 1328.

1400s - Ruthven Castle is built on the northwest side of Perth for the Ruthven's.

1559 - Scone Abbey was damaged during the Scottish Reformation by a Protestant mob from Dundee.

The Abbey was repaired soon after.

1580 - the Ruthven's of Ruthven Castle gained control of Scone then rebuilt the Abbot's Palace at the Abbey to serve as their grand residence.

1584 - King James VI charged the Ruthven's with treason for trying to overthrow him. James VI then took control of their Land and Buildings. Ruthven Castle was re-named Huntingtower Castle around that time. A number of Ruthven's were executed.

The King gifted the lands of Scone and Huntingtower to his loyal supporters the Murray's, who later became the Earls of Mansfield.

1716 - during the first Jacobite uprising, James Francis Edward Stuart, The Old Pretender, visited Scone to be Crowned King of Scotland. He fled without being Crowned after hearing Government Troops were in the area.

1740s - the Murray's began landscaping Scone Estate with Plants and Trees brought to Scotland by early explorers, including the US and Canada.

1745 - Bonnie Prince Charlie, The Young Pretender, visited Scone during the last Jacobite uprising.

1803 - 3rd Earl of Mansfield had Scone Palace built in place of the Abbot's Palace and Abbey.

1820s - the first Douglas Firs are planted at Scone, they are still there today at around 200 feet high.

1908 - Perth Racecourse opens on the Grounds of Scone Estate. You can view the Racecourse from the Kids Play area.

Horse Racing began at North Inch park in Perth in 1613, but had to be moved 2 miles to Scone after a Drinking Law Ban at North Inch.

1950 - Christmas Day - four Scottish Students from the University of Glasgow stole the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, taking it to Arbroath Abbey in Scotland.

1952 - the Stone of Destiny was returned to Westminster Abbey.

1953 - the Stone of Destiny wa used for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

1966 - Lady Mansfield opened Scone Palace to the public as a Tourist Attraction.

1996 - the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland, for show at Edinburgh Castle. The Stone at Scone Palace is a Replica.

Today - the Mansfield's use Scone Palace as the Family Home with much of the Palace and Grounds open to the public as a Tourist Attraction from March to October.

2024 - the Stone of Scone was moved to a Museum at the City Hall in Perth.

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Scone Palace Photos
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