Roadworks turn up part of Kirkwall Castle

It was a novelty today doing a Kirkwall walking tour when I was able to point out a substantial chunk of Kirkwall Castle to my group. This was made possible by roadworks on the corner of Broad Street and Castle Street uncovering part of the foundations of Kirkwall Castle. The Castle was built by Earl Henry Sinclair in the 1380s when he was made Earl of Orkney by the Norwegian King. The Earl of Caithness destroyed the castle when it was used by Robert Stewart as a base for his rebellion in 1614. This rebellion was in support of Robert's father "Black Pate" or Earl Patrick Stewart, who was removed by the Scottish King James 6th, for his crimes. In the 1860s the final ruins of the castle were removed to widen the approaches to Albert Street. This was one of the few times bits of the Castle have been uncovered since then.