The Great Hall (Stirling Castle)

Built in 1503 for James IV to impress his new queen, Margaret Tudor, daughter of Henry VII of England, the great hall is the largest banquet hall in Scotland. And with two elegantly designed oriel windows, five enourmous fireplaces and great a hammerbeam roof to declare its stateliness the hall really is an impressive sight to behold.

Since its construction the hall has been used for many different purposes, as well as hosting banquets. In the 19th century the hall was converted into a barracks; the roof was replaced and the large interior subdivided until 1964 when the military's use of the building ceased.

Since then the hall has been restored to its former glory thanks to a thirty-five year renovation project that was completed in 1999. And in November of that year the great hall of Stirling castle was declared open by Queen Elizabeth.