OS1/23/12/46

Continued entries/extra info

Site of King's castle (continued)
"in this condition it remained until 1742, when leave was given by the Earl of Morton to the Town Council of Kirkwall to use the stones for building a town house and jail.Afterwards as it stood in the way of some local improvements it was entirely removed, and now the following inscription on the front of the castle Hotel is all that marks the site of this once lordly castle."
"Near this spot facing Broad Street, stood in the year 1865 the last remaining fragment of the ruins of
The Castle of Kirkwall
A royal feature of great antiquity, and originally of vast strength, but of which, from the ravages of war & time nearly every vestige had long previously disappeared. Its remains consisting of a wall 55 feet long by 11 feet thick and of irregular height, were removed by permission of the Earl of Zetland, on application of the Trustees acting in execution of the Kirkwall Harbour act 1859. in order to improve the access to the Harbour, and this stone was erected to mark its site MDCCCLXVI."