architecture scotland middle ages architecture scotland middle ages includes building modern borders scotland departure romans early fifth century adoption renaissance early sixteenth century includes vernacular ecclesiastical royal aristocratic military constructions surviving houses scotland years evidence different forms stone wooden houses exist hill forts arrival romans led abandonment forts departure romans fifth century evidence building series smaller constructions major geographical features following centuries new forms construction emerged scotland come define landscape medieval vernacular architecture utilised local building materials including constructed houses turf walls clay heavy reliance stone medieval parish church architecture typically simpler england ecclesiastical buildings gothic styles early fifteenth century introduction renaissance styles included selective use forms church architecture nave castles arrived scotland introduction twelfth century initially wooden bailey constructions replaced stone castles high curtain wall late middle ages new castles built scale particularly borders simpler tower houses gunpowder weaponry led use gun ports platforms mount guns walls adapted resist bombardment phase renaissance palace building late fifteenth century beginning background earliest surviving houses scotland years villages years earliest preserved example europe built artificial islands date stone buildings called atlantic larger hill forts arrival romans hey appear largely abandoned romans build military forts like continuous fortification clyde known wall built second century roman influence evidence underground departure romans century evidence forts building series smaller constructions major geographical features vernacular buildings medieval vernacular architecture rural environments use local materials styles england construction employing pairs curved support roof usually hidden view rural areas extensive use turf fill walls stone base long lasting rebuilt frequently years regions including south west solid clay walls combinations clay turf straw rendered clay lime lack long span structural timber common building material stone employed dry stone construction different regions heather straw twelfth century towns granted certain legal privileges crown developed particularly east coast distinctive urban building patterns typically surrounded castle usually market place widened high street junction marked cross houses nobles significant inhabitants built relatively elaborate style end period slate roofs tiles little survived houses urban poor probably largely located away main street perth evidence nearly buildings dating twelfth fourteenth centuries walls churches introduction christianity scotland ireland sixth century led construction basic masonry built churches beginning west coast islands medieval parish church architecture scotland typically elaborate england churches remaining simple towers highlands simpler built rubble masonry indistinguishable outside houses farm buildings eighth century sophisticated buildings emerged early masonry produced block built stone buildings like eleventh century round tower square towers eleventh century masonry techniques advanced blocks rectangular resulting structurally stable walls incorporate refined architectural detailing seen time increasing influences english continental european designs seen pattern piers nave abbey modelled details cathedral begun employed worked durham arrival new monastic orders scotland twelfth century led boom ecclesiastical building english continental forms including thirteenth century east end incorporated typical european gothic fifteenth century continental builders known working scotland french master mason employed building rebuilding considered fine examples gothic architecture interiors churches elaborate reformation highly decorated houses like ones surviving carvings created mid fifteenth century depicting progression seven deadly sins considered finest gothic style late medieval scottish churches contained elaborate burial monuments like douglas tombs town douglas impact renaissance ecclesiastical architecture seen adoption low massive church building round arches pillars contrast gothic perpendicular style particularly dominant england late medieval era influenced close contacts rome netherlands conscious reaction english forms favour continental ones seen nave begun facade chapel collegiate churches established scotland late fifteenth early sixteenth centuries like edinburgh showed combination gothic renaissance styles early sixteenth century saw crown built churches royal connections imperial monarchy castles scotland known dramatically placed castles date late medieval era castles sense fortified residence lord noble arrived scotland david encouragement norman french nobles settle feudal particularly south east way controlling contested primarily wooden bailey constructions raised mount wooden tower larger adjacent enclosure bailey usually surrounded ditch connected wooden bridge varied size large modest designs like england constructions converted stone bailey castles twelfth century scotland continued occupation stone castles thirteenth century high curtain wall need thick high walls defence forced use economic building methods continuing tradition dry stone rubble building covered lime render uniform appearance addition castles royal castles larger providing defence lodging scottish court local administrative centre included fortifications wars scottish independence robert adopted policy castle destruction allow fortresses easily held english beginning castles including edinburgh wars independence new castles began built scale maintenance castles house retained troops like near rebuilt duke albany fourteenth century gunpowder weaponry fundamentally altered nature castle architecture existing castles adapted allow use gunpowder weapons incorporation gun ports platforms mount guns walls adapted resist bombardment begun probably castle british isles built artillery fort incorporating shape better resist cannon fire artillery mounted tower houses largest number late medieval fortifications scotland built nobles tower house design smaller versions tower houses southern scotland known towers houses defences tower houses primarily aimed provide protection smaller raiding parties intended significant opposition organised military assault leading historian defensive typically tall square stone built building surrounded walled courtyard designed hold valuable animals necessarily intended defence built extensively sides border england isles led immediate burst tower building region palaces extensive building rebuilding royal palaces renaissance style probably began accelerated works seen directly reflecting influence renaissance styles constructed james direction master work referred palace apparently use term country extended began correspond fashionable corner italian palace castle style palace combining classical symmetry neo imagery evidence italian working reign completed palaces rebuilt proportions legacy scotland known dramatically placed castles towers accepted romantic landscape castles tower houses towers royal palaces period contributed development unique style known scots estate houses scotland sixteenth century revived extensively nineteenth century including royal residence exported world reformation mid sixteenth century lead rejection features medieval churches resulting widespread destruction medieval church ornaments decoration usher new architectural forms revived 1850s 1890s large gothic revival churches built considerable numbers major denominations
Architecture of Scotland in the Middle Ages