The Lost Royal Lodgings in Edinburgh Castle
and the birthplace of Great Britain
Peter Yeoman
HALKETT HENDRIE MEMORIAL LECTURE
Jointly presented with Peeblesshire Archaeological Society
Tuesday, 9th December 2025
Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, 7.30 p.m.
Two million visitors a year to Edinburgh Castle experience little of the role the Castle played for 500 years as a principal royal residence.
This talk will outline the surviving and archaeological evidence of the various royal lodgings, culminating with the Palace created for James VI’s Homecoming Jubilee of 1617. This Palace enshrined where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James in 1566 – a building we can now recognise as the birthplace of Great Britain.
Peter Yeoman is an archaeologist and cultural historian with a career spanning 50 years. He has directed major excavation projects, while also writing a number of books, major excavation reports and guide books.
He led research programmes for Historic Scotland projects: James V’s Palace within Stirling Castle, Iona Abbey, and Edinburgh Castle.
