The Building of Stirling Castle: Naming a Faerie (Scottish Folklore)

A top an ancient volcanic formation found in the land of Stirling, sits a great castle, simply known as Stirling castle. This is a place of some significance in Scottish history. Stirling castle has long thought to be the key to the north, as it sits on the river forth and is the meeting point between the highlands and the lowlands. For many centuries it was home to the royal house of Stewart, and from its walls some of the most important battles in Scottish history could be seen. But for many years the locales have known that magic could be found in the foundations, this is the tale of how Stirling castle was built.

Intro Music: Written for me by Bobbin

References:
MacDougall, J. (1910) Folktales and Fairy Lore in Gaelic and English. John Grant, Edinburgh
Grimm, J. and Grimm, W. (1812) Grimms' Fairy Tales, Germany
Drysdale, W. (1898) Old faces, old places, and old stories of Stirling. E. Mackay. Murry place.
Rogers, C. (1882) History of the Chapel Royal of Scotland. London: The British Topographical Society.
Fawcett, R. (1999) Stirling Castle. Historic Scotland. ISBN10:1900168960

[Amazon]

Loved this story of the city of my ancestors.😊

[CherokeeBird]

Im so happy I came across this channel. I just recently discovered that I'm mostly Scottish, and I had no idea. My ancestors came from Stirling Castle ❤

[musicalbard]

I'd never heard this story before. Very interesting. Are there any other stories about Sterling Castle? I would love to hear them

[noreenclark]

I must admit Rumpelstiltskin did come to mind. It's an amazing fortress to visit and it's history is interesting

[balthiersgirl]

Beautiful opening great video wonderful story as always thank you

[murphbee]

As usual, a joy. Timely fir me, as well. I’m writing a magical realism book in which Sterling Castle plays a part. This made me smile.

[rusnikfromtranscarpathia]

Did The Far also help in the building of Dunrobin or Duffus Castle? I am from Clan Sutherland, and I only about the establishment of these castles as they are recognized now; but not of how they were built, or by whom. Just wondrin'. Have good night.

[ArmyVetndAbn]

Another great story, thank you sir. More please!

[primrose]

Thank you so much - its a joy to follow your content🥰

[observationsfromthebunker]

There are Roman and post-Roman records of a fort on Sterling Hill, to watch over the river valley and the road to the North. So there's been a castle there for a very long time! So it's not surprising that the local people would spin tales of how such a strong and important hold came to be made. In the olden days the river's bottom lands were wet and marshy, and the road forded the river through a place that was dry enough to make one. Whoever was master of the fort/castle of Sterling could control passage of the road, and armies upon it, in either direction. Sterling Castle was more important than Edinburgh, which explains why Edward II took no action to win back the Scottish capitol, but the news of Sterling being threatened brought him north with a great host. (Kudos to Alistair Moffat, who first taught me these things in his excellent books on Scottish history.)

[ericanelson]

Thank you for another spellbinding tale!🧞🧙

[milesbliss]

Thank you so much for that wonderful tale

[striderflys]

The Dwarf ran across the valley and built the Wallace Monument in his spare time

[raibeartmacphadrain]

Tapadh leat for yet another great tale!

[hsepo]

What is the name of the painting at 2:42? It's absolutely brilliant

[christopheraliaga-kelly]

Stirling comes from "Strivel's lynn", Brittonic for "The Pool of the Man with Yellow Hair/ Dressed in Yellow". Naming it after a pool, presumably a natural harbour, in the Forth below! But, in the early eighth centur, the Venerable Bede wrote about Din Iuddeu, after which the area was named. The Northumbrian king Osuiu handed over a lot of treasure to the Brittonic Allies of the pagan Mercians at Iuddeu, according to a Welsh source, "Nennius".
The extraordinary octagonal mound below the west side of the Castle rock has been found to overlie/be surrounded by a series of enclosing banks and ditches. So it might be a prehistoric holy place. Possibly even the place where a chief is inaugurated.

[striderflys]

Yeah I've wondered the point of that hole

[wintersking]

Curious story. I suspect an architect of such skill could have found royal patronage without seeking help from the fair folk, regardless of his age. However, this is much more interesting than it simply being built by men.

[andrewobrien]

I think this story is better than Rumplestilskin tbh