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Spynie Palace is a substantial medieval fortified residence located near Lossiemouth in Morayshire, Scotland. The palace served as the principal seat of the Bishops of Moray from the late thirteenth century onwards, and its development reflects the growing power and wealth of the ecclesiastical establishment in northern Scotland. The surviving structures include a impressive tower known as Dauphin's Tower, built in the fifteenth century, alongside earlier domestic ranges and defensive walls that demonstrate the transition from fortress to stately episcopal residence. The site represents an important example of ecclesiastical architecture and settlement in the Scottish Highlands during the medieval and early modern periods.
Spynie Palace is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90282. View the official record →
Spynie Palace is a substantial medieval fortified residence located near Lossiemouth in Morayshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90282.
Spynie Palace is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90282.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Caysbriggs, earthwork 450m NW of (2.1 km), Bishop's House,Elgin (2.9 km), Elgin Cathedral (2.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Spynie Palace's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Spynie Palace stands on New Red Sandstone Supergroup, bedrock that formed in the Triassic. The rock here is sandstone, breccia and conglomerate.