Dunnottar Castle Scotland 1693 – 2024.jpg

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In 1685, Dunnottar Castle became a notorious prison for 167 Covenanters, who were confined in the Whigs' Vault under appalling conditions. The castle's strategic position on a rocky headland made it a focal point during Scotland's turbulent history. In 1297, William Wallace captured the English garrison here, reportedly burning 4,000 soldiers alive in the church. By the 14th century, the Keith family had established a substantial stone fortress, which expanded over the centuries. Its most famous episode came in 1651–1652, when Oliver Cromwell's army besieged the castle for eight months after it had been chosen to protect the Honours of Scotland—the Scottish crown jewels. Rather than surrender them, the garrison smuggled them out in a laundry basket to a nearby church, where they were buried under the floor and recovered after the Restoration in 1660. (britainexpress.com)