Dunnottar Castle, Scotland

Dunnottar Castle is a ruined medieval castle which is located on the north-east coast of Scotland near Stonehaven, on a rocky headland with steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea 50 metres below.


The site is believed to have been an early fortress of the Dark Ages, however the surviving buildings are mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries. 


From the Middle Ages, Dunnottar Castle played an important strategic role throughout Scotland's history due to its location. It overlooked the shipping lanes to northern Scotland and was situated on a narrow coastal terrace that controlled access via land to the south coast dueing the medieval period.

Dunottar Castle, Stonehaven, Scotland by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Dunottar Castle in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which was taken at the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-07682). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products featuring this beautiful vintage print.

Castle Street, Aberdeen, Scotland

A view of Castle Street in Aberdeen Scotland - which shows the old municipal buildings, the Market Cross and the back of the statue of the Fifth Duke of Gordon.

This area would be filled with market stalls and throngs of people coming to buy all that they need. It was the hub of all activity in the town. Today, Castle Street continues to be a thriving part of Aberdeen with businesses, bars and restaurants.

Castle Street, Aberdeen, Scotland by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Castle Street and Municipal Buildings in Aberdeen, Scotland, which was taken at the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-07513). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products featuring this beautiful vintage print.

Balmoral Castle, Scotland

Balmoral Castle is well known as the summer royal residence for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. It has been a royal residence since 1848, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert leased it from the trustees of Sir Robert Gordon, who had died in 1847. In 1852, they paid approximately £30,000 for full ownership of the estate. 

Prince Albert, with William Smith, made immediate plans to extend the existing castle. The new castle was partly designed by Prince Albert and was built close to the original castle.

Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on 28 September 1853, which can be found at the foot of the wall, adjacent to the west face of the entrance porch. Before the stone was laid, a bottle containing a parchment signed and dated by Queen Victoria and each of the current coins of the realm, was inserted into a cavity below the stone. Balmoral Castle was completed in 1856.

Balmoral is privately owned by the Queen and is not part of the royal estate which is owned by the English Government. Following the abdication of Edward VIII, his brother, King George VI, had to buy Balmoral in order to keep them as residences of the monarch.

Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, Scotland by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Balmoral Castle in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which was taken at the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-07532). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products featuring this beautiful vintage print.

Latest News from OldeWorldGifts

This week OldeWorldGifts has been searching through the beautiful old photochrom prints for Scotland and has started adding some of these images to the store.

The first additions have been from Aberdeenshire and have included Aberdeen, Banff, Stonehaven and Banchory. There are some amazing pictures in this selection, such as those shown below.

New images are being added daily, with the focus this week on the beautiful Scottish towns and cities. Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products featuring an extensive selection of vintage images from around the world.

University of Glasgow, Scotland

The University of Glasgow is located in Glasgow, is one of Scotland's four ancient universities and the fourth oldest university in theEnglish-speaking world.

The university was founded in 1451 by a papal bull issued by Pope Nicholas V. It is one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the world and is ranked amongst the top ten British universities for teaching quality.

Glasgow University Print

by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, which was taken at the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-07600). Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range of products available featuring this picturesque vintage photochrom of Glasgow Univeristy in Scotland.