King's Old Building, Stirling

The King's Old Building, located on the west side of the Inner Close at Stirling Castle, is the oldest surviving structure in this part of the castle. Originally constructed around 1496 under the reign of King James IV, it was intended as a new residential range in an L-shaped configuration. However, after the completion of the Royal Palace in the 1540s, the King's Old Building ceased to serve as the monarch's residence and began to fulfill various other functions over the centuries.

By 1687, it was already referred to as the "King's Old Work," reflecting its shift away from royal use. In 1719, part of the building was repurposed to accommodate officers from the military garrison stationed at Stirling Castle. Later, in the 1790s, modifications, including new floors and windows, expanded its capacity to house a larger garrison.

A significant fire in 1855 destroyed the north end of the building, which was then reconstructed in a Baronial style by the noted architect and historian Robert William Billings. This part of the structure sits on the highest section of the castle rock, which had likely been built upon during earlier periods of the castle's history.

An interesting feature of the building is the southwestern end, which links to the adjacent Royal Palace and was once used as a kitchen. It sits at a different alignment than the rest of the King's Old Building and the palace, leading to speculation that it may be a surviving 15th-century structure from the reign of James I. Excavations in 1998 uncovered burials in this area, suggesting it may have been the site of a chapel or church in earlier times.

Today, the King's Old Building houses the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, offering visitors a glimpse into Scotland's military history within the castle's historic walls.