- Gilbert Balfour
Gilbert Balfour probably played the leading role in the murder of Lord Darnley, consort of Mary I.
Balfour married Margaret Bothwell, the sister of
Adam Bothwell ,Bishop of Orkney who endowed him with the isle ofWestray , when it was episcopal property.At Noltland on Westray, he had built one of the most impressive castles in the Orkneys, and indeed the
Northern Isles was built,Noltland Castle [ [http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/WESTRAY/Documents/westraypastpresentfuture1.pdf The Heritage of Westray] ] . The Castle is situated above the Bay of Pierowall, was built in the1560s . It is notable for an unusually large spiral staircase, "second only toFyvie Castle , while its triple tiers ofgunloop s are without parallel in Scotland, if not Europe". Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) "Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland". London. HarperCollins.]Balfour himself was executed before he could use the castle, for conspiring against the King of Sweden.
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