Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the floodplain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190 AD. It was created a Royal Burgh in the 12th century by King David I of Scotland and by that time had a castle on top of the present day Lady Hill to the west of the town.
Slezer’s View of Elgin
The River Lossie winds its way around Elgin – or Elgine – in Slezer’s prospect, looking towards the town from the north.
Elgin was made a Royal Burgh by David I in 1136. The hill in the background on the right is Lady Hill, which was once the site of Elgin Castle. This may have been the castle where King Duncan died in 1040 after his defeat by Macbeth. The site of their battle is about a mile north of present-day Elgin.
Further left in the centre is St Giles’ Church, while the ruins of the Cathedral are on the far left. In 1645, the town had been attacked by the Royalist army of the Duke of Montrose.
Image from Theatrum Scotiae by John Slezer, 1693.
Images of Elgin
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