A twisty little passage

This is part of the counter-mine at St Andrews Castle. It was cut through rock by the defenders in 1546 to intercept a mine being cut under the defences.

The mine is much wider and higher than the counter-mine, and must have taken a great effort to cut through the rock.

At the time, the castle was held by Protestants who seized the castle and killed the resident Cardinal Beaton after he had burned preacher George Wishart at the stake. The castle fell the next year after a short bombardment by a French fleet.