Falkland Palace is a fortified 15th century royal palace which superseded Falkland Castle.
In 1600 while James VI was staying at Falkland Palace he went hunting and was approached by Alexander Ruthven, son of the 3rd Earl of Gowrie, who said that his family had detained a foreigner carrying a large amount of money at their house in Perth, Gowrie House. In what became known as the Gowrie Conspiracy the King was encouraged to ride to Perth to interrogate the man himself, which he did. Upon arrival the King was invited up to a turret room in the house, ostensibly to interview the foreigner who it turned out didn’t exist, where he was subsequently locked in. The exact sequence of events is not known however a struggle ensued between the Ruthvens and the King’s retinue by the end of which the 3rd Earl and his brother, Alexander, were dead. Sir Thomas Erskine of Gogar and Sir Hugh Herries are known to have killed Alexander and may also have killed the 3rd Earl.
In 1622 repairs were evidently undertaken at the Palace as the King’s Master of Works, James Murray of Kilbaberton, “did give directioun for sindrie thingis to be done at Falkland”.
