Edinburgh Castle marks centenary of David's Tower rediscovery ONE OF Scotland's major tourist attractions is marking 100 years since an historic tower was rediscovered. David's Tower, built in the 1380s, was the first tower house on Edinburgh's skyline for 200 years. Standing 100-ft tall, the tower was used as the royal residence in the castle and as a secret hiding place for Scotland's crown jewels during the Second World War. Excavations in 1912 by the Ministry of Works along with colleagues from the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland unearthed remnants of the tower, which was built by Kind David II as part of the castle's reconstruction programme. Robert the Bruce, King David's father, ordered the tower's demolition, so as to render it useless to the English. The tower remnants were re-discovered during excavations in 1912 by W Oldrieve from the Ministry of Works working alongside colleagues from the newly-formed Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The tower was also the scene of the infamous Black Dinner of 1440, when the Earl of Douglas and his brother were accused of treason, symbolised by the serving of a black bull's head on a platter, in the presence of the King, 10-year-old James II. The brothers were then dragged out into what is now Crown Square, and beheaded. The young James V was effectively imprisoned in the tower by Regent Albany, with no access to his French mother, Mary of Guise. Nick Finnigan, executive manager of Edinburgh Castle said: "The tower is a fascinating part of Edinburgh Castle's history. It provided a secret hiding place for Scotland's crown jewels during World War II due to fear of invasion and also witnessed the infamous Black Dinner. I am pleased to say that recent access developments have made it possible for us to consider taking small escorted groups to see the tower for themselves. The tower is nearly obscured by the Half Moon Battery on the South East corner of the castle.