Built by Patrick, Earl of Orkney, its construction began in 1607 and was largely undertaken via forced labour.

He quickly acquired it by fabricating charges of theft against the unfortunate owner, trying him and having him executed.

Upon his imprisonment at Edinburgh in 1609, his bastard son Robert began a rebellion on his behalf and seized the palace, along with nearby St Magnus's Cathedral and Kirkwall Castle.

[1] After the Earl's death, the palace continued to be the residence of the Bishops of Orkney sporadically until 1688, when it became the property of the Crown, and fell into ruin in the 18th century.

[2] The palace is currently in the possession of Historic Environment Scotland as a protected scheduled monument.