Landmark 73 Spynie Palace, Moray For five centuries, Spynie Palace was the residence of the Bishops of Moray, standing on the edge of Spynie Loch, a sea loch providing direct access and a safe anchorage. It was the centre of a thriving settlement, yet today nothing remains of the medieval town. The earliest existing buildings at Spynie date from the 1300s but the history of the palace goes back to Bishop Brice of Douglas, who chose the church here as his cathedral church in 1207-8. His successor, Andrew, relocated the cathedral to Elgin, but he and later bishops continued to live at Spynie.In the latter part of the 1600s, the great tower house, named David's Tower after the Bishop David Stewart was built. It was completed by his successor, William Tulloch and it is his arms which can be seen under the parapet on the south face. Later remodelled, this is one of the largest tower houses in Scotland, containing five floors and a vaulted basement.