Explores how the individual castles and palaces grew and how they functioned when the king and court were in residence. The text focuses on the royal castles and palaces of the 15th- and 16th-centuries and in particular on the building activities of James IV and James V at their principle residences of Linlithgow, Falkland, Strirling, Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle. The author charts the growth of these buildings, the organization of the royal works, and the roles of the principal officials and tradesmen responsible for the construction and maintenance of the royal houses.