Description: Harling is a traditional render or coating used to weatherproof stone buildings. It is made from shale, small stones and lime mixed into a liquid slurry.

Lime is made by burning limestone in a large kiln to produce quicklime, which is a dangerous and corrosive substance. The quicklime is crushed and water added to make lime, which can then be used as plaster, mortar, harl and limewash.

In the 16th century harling was applied by picking up a little amount on a small, scooped trowel and flicking it against the bare stone. It produced a rough, bright-white surface that followed the contours of the stone beneath. The smooth stone edges to doors and window frames could be left without harling to produce a decorative effect.

Linlithgow Palace probably had stone slate roofs. Flat stone slates were pegged with wood to horizontal wooden batons attached to the rafters. The stones got progressively smaller towards to top of the roof. The top of the ridge would have been capped with dressed stone. Some of the older roofs in the town of Linlithgow probably still look similar to the 16th century roofs of the palace.