Blackness Castle | Canmore (original) (raw)
Castle (Medieval)
Digital Images
SC 710838
Oblique aerial view.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
1976
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 798225
Blackness Castle View from South East showing curtain wall Digital image of A 54893
1985
© RCAHMS
SC 1167012
Copy of deed/Minute of Agreement.
c. 1929
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075448
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the NNE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1216218
View from SW.
Brian C Clayton
c. 1920
© Courtesy of HES (B C Clayton Collection)
DP 250854
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 250858
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 250865
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1669312
Aerial view.
Historic Buildings and Monuments/Scottish Development Department photographs
c. 1940
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1681388
Aerial view.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016334
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016340
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016373
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016422
Blackness Castle, Varoius Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016487
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016493
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016496
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016561
Blackness Castle, Pier and Water Cistern
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
22/8/2000
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016576
Blackness Castle, Pier and Water Cistern
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
22/8/2000
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 386003
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386009
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386014
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386019
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386020
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386030
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 037641
Plans of floors showing building sequence.
Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu
1926
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1167015
View of skeletons uncovered outside chapel.
2/1931
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1167023
View of skeletons uncovered outside chapel.
2/1931
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075452
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the SE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075453
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the E.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1314967
Blackness Castle. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south. This image has been produced from a print.
Records of Aerofilms Ltd, aerial photographers, Bristol, England
25/9/1948
© HES (Aerofilms Collection)
DP 250868
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1915532
Excavation photograph : trench 2 showing cobbles being lifted.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 2016283
Blackness Castle, Exteriors
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
24/8/1962
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016324
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016329
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016333
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016343
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016370
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016381
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016440
Blackness Castle, Aerial Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
7/1989
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016485
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016490
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016492
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016503
Blackness Castl, The Dovecot
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
26/8/1980
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016565
Blackness Castle, Pier and Water Cistern
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
22/8/2000
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016574
Blackness Castle, Pier and Water Cistern
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
22/8/2000
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 385989
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 385995
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386017
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386027
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
SC 2437738
Blackness Castle, NT08SE 6, Ordnance Survey index card, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
c. 1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
SC 2493083
View from S.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1992
© Scotia Archaeology
SC 798224
Blackness Castle View from South West showing curtain wall Digital image of A 54892
1985
© RCAHMS
DP 037642
Ground plan, plans of second, third and fourth floors and sections.
1752
SC 1167022
View of skeletons uncovered outside chapel.
2/1931
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075443
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the NNW.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 250860
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1669468
Aerial view.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
1992
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1681390
Aerial view.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1915526
Excavation photograph : trench 1 after removal of cobbles, from S.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 1915529
Excavation photograph : 19th century landing stage.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 1915531
Excavation photograph : trench 1 extension - flagstones being lifted.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 2016322
Blackness Castle, West Tower and Tower Hose Details
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
29/3/1974
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016376
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016409
Blackness Castle, Varoius Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016418
Blackness Castle, Varoius Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016421
Blackness Castle, Varoius Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016424
Blackness Castle, Varoius Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
9/1983
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016483
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 2016497
Blackness Castle, General Views
Historic Scotland Photographic Library
3/1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 385991
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 385997
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386005
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386010
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386011
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386022
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
DP 386032
Oblique aerial view
Historic Environment Scotland
29/6/2022
© Historic Environment Scotland
SC 2437736
Blackness Castle, NT08SE 6, Ordnance Survey index card, page number 1, Recto
Records of the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, England
c. 1958
© Crown Copyright: HES (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Collection)
DP 447366
Blackness Castle from the south west
Records of the Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN), Edinburgh, Scotland
1/1/1938
© SCRAN Licence.
DP 011509
Blackness Castle. Engraving copied from 'The Beauties of Scotland', R O Forsyth, Vol 3, opp. p. 522.
1806
© RCAHMS
SC 1166353
Aerial view.
Historic Buildings and Monuments/Scottish Development Department photographs
c. 1940
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1166992
View of N end and pier from SE.
1929
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075449
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the N.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075454
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the ENE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 075456
General oblique aerial view centred on Blackness Castle, taken from the SSE.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital
12/2/2010
© Crown Copyright: HES
DP 250857
Oblique aerial view.
Historic Environment Scotland
27/3/2017
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1569936
Oblique aerial view of Blackness Castle.
John Dewar
1971
© HES (John Dewar Collection)
SC 1569937
Oblique aerial view of Blackness Castle.
John Dewar
1971
© HES (John Dewar Collection)
SC 1681391
Aerial view.
RCAHMS Aerial Photography
1991
© Crown Copyright: HES
SC 1915533
Excavation photograph : trench 2 showing drain channel being lifted, from N.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 1915535
Excavation photograph : trench 2 showing boulders and clay, from N.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
SC 1915537
Excavation photograph : trench 2 showing close up of boulders and clay, from W.
Records of Scotia Archaeology Ltd, Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
1994
© Historic Scotland
First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.
Collections
Administrative Areas
- Council Falkirk
- Parish Bo'ness And Carriden
- Former Region Central
- Former District Falkirk
- Former County West Lothian
Archaeology Notes
NT08SE 6.00 05545 80253
NT08SE 6.01 NT 054 800 Terraces; Formal Garden; Cultivation Remains
NT08SE 6.02 NT 056 803 Landing-place and jetty (Blackness Castle Bay)
NT08SE 6.03 NT 05586 80346 to NT 05544 80279 Pier
(NT 05545 80253) Blackness Castle (NR)
OS 6" map, (1970).
Blackness Castle stands on an outcrop of rock at the seaward end of a promontory formerly bounded on the S by a sea marsh. Owing to the nature of the site the plan (see RCAHMS 1929 plan,fig.226), it closely resembles a ship.
Access to the buildings is obtained through a doorway fitted with an iron yett and a passage under the early 17th century spur. This spur was heightened at its S end in 1693 and is surmounted by a gun platform.
The massive S or 'stern' tower was built in the 16th century and repaired in 1667. A kitchen and vaulted gun-chambers occupy the lower storeys and on the second floor is a large hall.
The enclosing or barmkin walls, also of 16th century date, were strengthened internally in the 17th century giving sufficient width for a gun platform on the E. Lean-to buildings, including barracks, stables and brewhouse, were erected against the walls but have since disappeared.
The oldest part of the castle is the tower in the centre of the courtyard, dating from the 15th century. A turnpike was added at the NE corner in 1667 when the tower was to be used as a prison for Covenanters.
Immediately outside is a draw-well cut through the rock.
The little bastion at the N end of the site, formerly the 'stem' tower, was reduced in 1693 and is now sur- mounted by a gun platform with two vaulted chambers below. Beneath the tower chamber is a pit-prison.
A small garrison occupied Blackness during the 18th century and in the 19th century it was a magazine for powder and stores.
Since coming under guardianship, the modern masonry has been removed and the castle restored to its 17th century outline.
DoE 1969; RCAHMS 1929, visited 1926.
As described above.
Visited by OS(BS) 14 March 1974.
Material from Blackness Castle has been donated to the NMAS by the DoE. NMAS 1976-7.
An archaeological excavation and watching brief were supervised by D Reed of Scotia Archaeology Limited over a seven day period between 26th October and 5th November 1992 in advance of extension of services.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
NMRS MS/733/18
A watching brief was kept by Scotia Archaeology Limited during the excavation by HS' DEL squad of shallow service trenches adjacent to and within the two towers of the castle. Nothing of archaeological interest was uncovered during this operation.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland.
R Murdoch 1994a.
The castle is located on a rocky promontory to the east of Blackness village. It is under the care of Historic Scotland with full time resident custodian.
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 24th February 1996.
NT 0556 8027 A narrow trench was opened by Kirkdale Archaeology within the courtyard of the castle in advance of the insertion of an electrical cable. The excavations showed that a considerable depth of deposits survived in the area between the central tower and the W curtain wall ? the only material left in the whole courtyard.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
G Ewart and P Sharman 1997
NT 0556 8027 Digging of foundations for a set of steps and a disabled access ramp to the sea gate in the NW of the castle was monitored. Excavation of a trench running along the inside (E) of the curtain wall revealed demolition, levelling or construction deposits, and one possible area of undisturbed archaeology.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
D Murray 1998
NT 053 801 A cable trench was excavated less than 500m from the entrance to Blackness Castle. The site lies within the Scheduled area of Blackness Castle, initially built in the 15th century to protect the sea port at Blackness.
The watching brief in January 2001 demonstrated that no archaeologically significant remains were disturbed. This area of Castle Road consists of made-up land revetted by the sea wall to the N. Any archaeological remains in the immediate vicinity would either lie on natural subsoil below the road make-up material, or would have been destroyed by the construction of the road itself.
Report to be lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Scottish Power plc.
K Cameron 2001
NT 055 801 A small trench was excavated in October 2001 immediately to the W of the Spur at Blackness Castle (NT08SE 6.00). This was to assess the archaeological implications of new access plans for visitors. About 10cm depth of modern path was removed to reveal an earlier cobbled surface and drain in the lower E end of the trench, immediately outside the doorway. Nothing of archaeological importance was found at the W end, where for the most part the modern path had been laid directly onto bedrock. The cobbles and drain were retained in situ.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: HS
G Ewart and J Franklin 2002.
Architecture Notes
For details of excavation archive by Scotia Archaeology Limited in 1992, see ARCHAEOLOGY notes.
Blackness Castle stands on a rocky promontery on the shore of the Forth, in the East part of Carriden Parish, Linlithgowshire, and is in the charge of the Commissioners of H.M. Works. According to the Gazetteers of Scotland.
Blackness was in its time the Port of Linlithgow, and the Castle was one of the four fortresses agreed by the Act of Union to be kept up in Scotland as a chain of forts for the defence of the Lowlanders against Highland aggression.
In 1807 - 74 it was made the base for extensive works to serve as the central ammunition depot of Scoland, the works costing, it is said, considerably more than (pounds)10,000, and comprising a powder magazine; a light iron-girder pier; a sea-wall 1000 feet long; storage places for guns and munitions of war; besides barracks to accommodate 30 men and a 2-storey building in the 'Scottish Baronial' style for officers.
The National Library of Scotland contains a series of Military Maps and Drawings of the Board of Ordnance dealing with the troublous times of the 18th Century, Reference 'MSS. 1645-1652'. Among them are the following of Blackness Castle:-
No. Z 2/75.
In Volume or Case No.1647.
'Plan of the Castle of Blackness, 1741'. With reference. Scale 25 feet to an inch. There is also a copy.
No. Z 46/61.
In Volume of Case No.1650.
'Plan of the Ground Walls' (being the ground floor plan). With explanation. Scale three-quarters of an inch to 10 feet.
and 'Plan of the Gun Ports', with explanation. Scale 20 feet to an inch. There is no date.
MacGibbon and Ross, in 'The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland' give an historical and descriptive note, and several pen and ink sketches of the Castle.
NMRS REFERENCES (items not found at time of upgrade, March 1999)
Plans: 6 photostat copies of plans etc. in National Library of Scotland
2 large newspaper cuttings (showing church)
Wood Sketch Book 2: 1 sketch
Activities
Aerial Photography (1971)
Oblique aerial photographs of Blackness Castle taken by Mr John Dewar in 1971.
Aerial Photography (1976)
Publication Account (1985)
This small dour fortress occupies the tip of a promontory jutting out into the Forth and was designed to protect the port of Blackness which served as the harbour for the major late medieval royal centre at Linlithgow. Despite a long life as a stronghold, prison and ammunition dump, involving frequent rebuilding and strengthening of the fabric, the castle still retains important features from most of its major phases, and it serves as an excellent example of the development offortifications from the mid-15th to late 19th centuries.
The earliest castle was built in the 1440s and comprised a ditch drawn across the neck of the promontory behind which there was a curtain wall surrounding a freestanding square tower, with a hall built against the south curtain wall. Much of this early fabnc survIVes, although it has been masked by later additions. The ditch has been cleared out as part of the 20th century restoration, and sections of the early crenellations can be seen fossilised halfway up the south tower. The primary function of the castle may have been defensive, but, like many other castles, Blackness served as a prison and the earliest historical reference to the castle, in 1449, records its use as a state prison. The castle continued to be used as a prison for the following 250 years, Cardinal Beaton, who was incarcerated there for about a month in 1543, being its most renowned prisoner.
Between 1537-42 the castle underwent a major programme of rebuilding in order to take account of the growing importance of artillery both in terms of defence and attack. This meant the provision of gunholes and the massive thickening of the walls to withstand bombardment. At the same time the hall was heightened and took on the form of a tower in which it survives today. The remodelling of the castle was undertaken by Sir James Hamilton ofFinnart, whose own castle at Craignethan (no. 32), built in the 1530s, exhibited similar innovations in the art of defence. Further stengthening occured between 1542 and 1567 with the addition of a spur on the west guarding the newly positioned entrance. The castle was besieged by Cromwell's army in 1650, and subsequent repairs to the south wall of the south tower can be seen as a patch of white stonework on the lower right of ilie tower.
In the 1870s the castle was converted to an ammunition store; the courtyard was covered, a castiron jetty built, and barracks erected outside the castle. After the fortress was handed over to the then Office of Works in 1912, most of these encumbrances were removed and the castle-was restored to its present condition.
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: The Clyde Estuary and Central Region’, (1985).
Aerial Photography (1991)
Excavation (1992)
An archaeological excavation and watching brief were supervised by D Reed of Scotia Archaeology Limited over a seven day period between 26th October and 5th November 1992 in advance of extension of services.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
NMRS MS/733/18
Aerial Photography (1992)
Excavation (1994)
An archaeological excavation and watching brief were supervised by D Reed of Scotia Archaeology Limited over a seven day period between 26th October and 5th November 1992 in advance of extension of services.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
NMRS MS/733/18
Excavation (22 April 1996 - 24 April 1996)
NT 0556 8027. A brief excavation was carried out by Kirkdale Archaeology in April 1996 to examine an area W of the main tower, where a 16th-century guardhouse once stood. This structure had apparently been demolished to put in an entrance through the N curtain wall, giving access to the Firth of Forth. The surviving masonry of the guardhouse consisted of the S wall, which still forms the entrance-way into the inner courtyard, and a low (200mm) remnant of the E wall. The N wall was absent, while the NW wall remains as the main outer wall of the fort.
It was revealed that the N and E walls of the guardhouse had been completely demolished in order to allow access to the drawbridge. The S wall was left, to overlook the entrance to the gateway. At a later date, perhaps as part of a landscaping programme, the E wall was restored, with reused blocks. No other traces of masonry relating to the guardhouse were identified.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
G Ewart 1996
Watching Brief (2 December 1996 - 5 December 1996)
Kirkdale Archaeology, under contract with Historic Scotland, excavated a cable route into the castle from a drain outlet in the W curtain wall below the drawbridge, around the N and E of the remains of the Guard House wall to an existing electrical duct on the E side of this wall. This would cross the area excavated by David Stewart for Kirkdale Archaeology in April 1996 at the N end of the visible length of the E wall of the guard house. Once the mouth of the drain on the inner face of the curtain wall was uncovered, the cable trench was required to be no more than 150 mm deep and 300 mm wide. The excavations showed that a considerable depth of deposits survived in the area between the central tower and the W curtain wall the only material left in the whole courtyard.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
G Ewart and P Sharman 1997
Field Visit (24 February 1996)
The castle is located on a rocky promontory to the east of Blackness village. It is under the care of Historic Scotland with full time resident custodian.
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 24th February 1996..
Watching Brief (2 December 1997)
Kirkdale Archaeology were contracted to monitor the digging of foundations for a set of steps and a disabled access ramp to the sea gate in the NW of the castle. This was to provide access to the existing pier beyond this gate.
Excavation was undertaken by hand within an odd shaped trench approximately 8.50 m long, roughly N-S, running along the inside (E) of the curtain wall. The trench averaged 40 cm wide and was a maximum of 30 cm deep.
Disturbed ground was found over the whole area, mostly a loose light grey silt with mortar (chunks and flecks), stone and brick being very common, and with some shell, bone, glass etc. throughout. A plastic pipe was noted at the extreme N end of the trench. For the final 170 cm of the S end of the E 'fork' of the trench was a deposit of crushed yellow sandstone, with some larger chunks throughout. This deposit may represent the only undisturbed archaeology located. It lay some 10 cm below modern ground level.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
G Ewart 1997
Kirkdale Archaeology
Excavation (24 November 1997)
NT 0556 8027 A narrow trench was opened by Kirkdale Archaeology within the courtyard of the castle in advance of the insertion of an electrical cable. The excavations showed that a considerable depth of deposits survived in the area between the central tower and the W curtain wall - the only material left in the whole courtyard.
G Ewart and P Sharman 1997
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
Kirkdale Archaeology
Excavation (1 October 2001 - 4 October 2001)
NT 055 801 A small trench was excavated in October 2001 immediately to the W of the Spur at Blackness Castle. This was to assess the archaeological implications of new access plans for visitors. About 10cm depth of modern path was removed to reveal an earlier cobbled surface and drain in the lower E end of the trench, immediately outside the doorway. Nothing of archaeological importance was found at the W end, where for the most part the modern path had been laid directly onto bedrock. The cobbles and drain were retained in situ.
G Ewart and J Franklin 2002
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
Kirkdale Archaeology
Watching Brief (26 April 2012)
NT 0552 8006 A watching brief was carried out on 26 April 2012 during the excavation of a small trench close to Blackness Castle, to house a stone plinth for a new interpretation panel. The flat expanse of grass that the trench was dug through is level with the top of the sea wall, a feature that appears quite recent. This area of grass was doubtless landscaped when the wall was built.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: Historic Scotland
Gordon Ewart, Kirkdale Archaeology
2012
Watching Brief (11 February 2012 - 17 February 2012)
NT 0550 8020 A watching brief was carried out 15–17 February 2012 during the excavation of a series of eight trenches designed to hold collapsible bollards. The 0.3m deep trenches, aligned cNW–SE across the access road within the gateway at Blackness Castle, contained no features of archaeological significance. Traffic and successive dumps of aggregate have created a very solid surface over a shallow demolition horizon. The latter derives from a stone and brick structure, which lay between the present shop and the parapet wall. This structure was demolished in the late 20th century to allow car parking and easier visitor access. A flooring deposit of laid bricks from the building was found and it is likely that more of the building footprint extends across the present access road.
Gordon Ewart 2012
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
Kirkdale Archaeology
OASIS ID: kirkdale1-310756
Watching Brief (27 November 2017)
A watching brief was carried out by CFA Archaeology Ltd just outside of the Scheduled Monument of Blackness Castle (NT 0534 8007) as part of the Minor Archaeological Services Call Off Contract, during the installation of a new gate. The work involved the excavation of two small trenches for the gate posts.
Information from OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-304188 (S Mitchell) 2017
Project (26 November 2021 - 11 January 2022)
NT 05545 80253 A geophysical survey was undertaken at Blackness Castle. This survey forms part of a programme of research to increase the understanding of the Castle and the wider landscape.
The survey area covers all available areas surrounding the Castle and fields immediately to the SW and S of the Castle covering a total area of 6.75ha. Most of the site was under short pasture at the time of survey. However, several areas could not be surveyed due to steep slopes, dense vegetation and bog, reducing the total area surveyed by the various techniques to 4.65ha. A combination of resistance, gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out.
The results from the resistance and GPR surveys surrounding the Castle are dominated by rectilinear anomalies and trends that show good correlation with former field boundaries and layouts indicated on the 1888–1893 1st Edition OS map and structures depicted on the OS 25 inch drawing of 1890 to 1940. Additional anomalies and trends have been detected by both techniques which are not indicated on past mapping and may potentially suggest remnants of features contemporary with the castle. Numerous services have also been mapped.
Within the chapel field immediately to the SW of the Castle, both the resistance and the gradiometer data are dominated by near surface geological and geomorphological changes. Within the resistance data there is a suggestion of a rectangular enclosure to the S of the Church that may include some central features. This enclosure may form part of the churchyard, or an annexe. Parallel trends indicative of past ridge and furrow cultivation have been noted throughout the southern half of the field. There is good correlation between the gradiometer and resistance data over a presumed former Second World War installation.
The gradiometer survey from the field to the S of the Castle, adjacent to the shoreline and playground, was limited in extent due to steep slopes, dense vegetation, and bogs and the results are dominated by strong responses from the modern seawall, and natural responses caused by the migration of Black Burn. A block of resistance survey was undertaken to the N of the playground and is dominated by high resistance due to near surface bedrock. A well-defined low resistance anomaly is thought to indicate an infilled quarry or backfilled hollow created by removal of a copse of trees. A linear low resistance response is thought to be associated with a former path/track or buried service.
Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants Funder: Historic Environment Scotland
Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants
(Source: DES Volume 23)
Ground Penetrating Radar (26 November 2021 - 11 January 2022)
NT 05545 80253 A combination of resistance, gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out.
Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants Funder: Historic Environment Scotland
Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants
(Source: DES Volume 23)
Magnetometry (26 November 2021 - 11 January 2022)
NT 05545 80253 A combination of resistance, gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out.
Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants Funder: Historic Environment Scotland
Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants
(Source: DES Volume 23)
Resistivity (26 November 2021 - 11 January 2022)
NT 05545 80253 A combination of resistance, gradiometry, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out.
Archive: Rose Geophysical Consultants Funder: Historic Environment Scotland
Susan Ovenden – Rose Geophysical Consultants
(Source: DES Volume 23)
Aerial Photography (29 June 2022)
HES undertook UAV aerial photography at Blackness Castle on 29 June 2022 in response to a request from colleagues in Commercial and Tourism.
The survey consisted of the capture of 44 oblique aerial photographs to record general views and images of parchmarks in the courtyard. The imagery was captured using a DJI Inspire 2 UAV (X7/FC6540 camera and 24mm equivalent lens). The oblique images were edited in Adobe Photoshop CC and archived as both raw (DNG) and tiff formats.
Visited by HES Archaeological Survey (GFG) 29 June 2022.
References
External Links
MyCanmore Image Contributions
MyCanmore Text Contributions