What is recorded here

Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress built by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s, later becoming crown property and serving as a state prison, artillery fortification, and 19th-century barracks until 1912. Its long, narrow shape jutting into the Firth of Forth earned it the nickname “the ship that never sailed,” with towers called stem, stern, and main mast. Prisoners like Cardinal Beaton and the 6th Earl of Angus were held within its walls, while Oliver Cromwell’s army captured it in 1650 despite its advanced defences. Today it stands restored under Historic Environment Scotland, still carrying the weight of feuds, sieges, and forgotten lives.

Scotland's National Record of the Historic Environment records Blackness Castle as Barracks (19th Century). The official map says its point is accurate as follows: NGR given to the nearest 10m. The record does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.

Blackness Castle, located in East Lothian, Scotland, was originally built in the early 15th century by the Douglas family, later becoming a key stronghold of the Crown. It is important as a well-preserved example of a medieval tower house and played a strategic role in the defense of the Firth of Forth.

The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.