Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress located in Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. It was built by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s and served as a state prison and royal residence. The castle was fortified by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart in the mid-16th century and became one of the most advanced artillery fortifications in Scotland. Despite these efforts, the castle fell to Oliver Cromwell’s army in 1650. It was later repaired and used as a prison and minor garrison. In the 1870s, barracks and officers’ quarters were added, and the castle was used as an ammunition depot until 1912. It was briefly reused by the army during World War I and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument managed by Historic Environment Scotland. The castle is known for its unique shape, which has been described as “the ship that never sailed,” with the north and south towers being called the “stem” and “stern,” and the central tower being referred to as the “main mast.