Oblique aerial view of Blackness Castle.

Description Oblique aerial view of Blackness Castle.

Date 1971

Collection John Dewar

Catalogue Number SC 1569935

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of WL 2369

Scope and Content Aerial view of Blackness Castle, Falkirk This aerial view from the south-east, taken in 1971, shows the long, narrow layout of the curtain walls of the castle, with the south tower at its left end, and the free-standing prison tower to its right. To the left is the small barrack block built in 1870-4. In the foreground are the remains of an early pier. The artillery fort was designed by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, who was aware of similar developments on the continent. Blackness Castle relied on the strength of the mass of masonry in the walls, and was soon outmoded. It was badly damaged during a siege by Oliver Cromwell in 1650. The first part of Blackness Castle was a tower built in the 15th century, and used as a state prison until 1707. Around the tower a massive artillery fortification was built from 1537 to 1543. It was converted into an ammunition depot in 1870-4, and became an ancient monument after World War I. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference 6228/16

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1569935

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap