Archaeology Notes
Event ID 709771
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/709771
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.
