Archaeology Notes
Event ID 712540
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/712540
NT18SW 9.00 11752 84859
For further Pitreavie Defence pillboxes see also NT18NW 68 and NT18NW 69
NT18SW 9.01 NT 11846 84895 Pitreavie Castle, Dovecot
NT18SW 9.02 NT 11783 84818 Pitreavie Castle, Garden and Sundial
NT18SW 9.03 NT 1171 8469 RAF Pitreavie Castle, pillbox
NT18SW 9.04 NT 1181 8465 RAF Pitreavie Castle, pillbox
NT18SW 9.05 NT 1190 8475 RAF Pitreavie Castle, pillbox
NT18SW 9.06 NT 1172 8483 MHQ Pitreavie, Underground Headquarters
NT18SW 9.07 NT 1165 8479 MHQ Pitreavie, A block
NT18SW 9.08 NT 1156 8481 MHQ Pitreavie, B block
NT18SW 9.09 NT 1150 8490 MHQ Pitreavie, HMS Scotia
NT18SW 9.10 NT 1192 8497 RAF Pitreavie Castle, ground radio building
NT18SW 9.11 NT 1130 8484 RAF Pitreavie Castle, ATC headquarters
NT18SW 9.12 NT 1113 8483 RAF Pitreavie Castle, Station Church
NT18SW 9.13 NT 113 851 to 117 851 Married Quarters
NT18SW 9.14 NT 117 850 to 120 851 and 1188 848 Aerial Field
NT18SW 9.15 NT 1167 8486 RAF Pitreavie Castle, Guardroom
NT18SW 9.16 NT 1160 8482 RAF Pitreavie Castle, Garage Block
NT18SW 9.17 NT 1165 8494 Motor Transport Section
NT18SW 9.18 NT 1164 8484 Confidential Books Section
NT18SW 9.19 NT 1166 8485 RAF Pitreavie Castle, training building
NT18SW 9.20 NT 1182 8492 Pitreavie Castle, steading
NT18SW 9.21 NT 1180 8472 RAF Pitreavie Castle, South buildings
NT18SW 9.22 NT 11943 84781 Pitreavie Castle, East Lodge (Emergency Generator House)
NT18SW 9.23 NT 1178 8486 to 1181 8486 Hutted accommodation
NT18SW 9.24 NT 1199 8483 Engine House
NT18SW 9.25c.NT 1131 8482 RAF Pitreavie Castle, pillbox
J Guy 1994; NMRS MS 810/3
(NT 1175 8486) Pitreavie (NR)
OS 6" map (1948)
Pitreavie House was probably originally built by Sir Henry Wardlaw of Balmule who had brought the lands in 1608. Mention of the manor place is made in a document of 1614. It was a four storeyed house with a vaulted ground floor and its plan consists of a main block running east to west with wings at either end returning northwards. The old entrance is a fine renaissance doorway in the pediment of which are the initials S.H.W. (Sir Henry Wardlaw). Extensive alterations were made as well as additions in 1885. Behind the house is a sundial bearing the date 1644. In the grounds is an arched gateway (not in situ) which contains in its pediment the initials D.E.W. (Dame Elizabeth Wilson - wife of the first Sir Henry Wardlaw).
RCAHMS 1933; J C Gibson, undated
Pitreavie House was built in the shape of a letter 'E' without the middle line but may originally have been L shaped. The space between the two gables was a courtyard with a completing wall which does not now exist. The gateway of the courtyard but in a different position.
T Hannah 1928
Only the north and west walls of the 17th century house have been retained in the new mansion.
D Beveridge 1888
Pitreavie is now the officer's mess of Maritime Headquarters, Rosyth. The house is mainly late 19th century. Only part of the north and west walls of the old house remain. The sundial and courtyard gateway were not seen.
Visited by OS (AC) 12 March 1959.
In May 1996 an archaeological desk-based assessment and field survey was undertaken at Pitreavie Castle and its grounds, which have been owned and occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and antecedent bodies for the last 50 years but has been proposed for redevelopment.
A survey of the rooms within Pitreavie Castle was also undertaken, paying particular attention to the changes made in the 1890s and by the MoD in the 1940s.
Full details are contained in a report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Ironside Farrar Environmental Consultants at the request of Fife Enterprise.
T Neighbour 1997
NT 117 848 An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in advance of a proposed development of a redundant military base. A desk-based assessment and programme of test-pitting (Neighbour 1997) indicated that although a number of features of archaeological interest are present within the development area, the archaeological potential of the study area is limited.
Of 25 test-pits, only one yielded a certainly pre-modern item - a sherd of green-glazed pottery. Of the remaining trenches, 20 were without any archaeological material and four revealed evidence of indeterminate stone structures.
A watching brief conducted in May, during the subsequent demolition phase of the project, revealed nothing of archaeological significance.
A detailed report has been lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Ironside Farrar Ltd for Fife Enterprise.
J Hamilton 1998
NT 1175 8480 A programme of archaeological works was instigated during the ground-reduction process associated with the construction of an attenuation pond at Pitreavie Castle Estate, Dunfermline. No significant archaeological features or artefactual material were discovered during either the evaluation or watching brief.
Sponsor: Cala Homes.
A Duffy and J Gooder 1999
NT 177 848 The report on the archaeological evaluation on the above site outlines the methods used in the evaluations. It suggests that there are no areas that prompted further archaeological study. However as test pits cannot be confidently relied on a watching brief during the development should be considered.
Sponsor: Ironside Farrar Ltd
NMRS MS/726/122 (Edinburgh University Centre for Field Archaeology)
