Blackness Castle, Landing-place And Jetty

NT08SE 6.02 056 803

Not to be confused with indeterminate remains (at NT 056 800 and NT 056 801) in Blackness Castle Bay, for which see NT08SE 207.

(Location cited as NT 056 803). Blackness Castle, West Lothian. Blackness Castle (NT08SE 6.00) is shaped on plan like a ship, aligned north-eastwards, its sharp stem being founded on the littoral rocks. East of a line drawn seawards from the end of the structure, the rock has been cut away to a vertical face, up to 6ft [1.8m] above the beach but decreasing in height seawards, and in this way a small tidal cove has been formed with some slight shelter from the W. The naturally smooth surface of the rock on the cutting has evidently been used as a quay, serving boats at high tide, as a large iron ring has been set in it, and another in the 'stem' of the castle. The latter is probably not of any great age, as it is practically free from rust.

Before reaching low-water mark, the rock dips under a muddy beach, but further out there may be seen the footings of a landing-jetty, evidently for use at low water. This has been formed of a double row of squared blocks about 4ft [1.2m] wide over all and probably over 120ft [36.6m], but its length is doubtful as its junction with the littoral rock has been washed away and its seaward end was under water when visited. The small amount of debris seems to suggest that the work never stood very high, while the presence of a block which has been cut to take an iron cramp, and of another, evidently re-used, which shows traces of droving, indicate a date later, and perhaps a good deal later, than the beginning of the 19th century.

A Graham 1971.