Rosyth Castle
| Rosyth Castle | ||
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 Rosyth Castle from the south |
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| Creation time : | circa 1450 | |
| Castle type : | Niederungsburg (Tower House) | |
| Conservation status: | ruin | |
| Standing position : | Scottish nobility | |
| Construction: | Quarry stone | |
| Place: | Rosyth | |
| Geographical location | 56 ° 1 '24.3 " N , 3 ° 25' 53" W | |
| Height: | 5 m ASLTemplate: height / unknown reference | |
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Rosyth Castle is the ruins of a residential tower from the 15th century near the Navy Yard Rosyth in Scotland County Fife .
Originally the castle stood on a small island in the Firth of Forth that could only be reached at low tide. It dates from around 1450 when it was built as a safe home for Sir David Stewart , who was awarded the Baronate of Rosyth in 1428 .
The original 17.4 meter high Tower House was enlarged and expanded in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
In 1572 it was attacked by men from Blackness Castle on the south bank of the Firth of Forth, and in 1651 it was captured by Oliver Cromwell's army after the Battle of Inverkeithing .
Rosyth Castle remained the Stewart's residence until it was sold to David Drummond of Invermay in the late 17th century . Eventually it ended up in the possession of the Earl of Hopetoun and remained uninhabited from the 18th century. During this and later times, large parts of the masonry were reused for other buildings. The later outbuildings in the courtyard were almost completely torn down, so that today only the ruins of the Tower House and the northern castle courtyard wall are visible above ground.
In 1903 the castle ruins became the property of the Admiralty . Due to land reclamation , it lost its location on the beach and is now in the middle of the shipyard. There were plans to restore the building and use it again, but these were discarded and the ruins were saved in their current state. Rosyth Castle fell into private hands when large parts of the surrounding shipyard were sold.
About 800 meters north of the castle ruins there is a well-preserved dovecote from the 16th century with stepped gables and hewn heads at two corners. Inside it has a barrel vaulted ceiling .
Historic Scotland had both buildings listed as Category A Historic Buildings, but that status has been revoked. They are now only considered a Scheduled Monument .
Sources and web links
- Entry on Rosyth Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- Entry on Pigeon House at Rosyth Castle in Canmore, Historic Environment Scotland database
- Listed Building Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- Listed Building Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .
- Scheduled Monument - entry . In: Historic Scotland .