Blackness Castle Scotland photo, Scottish history, Date, Linlithgow fort property location, Firth of Forth West Lothian info
Blackness Castle West Lothian
Scottish Fortified Building near Linlithgow, West Lothian, central Scotland, UK – 15th-century fortress on the Firth of Forth.
post updated 16 December 2023
Please check with the castle owners for details such as access & charge
Address: Blackness Castle, Blackness, Linlithgow, EH49 7NH
Location: on the Forth, 4m north-east of Linlithgow, West Lothian.
It is sited at the end of the B903, A904 north after leaving M9 @ Junction 3.
15th-century fortress photo © Adrian Welch
Blackness Castle West Lothian Fortified Building
Blackness Castle – Description
Blackness Castle is a 15th-century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth.
The original part of the castle dates from the 1440s. Between 1537 and 1553, with the worsening of relationships between Scotland and England, this structure was turned into one of the most formidable castles in Scotland.
In 1870 the castle building was redeveloped as a central ammunition depot with a pier out into the Forth to land ammunition from ships. After the First World War the military left Blackness castle and it became the Office of Works for renovation.
It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s. At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, one of the main residences of the Scottish monarch.
The castle, together with the Crichton lands, passed to James II of Scotland in 1453, and the castle has been crown property ever since. It served as a state prison, holding such prisoners as Cardinal Beaton and the 6th Earl of Angus.
Blackness Castle Opening Times
correct at time of writing – please check with property owner/operator:
1st Apr to 30th Sep:
Mon – Sun 9.30am to last entry 6pm (closes at 6.30pm)
1st Oct to 31st Mar:
Mon – Wed & Sat 9.30am to last entry 4pm (closes 4.30pm)
Thu 9.30am to 12.30pm
Fri closed
Sun 2pm to last entry 4pm (closes 4.30pm)
Contact Blackness Castle: +44 (0)1506 834807
Historic Scottish Buildings
Historic West Lothian Property Designs
Linlithgow Palace, Linlithgow, West Lothian, central Scotland
Linlithgow Palace
Historic Scottish Capital Property Designs – key architectural selection below:
Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Edinburgh Castle
Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, Old Town, Edinburgh
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Craigmillar Castle, ruined medieval fort three miles south-east of the Scottish capital city centre
Craigmillar Castle
+++
Historic Edinburgh & Lothian Houses – properties selection below:
Arniston House, near the village of Temple, south of Edinburgh
Arniston House
Winton House, north of Pencaitland, East Lothian
Winton House
Liberton Tower, Liberton Road, Liberton, Edinburgh EH16 6NR, Scotland, UK
Liberton Tower
Architecture in Scotland
Scottish Architects of the past
Historic Glasgow: best Glasgow buildings of the past
Scottish Castles in Edinburgh & Lothian
Burrell Museum
photo © Adrian Welch
The Visit Scotland website page for this histroic building: www.visitscotland.com
St Vincent Street Church
photo © Adrian Welch
Briggait Centre renewal design by Nicoll Russell Studios.
Website – wikipedia page on this Scottish Fortified Building near Linlithgow,
Comments / photos for the Blackness Castle West Lothian Building page welcome
Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk