Ravenscraig Castle

Ravenscraig Castle is a ruined castle located in Kirkcaldy which dates from around 1460. The castle is considered to be one of the first, if not the first to deal with artillery defence.

History

The construction of Ravenscraig Castle under the order of King James II (reigned 1437-1460) was to built as a home for his wife, Mary of Gueldres by the mason Henry Merlion and the master carpenter Friar Andres Lesouris.Eunson, Eric "Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy" p.27.] The castle is considered to be one of if not the first in Scotland to deal with artillery defence to withstand cannon fire. The king despite being involved with the planning was ironically killed in a tragic accident with a loaded cannon near Floors Castle. Civic Society "Kirkcaldy A History and Celebration" p.13.] The castle was eventually started around 1460 by his wife, Mary of Guelders as a memoir to him as a dower house. Lamont-Brown, Raymond "Fife in History and Legend", p.148.] Mary of Guelders did live in the castle until her death in 1463 when only the east tower and the basement of the central section was done.Tabraham, p.98] The ownership passed into the hands of James III (reigned 1460-1488) in 1470 when he deciding he was more interested in a castle in Orkney so he sold the castle to Lord Earl of Caitness in an exchange deal with the Sinclair family. Ravenscraig was finally completed after 1470 by the Sinclairs, who also had an interest in artillery fortifications.

During the 1650-51 invasion of Scotland by English forces under Oliver Cromwell, Ravenscraig was invaded, attacked and damaged.cite web |url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst6446.html |title=Ravenscraig Castle |work=Gazetteer for Scotland |accessdate=2008-08-06] .Lamont Brown "Fife in History and Legend" 2002, p.149.] The castle remained in the ownership of the Sinclairs, who built nearby Dysart House (1755-1756) on the estate, and later passed to the Sinclair-Erskines, Earls of Rosslyn. The estate and castle remained in the family until they were sold in 1896, by the 5th Earl, to linoleum magnate Sir Michael Nairn. [cite web |url=http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst9894.html |title=Dysart House |work=Gazetteer for Scotland |accessdate=2008-08-18]

The castle was used as an ammunition depot during the First World War. In 1929, convert|85|acre|ha of the estate, including the castle, was given to the town of Kirkcaldy as a public park. [cite web |url=http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.details_gis?inumlink=52902 |title=Ravenscraig Castle, NMRS Number: NT29SE 11 |publisher=RCAHMS |accessdate=2008-08-18] Ravenscraig Castle was passed into state care in 1955 and has been open to the public by the owners Historic Scotland since 1971. Civic Society "Pathhead and Ravenscraig Castle" 2002, p.45.] It is now managed by Historic Scotland, and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, [cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/eschedule/show?ID=90244&OK=Y |title=The Monument Known as Ravenscraig Castle |date=1999 |accessdate=2008-08-15] and a category A listed building.cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/portal.hsstart?P_HBNUM=36404 |title=Ravenscraig Park, Ravenscraig Castle, Listed Building Report |publisher=Historic Scotland |accessdate=2008-08-15]

The castle

Ravenscraig is a small castle, built on a narrow rocky promontory in the Firth of Forth. It is naturally defended on three sides by steep cliffs dropping to the sea, and the main part of the castle forms the northern, landward, defence. This comprises two D-plan towers, with outer walls convert|4.25|m|ft thick, designed to withstand cannon fire. Battlements between the towers formed an artilley platform, with gun holes pointing to landward. The whole is defended by a deep, rock-cut ditch, and is accessed via a bridge.

The towers

The west tower stands to four storeys, and has a single small room on each floor. At the ground floor is a vaulted cellar, with a hall above, accessed via a stone forestair, or outside stairway. A spiral stair links the upper levels, although the timber floors are no longer present. Chimneys rise through the walls to form features of the castle's skyline. The east tower is of three storeys, although its base is set lower into the cliff. A well is located at the lowest level, with a single chamber on each level above, although again the timber floors are missing. The floors are linked by a straight stair within the thickness of the west wall. The rooms of both towers are windowless to landward, due to the thick walls, but have windows with stone seats to the other sides.Lindsay, pp.403-404]

Linking building and courtyard

The towers are linked by a central block, which contains the main gate and entrance passage. Vaulted cellars and a guard room lie to either side. These vaults support the artillery platform above. The gun holes are of the "inverted keyhole" type, which became common in the late 15th century. Beyond the main block, only the foundations remain of the buildings on the promontory.

References

*Kirkcaldy Civic Society (2005) "Kirkcaldy A History and Celebration". The Francis Firth Collection.
*Coventry, Martin. (2001) "The Castles of Scotland (3rd Edition)". Goblinshead. ISBN 978-1899874262
*Lindsay, Maurice. (1986) "The Castles of Scotland". Constable & Co. ISBN 978-0094646001
*Tabraham, Chris. (1997) "Scotland's Castles". BT Batsford/Historic Scotland. ISBN 978-0713479652

External links

*historic-scotland-link|230
*cite web |url=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkcaldy/ravenscraigcastle/index.html |title=Ravenscraig Castle |work=Undiscovered Scotland |accessdate=2008-08-06