Scheduled Monument

Inchkeith Island and fortificationsSM3838

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
17/03/1976
Last Date Amended
04/06/2018
Supplementary Information Updated
06/02/2019
Type
20th Century Military and Related: Artillery mount; Barracks; Battery; Domestic buildings (prefabricated); Fort; Magazines; Pillbox; Pits, trenches (defensive) , Secular: battery; fort (non-prehistoric)
Local Authority
Fife
Parish
Kinghorn
NGR
NT 29358 82744
Coordinates
329358, 682744

Description

The monument consists of the greater part of the island of Inchkeith and its fortifications, the main elements of which are:

The Franco-Scottish Fort of 1556-64, of which two curtains and a flanker with a gunloop stand to full height, with the lower courses and corework of the south salient.

Three small forts or self-defensible batteries with underground magazines of 1878-81. Of these forts 2 and 3 survive with modified gun pits and splinter canopies, while the superstructure of fort 1 has been superseded by a later emplacement.

Three barbettes or gun pits for 9.2" guns of 1903, 1904 and 1907, with associated accommodation, storage and magazines.

A stone built barrack complex south-east of the harbour of about 1900.

Cells and passages of position-finding and fire control systems of about 1890-1914.

Gun emplacement at the West Stell of the early 20th century.

Various concrete block houses above high-water mark of the early 20th century.

Fire trenches of the early 20th century and the period of the First World War.

Wire stakes from early 20th century barbed wire entanglements.

The scheduled area consists of the whole island, including an area off-shore in order to cover any associated archaeology.

Specifically excluded are:

  1. The memorial to Lord Herbert of Lea;
  2. The lighthouse and lighthouse keeper's house and ancillary buildings (but including the rebuilt 16th century gate in the screen wall);
  3. The jetty of the Leith Harbour; and
  4. The fog horn stance at the extreme northern end of the island

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for our understanding of the history of artillery fortification in Scotland, with structures dating from the 1550s to the period of the Second World War.

References

Bibliography

RCHAMS records the site as NT28SE 1.

References:

Saunders A 1984, 'The defences of the Firth of Forth, in D. J. Breeze (ed.) Studies in Scottish Antiquity, 469-487.

Saunders A 1989, Fortress Britain, 195-205.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check Canmore for images relating to Inchkeith Island and fortifications

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 20/04/2024 08:38