Scheduled Monument

Rosyth CastleSM9150

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
05/07/1995
Last Date Amended
09/01/1996
Type
Secular: castle
Local Authority
Fife
Parish
Dunfermline
NGR
NT 10878 82100
Coordinates
310878, 682100

Description

The monument consists of a late-fifteenth-century tower-house of L-shaped plan and of fine ashlar construction. It stands at the north-eastern corner of a courtyard of buildings. The tower was modified in 1635, when larger windows were inserted to light the hall, when that date was inscribed on one of the lintels.The castle was the principal residence of the Stewarts of Rosyth, to whom the barony was confirmed in 1428; the family became extinct in the late seventeenth-century.

The courtyard is of mainly sixteenth- and seventeenth-century date, and was originally entirely enclosed by ranges of buildings. Of the courtyard ranges parts of those on the north and west sides still stand to a considerable height, while the lower walls of the east and south ranges have been located by excavation. The entrance to the courtyard was through a small salient gatehouse in the north range, immediately adjacent to the tower-house; associated with the heraldic panels above the gateway is the date 1561.

The castle originally stood on a rocky tidal promontory off the north shore of the Firth of Forth, and it is likely there were extensive ancillary buildings on the mainland, of which the dovecot is the only relic. The castle is now surrounded by the reclaimed land of the naval dockyard.

The area to be scheduled includes the quadrilateral area that has been in the care of Historic Scotland and its predecessors since 1928, defined (in the imperial units at use in the time) as extending 51 feet out from the north side of the castle and 49 feet out from the east. The boundary on the west side is defined by the pavement flanking the road on that side, which is 21 feet from the north-west corner and 11 feet from the south-west corner. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

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

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Printed: 28/03/2024 17:09