DiCamillo Companion
Scotland

Blackness Castle

Blackness, near Edinburgh

Falkirk

Scotland

Circa Date: 1440s core w/16th century, 1667 & 1693 alterations and additions

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: Yes

Country House: No (Other)

This house has been used for TV and Film

The castle from a 1922 postcard

  • Earlier Houses: The current castle fortress was probably built on the site of an earlier fort.

    Built / Designed For: Sir George Crichton

    House & Family History: Blackness Castle was built in the mid-15th century by Sir George Crichton, admiral of Scotland and cousin of Sir William Crichton, King James II's chancellor. The castle was annexed by the Scottish Crown in 1453 and remained, in one way or another, a government installation until 1919. In the 17th century it was used as a prison for important Covenanters. In the 18th and 19th centuries the castle served as a barracks, a storage depot, a prison, and a transit camp for French prisoners of war.

  • House Listed: Scheduled Ancient Monument

    Park Listed: Not Listed

  • "Hamlet" (1990). "Ivanhoe" (1997 - TV mini series). "Outlander" (2014 - TV series, as Fort William). "Mary Queen of Scots" (2018 - for scenes outside Holyrood House).

  • Past Seat / Home of: Sir George Crichton, 1st Earl of Caithness, 15th century.

    Current Ownership Type: Historic Environment Scotland

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

  • House Open to Public: Yes

    Phone: 01506-834-807

    Website: https://www.historicenvironment.scot

    Historic Houses Member: No

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The DiCamillo Companion does not receive any compensation from the Historic Houses Association.