Blackness Castle is located on the southern shore of the Forth of Forth. It was built in 1440 as a fortified residence by the Crichtons, one of Scotland’s most prominent medieval families. It is often referred to as ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to the shape of of the towers and walls which resemble that of a ship.

Ownership passed to the Scottish Crown in 1453. The royal castle would later be used as a state prison, an artillery fortification, and an ammunition depot. The castle withstood various sieges, until it came up against Oliver Cromwell’s heavy guns in 1650, forcing the garrison to surrender. It remained in military use until the First World War.