RAVENSCRAIG CASTLE

KIRKCALDY CIVIC SOCIETY

The construction of Ravenscraig Castle began in March 1460 at the order of King James II. That same year the King was killed while besieging Roxburgh Castle but the building work continued at Ravenscraig.

The castle became the home of the widowed Queen, Mary of Gueldres.

It is believed that she lived in the west tower (known as the Queen's Tower). The Queen died on the 1st December 1463.

In 1470 James III granted the uncompleted castle and its lands to William Lord Sinclair in exchange for the Orkney Islands. The castle remained in the Sinclair family until 1896.

It is thought that Cromwells troops may well have taken up residence in the castle around 1651.

The Statistical Account of 1794 states that Ravenscraig

'has for many years, been unoccupied and in a ruinous state'

In 1805 Sir Walter Scott mentioned the Castle in his narrative poem ‘The Lay of the Last Minstrel’.

In 1889 the castle and grounds were sold to Michael Barker Nairn (later Sir Michael) the son of Michael Nairn who founded the floorcloth industry which later led to the manufacture of linoleum.

The grounds of the castle were private land until the Nairn family opened up the area in 1929 and gifted Kirkcaldy the Ravenscraig Park.

The town council then became the owners of the castle but it later came under the ownership of Historic Scotland.

In the 1970s there was a warden in the castle and electricity was supplied to light up the well tower dungeon but in the early 1990's this, unfortunately, came to an end.

KCS are concerned about the condition of this impressive ‘A’ listed castle as there has been much vandalism in recent times.

To raise the publics awareness of the castle KCS have held an annual event there since 2001. (see our Events page)

Photographs by Don Swanson & Anne McIntyre (Well tower dungeon)

More information can be found in the Pathhead Walkabout book and Dr. Duncan Glen wrote an excellent booklet entitled 'Ravenscraig Castle' (Akros publishing, ISBN 0 86142 125 6)