Dysartian
A Contrast in Architectural Styles
On the left is Ravenscraig Castle, built by King James II of Scotland in the 15th century as a modern castle built to withstand cannon-fire. The main part of the castle, (which is still standing) had walls thirteen feet (4 metres) thick. Oliver Cromwell’s invading Parliamentarian army laid siege to the castle, which was held for the royalist forces of Charles II. Cromwell’s gunners ignored the strong part and set about blasting apart the thinner walled part of the castle, which was on the crags. Fortunately for history, Cromwell had to leave, to deal with trouble elsewhere in Scotland, before his forces had time to level, or flatten the entire castle.
In the centre of the photo, the castle is dwarfed by the three tower blocks of the Ravenscraig flats, which were built as by Kirkcaldy Town Council to provide affordable council housing in the 1960s. Although the flats weren’t sympathetically located with respect to the castle, they have been well looked after, are largely privately owned now and have proved very popular residences with the people of Kirkcaldy, because of their nice views and facilities.
On the right, the little pointy-roofed tower (A great place to observe seals on the rocks offshore, or on the little beach-cove) is in Ravenscraig Park, a popular public park. The park was originally the Three Trees Park, owned by the St Clair, Earls of Rosslyn. One of the later earls went bankrupt due to his love of gambling and wandering eye for pretty ladies. After a costly divorce he had to sell Dysart House and his lands in Fife. Eventually, Dysart House became a Carmelite Nunnery and the parkland was donated by the Nairn Family to the people of Kirkcaldy.
A Contrast in Architectural Styles
On the left is Ravenscraig Castle, built by King James II of Scotland in the 15th century as a modern castle built to withstand cannon-fire. The main part of the castle, (which is still standing) had walls thirteen feet (4 metres) thick. Oliver Cromwell’s invading Parliamentarian army laid siege to the castle, which was held for the royalist forces of Charles II. Cromwell’s gunners ignored the strong part and set about blasting apart the thinner walled part of the castle, which was on the crags. Fortunately for history, Cromwell had to leave, to deal with trouble elsewhere in Scotland, before his forces had time to level, or flatten the entire castle.
In the centre of the photo, the castle is dwarfed by the three tower blocks of the Ravenscraig flats, which were built as by Kirkcaldy Town Council to provide affordable council housing in the 1960s. Although the flats weren’t sympathetically located with respect to the castle, they have been well looked after, are largely privately owned now and have proved very popular residences with the people of Kirkcaldy, because of their nice views and facilities.
On the right, the little pointy-roofed tower (A great place to observe seals on the rocks offshore, or on the little beach-cove) is in Ravenscraig Park, a popular public park. The park was originally the Three Trees Park, owned by the St Clair, Earls of Rosslyn. One of the later earls went bankrupt due to his love of gambling and wandering eye for pretty ladies. After a costly divorce he had to sell Dysart House and his lands in Fife. Eventually, Dysart House became a Carmelite Nunnery and the parkland was donated by the Nairn Family to the people of Kirkcaldy.