Dysartian
Snowy Ravenscraig Castle
Ravenscraig Castle was built by French stonemasons, for King James II of Scotland as a home for his wife, Mary of Gueldres and the ashlar sandstone from which it was constructed may have been quarried locally at the quarry location which became nearby Dysart Harbour. The castle is considered to be one of the first in Scotland to be built specifically to withstand cannon fire (parts of the main castle have rounded walls that are around 13 feet thick). Ironically, King James who loved boy’s toys like the new-fangled cannons was killed by one of his own cannons blowing-up at the Siege of Roxburgh Castle. Ravenscraig Castle was started around 1460 and Mary of Gueldres lived in the castle until she died in 1463. The new owner, King James III of Scotland, decided he wanted lands on the Orkney Isles instead, so he swopped the castle in an exchange deal with the St Clair family. He probably said. “Think carefully about my kind offer”. “You don’t have to accept my offer of swopsies, but I would advise you do so!" So they did. Ravenscraig was finally completed after 1470 by the St Clairs.
In the 1650-51 invasion of Scotland by English forces under Oliver Cromwell, Ravenscraig was invaded, attacked and badly damaged. Fortunately Ollie had to go elsewhere to deal with another threat from the Scots (who actually supported King Charles II in the struggle with Parliament) otherwise the castle may have been completely levelled. The castle remained in the ownership of the St Clairs and later passed to the Sinclair-Erskines, Earls of Rosslyn. The estate and castle remained in the family until they were sold in 1896 to linoleum magnate Sir Michael Nairn, by the 5th Earl (the gambler and womaniser who went bankrupt) .
In 1929, a large part of the Nairn’s estate, including the castle, was gifted to the town of Kirkcaldy as a public park. The castle passed into state care in 1955 and has been open to the public since 1971. It is now managed by Historic Scotland, and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a category A listed building. Entry is free.
Snowy Ravenscraig Castle
Ravenscraig Castle was built by French stonemasons, for King James II of Scotland as a home for his wife, Mary of Gueldres and the ashlar sandstone from which it was constructed may have been quarried locally at the quarry location which became nearby Dysart Harbour. The castle is considered to be one of the first in Scotland to be built specifically to withstand cannon fire (parts of the main castle have rounded walls that are around 13 feet thick). Ironically, King James who loved boy’s toys like the new-fangled cannons was killed by one of his own cannons blowing-up at the Siege of Roxburgh Castle. Ravenscraig Castle was started around 1460 and Mary of Gueldres lived in the castle until she died in 1463. The new owner, King James III of Scotland, decided he wanted lands on the Orkney Isles instead, so he swopped the castle in an exchange deal with the St Clair family. He probably said. “Think carefully about my kind offer”. “You don’t have to accept my offer of swopsies, but I would advise you do so!" So they did. Ravenscraig was finally completed after 1470 by the St Clairs.
In the 1650-51 invasion of Scotland by English forces under Oliver Cromwell, Ravenscraig was invaded, attacked and badly damaged. Fortunately Ollie had to go elsewhere to deal with another threat from the Scots (who actually supported King Charles II in the struggle with Parliament) otherwise the castle may have been completely levelled. The castle remained in the ownership of the St Clairs and later passed to the Sinclair-Erskines, Earls of Rosslyn. The estate and castle remained in the family until they were sold in 1896 to linoleum magnate Sir Michael Nairn, by the 5th Earl (the gambler and womaniser who went bankrupt) .
In 1929, a large part of the Nairn’s estate, including the castle, was gifted to the town of Kirkcaldy as a public park. The castle passed into state care in 1955 and has been open to the public since 1971. It is now managed by Historic Scotland, and is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a category A listed building. Entry is free.