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Rossend Castle, Burntisland
- Photo:
Kevin Rae
CCL |
This Royal Burgh owes its
existence to a natural harbour probably used
originally in prehistoric times. It is claimed
that the invading Romans, under Agricola, landed
here and established it as a naval base around
AD85. In the 12th century the Castle of Rossend
was built as the residence of the Abbots of
Dunfermline. (It has now been modernised and is
used as offices.)
King James V granted the town a charter in 1541
since when it developed and thrived as a trading
port and naval base. In 1563, Mary Queen of Scots
stayed here and in 1651, Oliver Cromwell's English
army arrived and troops were garrisoned in the
town. |
St Columba's Church, built in 1594, is the oldest
post-Reformation kirk still in regular use and
both historically and architecturally is something
all visitors should see.
It was in Burntisland in 1850 that the world's
first rail ferry, Leviathan, commenced operation
linking to Granton on the other side of the Forth,
transporting railway wagons of coal, limestone,
whisky and grain as well as thousands of
passengers. It was, of course, made obsolete by
the building of the Forth Railway Bridge.
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Although the town's Aluminium industry still
survives, the fishing, shipbuilding and coal
exporting have all gone leaving Burntisland to its
residents and holidaymakers.
In the local library, which was gifted in 1906 by
Andrew Carnegie, there is a small display of the
town's history.
In many parts of Fife there are hills which are
the remnants of volcanic plugs and one such hill,
just inland from the town, is "The Binn". Walk to
the top you will have excellent views over to
Edinburgh and up to the Bridges. |
View towards the Binn,
Burntisland - Photo:
Kevin Rae
CCL |
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