Blackness Castle **
Region: Lothian & Scottish Borders
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Description:
This grim fortress castle is one of Scotland’s lesser known castles. Because of its strategic importance the castle was transformed into a true fortress by Sir James Hamilton of Finnart ´The Bastard of Arran.
It was used as State Prison from Covenanting times (Cardinal Beaton was a ´guest´ in 1543) and it was heavily damaged by Cromwell´s forces in the mid 17th century.
The castle was garrisoned until 1870 and used as an ammunition depot until 1912 when it was finally restored.