History in Structure

Charlestown Harbour

A Category B Listed Building in Rosyth, Fife

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.035 / 56°2'5"N

Longitude: -3.5004 / 3°30'1"W

OS Eastings: 306604

OS Northings: 683469

OS Grid: NT066834

Mapcode National: GBR 1W.RZG7

Mapcode Global: WH5QY.6KCW

Plus Code: 9C8R2FMX+XR

Entry Name: Charlestown Harbour

Listing Name: Charlestown Harbour

Listing Date: 17 March 1978

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 334887

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB3756

Building Class: Cultural

ID on this website: 200334887

Location: Dunfermline

County: Fife

Electoral Ward: Rosyth

Parish: Dunfermline

Traditional County: Fife

Tagged with: Harbour

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Description

Mid 18th century, extended earlier-mid 19th century; extended further to E later 19th century. Sickle-shaped inner pier to E (mid 18th century) with rounded end and truncated, squared-off section (earlier-mid 19th century) to W create an inner harbour. Two long, round-ended linear piers (earlier-mid 19th century) enclose outer harbour. Eastern pier (later 19th century) built up to create a further outer harbour to the E ballast bank. Large sandstone blocks.

Statement of Interest

A-Group with 1-90 Charlestown Village, exluding 36-37 and 52-55 Charlestown Village; Charlestown, Bridge of Former Elgin Railway; Charlestown, Camsie House; Charlestown Harbour Road, Limekilns; Charlestown Village, K6 Telephone Kiosk; Charlestown Village, The Queen's Hall; Charlestown, 8, 10, 14, The Sutlery, 16, 18 Rocks Road; Charlestown, 12 Rocks Road, The Old School House; Charlestown, Rocks Road, Former Estate Workshop and Charlestown, Rocks Road, Old School. Charles, the 5th Earl of Elgin, created Charlestown as a model village from 1759 until his death in 1771, when it was continued by his successors. He exploited the abundance of raw materials around Charlestown which led to the establishment of a foundry, brick works, limekilns, the export of coal and coke, the development of the village to house the workers and the necessary transport for the materials which included wagonways and the harbour. The proximity of the limekilns to the harbour meant that the lime could be shovelled directly onto boats for exportation. The harbour was also used for passenger steamers in the 19th century which ran from Granton to Stirling stopping at Charlestown amongst other ports. In 1863 the North British Railway Company bought the harbour and extended it to the E, there was a railway running along the Harbour Road and a station to the E at Saltpans. Although the harbour was extended to cope with the growing trade, towards the end of the century the use of the railway and competition from other ports such as Grangemouth led to a decline in the amount of commercial activity. However, shipbreaking began in the 1920's under the Alloa Shipbreaking Co. and ended in 1962. The harbour was also requisitioned by the Admiralty in WWII to berth crafts. The harbour is now used for pleasure craft. The timber skeleton of a circa 1900 hexagonal harbour light stands at the end of the W pier but is not part of the Statutory List.

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