Blackness

From Wikishire
Jump to: navigation, search
Blackness
Gaelic: An Dubh-Nis
West Lothian
Blackness - geograph.org.uk - 61507.jpg
A view of houses in the village of Blackness
Location
Grid reference: NT051800
Location: 56°0’13"N, 3°31’19"W
Data
Population: 135  (2001[1])
Post town: Linlithgow
Postcode: EH49
Dialling code: 01506
Local Government
Council: Falkirk
Parliamentary
constituency:
Linlithgow and East Falkirk

Blackness is a small village and harbour at Blackness Bay, an inlet of the Firth of Forth in West Lothian. It lies 3½ miles east-south-east of Bo'ness, five miles west-north-west of South Queensferry and four miles north-east of the county town, Linlithgow.

At the 2001 Census, Blackness was reported as having a population of around 135 residents.[1]

History

The village originally served as a port for nearby Linlithgow, which was a principal residence of the Scottish monarchs from as early as the 12th century. As a port, Blackness was later superseded by Bo'ness, and fell into decline from the 17th century. Blackness Yacht Club currently use the village as a base for its sailing activities.

Blackness Castle

The small village is dominated by Blackness Castle, situated on a promontory overlooking the bay. The castle was both a residence and a prison before passing to Crown ownership in 1453. The castle is currently under the care of Historic Scotland and has been used as a setting for several films including Hamlet,[2] and the BBC production of Ivanhoe.[3] In addition to the castle and the boat club, the village contains a small variety shop and a pub restaurant. The old smithy has long since shut its doors, as has the dairy which once operated from the village.

References

Outside links

Commons-logo.svg
("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Blackness)