INCHGARVIE ABANDONED ISLAND FORT

USPA NEWS - INCHGARVIE, Scottish Gaelic for "rough island" Although now uninhabited, Inchgarvie has been inhabited throughout various periods of history. The first recorded time was in the late 15th century. Its profile and colour makes it look very much like a battleship from a distance.
(mixed media sources)

Local tradition has it that the island takes its name from the young herring, or "garvies" which sheltered in large shoals around its shores. Inchgarvie is a small, uninhabited island in the Firth of Forth and is dwarfed by the Forth Rail Bridge that runs along side the island., situated in the parish of Inverkeithing, county of Fife. This is a small islet in the Firth of Forth, about half a mile from South Queensferry (Lothian) and double this distance from Queensferry (Fife), on the opposite shore of Linlithgow.

Ancient records show of Danish attacks on nearby islands, particularly Inchcolm as well as Fife and Lothian it may mean that it was used in some capacity by them. Whatever the case, it has had a castle, or fortification on it, from the Middle Ages to the present day, In the reign of James IV., a fort was erected here, which was latterly used as a state prison and is now in ruins. Although now uninhabited, Inchgarvie has been inhabited throughout various periods of history.

The first recorded time was in the late 15th century. The island became of renewed importance to the security of the Firth of Forth during the First and Second World Wars, during which, in combination with fortifications on Inchcolm, and gun emplacements on the mainland to the north (at North Queensferry) and to the south (at Dalmeny), it became a primary defence against air and submarine attacks on the Forth Rail Bridge and the Rosyth Dockyard. The gun emplacements were permanently manned throughout war.
To arrange a visit to Inchgarvie please contact: Edinburgh Boat Charters Ltd, Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry.
edinburghboatcharters.com
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW YOUTUBE VIDEO !