Inverkeithing Conservation Area
Inverkeithing Conservation Area is a conservation area in Inverkeithing in Fife, Scotland. The conservation area focuses on the historic core of the town and the remaining medieval rigg pattern, and has been designated since 1985.[1]
Description
Inverkeithing was one of Fife's first royal burghs, in existence as such by 1161. Building layout of the conservation area was planned deliberately during the medieval era, and follows a rigg pattern of development, with buildings fronting on High Street and narrow plots of land behind.[2]
The conservation area extends from Inverkeithing war memorial and Heriot Street in the North to the Friary Gardens in the south.[3][4]
Within Inverkeithing Conservation area, there are 28 Historic Scotland listed buildings. These include 5 of category A, 5 of category B and 18 of category C.[5] The oldest surviving house in the conservation area is Rosebery House, likely dating from the 16th century; the oldest surviving structure is the tower of Inverkeithing Parish Church, dating from the 14th century.
Some other notable buildings within the conservation area include:
Within the conservation area, roofs are typically pitched, with grey slates. Gables are usually finished as raised skews. External walling materials include the indigenous dolerite/ whinstone or sandstone buildings.[6]
Designation History
Inverkeithing was designated a conservation area in 1985 by Fife Council in recognition of its "historical and architectural significance".[1][2]
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 requires local councils to review conservation areas periodically. Inverkeithing Conservation Area was reviewed in February 2019; at the review, boundaries were expanded and rationalised.[5] Major heritage regeneration works were approved in 2019 to the conservation area.[7]
References
- 1 2 "South and West Fife Area Committee 30th October 2024" (PDF). Fife.gov. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- 1 2 Fife Council (2002), Dunfermline and the Coast, adopted Local Plan.
- ↑ "Inverkeithing Local Place Plan" (PDF). Fife.gov. June 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Fife Council to light the way in Inverkeithing - here are the plans". Dunfermline Press. 2026-04-10. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- 1 2 "INVERKEITHING CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL and MANAGEMENT PLAN" (PDF). Fife.gov. Feb 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Scottish Lime Centre Trust. "A building stone survey for Inverkeithing Conservation Area" (PDF). Fife Historic Buildings Trust. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Inverkeithing Town House" (PDF). Heritage Trust Network. May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)