INCHKEITH, an island, in the parish of KingHORN,
district of Kirkcaldy, county of Fife, 2^ miles
(S. S. E.) from Kinghorn; containing 9 inhabitants.
This is a rocky isle, in the Firth of Forth, lying nearly
equidistant between Kinghorn and Leith. It derives
its name from the gallant Keith, who in 1010 greatly
signalised himself at the battle of Barrie, in Forfarshire,
against the Danes; the island, with the barony of Keith,
being conferred upon him on that occasion, as a reward
for his valour, by Malcolm II. In the fourteenth century,
having fallen to the crown, it was bestowed, with the
lands of Kinghorn, on Lord Glammis; and the Strathmore
family retained it until 1649, when it became the
property, by purchase, of Sir John Scott of Scotstarvit.
After passing subsequently into the hands of various
persons, it at length came to the Dukes of Buccleuch.
The isle is above a mile in length, of various breadth.
and of irregular surface: it has excellent pasturage for
cattle and sheep, and some patches of good arable land;
with fine springs of water, collected by tubes into a tank
for the supply of vessels. On the south side is a small
quay; and a lighthouse stands on an elevation of 180
feet above the sea, and is seen at the distance of eighteen
nautical miles. At the close of the fifteenth century,
Inchkeith was made a place of compulsory retirement
for persons labouring under a loathsome disease called
the " grandgore ". It was subsequently an important
military station, particularly during the regency of Mary
of Guise, and the reigns of the unfortunate Queen Mary,
and Charles I.