PASSAGIUM REGINAE The - Royal Dunfermline

„Ane Procuratarie granted to James Richardson with consent to Mr. Robert
Richardson prior of St. Marie Isle his fayt. For resigning of the lands of
Lymekills with the pertinents in hands of ye Commendator of Dunfermling as
superior to remaine with him and his successors as ane pairt of the Patramonie
of ye Abbacie in all tyme yr efter daitted ye 1st March 1536.‟
In 1575 the estate of Limekilns appears to have been conveyed to Robert,
Commendator of Dunfermline, and the charter is signed by Robert
Richardson, Commendator of St. Mary‟s Isle. We gather this from an entry
in the Calendar of the Laing Charters. There is another interesting entry in
the same – also quoted by Mr. Reid, and which he calls „more specific,‟ as it
speaks of a definite residence – „manor place.‟
ROBERT PITCAIRN,
Commendator of
Dunfermline Abbey, was in
possession of the manor
and harbour of Limekilns,
or Lymekillis as it
appeared in contemporary
documents – and looked
after „The King‟s Cellar‟
there, where doubtless he
laid down a considerable
quantity of choice wine and
liquor, besides receiving
and storing there a good
many other things which
were destined for the
palaces regal and religious
of Dunfermline. „He was,‟
so one writer says, „on 19
October 1565 appointed
Keeper of the havens of
Limekiln and North
Queensferry with the
bounds adjacent thereto.‟
If this information be
derived from a
contemporary document,
then we know there was a
harbour at Limekilns in
1565, unless it merely refers to the bay, or natural harbour, of each place.
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