Signal Station & Cottage, Main Road, Charlestown, Fife, KY11

CLOSING DATE 12 NOON 28TH AUGUST 2025

A unique opportunity to acquire a historic building in the desirable village of Charlestown, with views across the Forth bridges. Originally two semi-detached buildings, now combined into one with development potential.

Elevated views across the Firth of Forth
Excellent access links via the M90
Development potential

Overview
Signal Station and Signal Cottage is a wonderfully located property in an elevated position in the highly desirable village of Charlestown, Fife. Charlestown has the benefit of a semi-rural location while being within an easy reach of cities such as Dunfermline, Stirling and Edinburgh. The property takes access directly from Charlestown Main Road.

History
The Station was built at the time of Lord Fisher’s naval reforms which opened three new bases for the Home Fleet on the east coast of Scotland between 1904 and 1910. It served as a Signal Station, alerting naval crews playing football at Broomhall when the German fleet was sighted. This message prompted them to return to Charlestown Harbour and be rowed out to their battle stations.

The Signal Station is formed of two structures - a cottage where the signals team “messed”, and the two-storey station attached with offices below and the housing above for the signal lamp. A deck gave access around the upper floor and a line of sight to the Admiralty bases at Rosyth Naval Dockyard and the Munitions Depot at Crombie.

The property was subsequently divided into two residential lets: the Station and the Cottage. The Station has remained vacant since 2019, while the Cottage has been unoccupied since autumn 2024. On 12 February 2025, a Certificate of Lawful Proposed Use or Development (CLOPUD) was granted permitting the reversion of the two properties into a single dwelling, which now benefits from internal access between both parts.

Signal Station
The Signal Station building is of concrete construction with a harled exterior under a flat roof. The building has a southerly outlook across the Firth of Forth with views to all 3 bridges to the East and further down the Firth to the West. The accommodation is laid across two floors and features a sitting room, kitchen and a bathroom on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. The property has been vacant for a number of years and is need of refurbishment.

Signal Cottage
The cottage, which sits under a pitched slate roof, originally had access to the Particulars Content Form: Scotland, on market Signal Station that was later blocked up. This access has been re-established.

Garden
Signal Station and Signal Cottage benefit from an enclosed garden wrapping around the property that boast incredible views of the Firth of Forth.

Charlestown is a peaceful and sought after village located on the southern outskirts of Dunfermline. There are a wide range of local amenities nearby and together with the neighbouring village of Limekilns, a local shop, primary school, general practice surgery, parish church, hotels, restaurants, public houses and cafes are all available. The villages also provide a lively range of social and leisure activities including sailing, tennis, bowling and cricket among other clubs and facilities. The location is ideal for commuters, with the A985 trunk road and the Forth and Kincardine Bridges nearby offering convenient road connections and Rosyth station providing rail links to Edinburgh.