Pittarthie Castle

Pittarthie Castle Details

Pittarthie Castle, large ruined C16 tower house of Monypennys extended C17 by the Bruces and abandoned C19

  • Closest To: St Andrews,St Monans,Pittenweem,Anstruther,Crail
  • Access: S.O.A.C. Public Access
  • Grid Reference: NO521091

Pittarthie Castle is a ruined tower house dating to the 16th century, when is said to have been erected for the Monypenny family, tenants of the Bishops of St Andrews. However, charters of 1583 and 1590 refer to the Haliburtons of Pittarthie, so it seems probable that the Monypenny family had sold their rights by this date, perhaps suffering for their political standpoint during the turbulent reign of Queen Mary. A charter of 1598 to Andrew Logan from James VI shows another change of ownership. The ruin is surrounded by fields with no logical access route or parking, so care should be taken with crops and/or livestock; I suspect a barbed wire fence as well.

The tower house is a fairly standard L-plan tower house, but was altered in the mid 17th century with a main stair tower serving all floors as well as another couple of minor stairs. This was after the house had been purchased by the Bruce family. Subsequently it was purchased by the Hannay family, but the last of the line died inĀ  shipwreck with his family in 1854, and its likely the house was abandoned at this time.

HES Canmore database entry

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