VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO
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Pitcruvie Castle

3/7/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
Pitcruvie (or Balcruvie as it is sometimes called) Castle, to the north of Lundin Links and Lower Largo adjacent to Keil's Den, is a ruinous grade B listed building. Built on the edge of a steep bank above the Keil Burn, the listing text describes the castle as follows:

"Possibly late 15th century with some reconstruction circa 1500. Ruinous rectangular, rubble built tower with later projecting stair at north west. At south east angle built up entrance at 1st floor level with indications of an earlier projecting stair. 2 intercommunicating ground floor vaulted chambers with trap being only access to 1st floor. Entrance to 1st floor on west elevation, round arched and formerly opening to screens passage. Chimney on east wall of hall barrel vaulted (now gone) inserted, early springing remains. Upper floors now fragmentary."

Furthermore, RCAHMS provide the following description of the castle:
​
"This ruined tower has features which suggest that it has at some time been reconstructed though the difference in building style is so slight that it may indicate only changes made during building. The date of the original construction would seem to be a little before 1500. On plan the tower is an oblong lying E-W and measuring 25.5ft by 38.25ft with the remains of a small stair-wing projecting from the north-west angle. It is constructed of dressed stone with rubble filling and is now much weathered." 

The site belonged to a branch of the Ramsay family in the 14th century but became the property of the second Lord Lindsay of the Byres* upon his marriage with the heiress of Pitcruvie. The book 'The East Neuk of Fife - It's History and Antiquities' describes the story of the site's ownership as follows:

"It belonged, in the beginning of the fourteenth century, to a family of the name of Ramsay. Sir John Ramsay's granddaughter, Janet Ramsay, Lady Pitcruvie, married David, second Lord Lindsay of the Byres,....David, Lord Lindsay, died in 1492, and was succeeded by his brother John, who died without issue in 1497, and the title then came to Patrick, who, in 1498, has a charter of Pitcruvie for himself and his wife ; and his son John was styled Lindsay of Pitcruvie, whence we gather that Janet Ramsay had brought the lands of Pitcruvie into the Lindsay family. It was, with other lands, erected into the barony of Pitcruvie, and remained long in possession of their descendants. In or about 1650 Lord Crawford was obliged to sell Pitcruvie to James Watson of Aithernie. Soon after we find it in the hands of Arnot of Fernie ; and it now forms part of the estate of Largo."

 *
Byres is located close to Haddington in East Lothian

Below are some pencil drawings of Pitcruive Castle done in 1838 by Alexander Archer, which show it in broadly the same state as it remains today.
Picture
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4 Comments
Stuart Urquhart
6/5/2017 01:48:57 am

As most will be aware, the Castle Ruin has for many many years formed part of the Farm known as Pitcruvie. The Farmer here between circa 1887 and 1897 was John Urquhart who farmed with one of his sons Walter Henderson Urquhart. Keils Den which runs up to the Castle/Farm from Upper Largo was mentioned in a number of the books written about Alexander Selkirk whose life was used as the background for Daniel Defoe's classic 'Robinson Crusoe' .

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Stuart Urquhart
31/3/2019 03:05:32 pm

When John Urquhart, my Great Great Grandfather died in pitcruvie Farmhouse in 1897 there appears to have been a long running court case over his estate and his second wife who he married later in life after his first wife died. In the end it appears the brother of his second wife issued a sequestration order and this was reported in the London Illustrated News. Prior to Pitcruvie John farmed Kilconquhar Farm. His father James Urquhart had married Marion Smith from Cameron whose family were feuers and related to Walter Sinclair Smith the first soldier to be killed in the Great War after the Christmas Day truce when arms were put down and both sides played football. the name Smith has followed down in the family line as a middle name

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Divine High Priestess of the Sacred Flame
28/10/2020 11:05:23 pm

If Pitcruvie Castle can be granted a category B listed building status, why cannot Largo House be offered the same protection?

Reply
Vintage Lundin Links and Largo
29/10/2020 08:53:17 am

I believe that Largo House also has cat B listing:

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200341200-largo-house-upper-largo-largo#.X5rj2EdxeiM

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    This blog is about the history of the villages of Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo in Fife, Scotland. Comments and contributions from readers are very welcome!

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