Sir Andrew Wood was born in the mid 15th century but there are conflicting opinions surrounding where his place of birth was. Some sources say he was born in Leith, but I prefer the version given in the Largo Village Book (published in 1932 by the Largo WRI) which states that his birthplace was Kirkton of Largo (Upper Largo) in a thatched cottage "under the shadow of the church on the knoll".
What does seem clear is that he became a merchant trader in Leith, before his skills as a sea captain saw him emerge as a brave admiral who commanded two fighting ships named the Flower and the Yellow Carvel. It is reported that he fought and captured 5 English ships close to Dunbar, in response to which a larger English attack followed. This also ended in victory for Wood despite his being outnumbered. Wood was known well to both James III and James IV and was knighted by one of them (again conflicting reports exist) . At some point he was granted land in Largo. He married Elizabeth Lundie, with whom he had several sons.
Later in life, having overseen her construction and equipment at Newhaven, Sir Andrew became the first Captain of the Great Michael. Launched in 1511, the Michael was the largest ship of her time, of whom it was said that "all the woods of Fife" were used to build her.
The date of Wood's death is also uncertain but current thinking is that he died sometime before the end of 1517. He is buried under the floor of Upper Largo Kirk. An inscription marks the spot and a there is also a window in his memory.
What does seem clear is that he became a merchant trader in Leith, before his skills as a sea captain saw him emerge as a brave admiral who commanded two fighting ships named the Flower and the Yellow Carvel. It is reported that he fought and captured 5 English ships close to Dunbar, in response to which a larger English attack followed. This also ended in victory for Wood despite his being outnumbered. Wood was known well to both James III and James IV and was knighted by one of them (again conflicting reports exist) . At some point he was granted land in Largo. He married Elizabeth Lundie, with whom he had several sons.
Later in life, having overseen her construction and equipment at Newhaven, Sir Andrew became the first Captain of the Great Michael. Launched in 1511, the Michael was the largest ship of her time, of whom it was said that "all the woods of Fife" were used to build her.
The date of Wood's death is also uncertain but current thinking is that he died sometime before the end of 1517. He is buried under the floor of Upper Largo Kirk. An inscription marks the spot and a there is also a window in his memory.
The structure known as Sir Andrew Wood's Tower (see sketch above) stands to the north of Largo House, adjacent to Largo Home Farm. The derelict stone structure is circular and conically roofed. It is approximately 17 feet in diameter and 50 feet high. It contains four floors with one apartment on each floor. The ground floor chamber is stone vaulted and entered through a door to the South. The first floor is entered from a higher level to the North, while the second is accessed from a ruinous external stone stair. It has two windows and a moulded stone fireplace. The third and top floor has no direct access and was at some stage converted into a dove-cot. Some video footage of the tower can be see on Youtube. Just as there is ambiguity around the dates and details of Sir Andrew Wood's life, there is also vagueness around the age and origins of the Tower itself. More on that in the next post...
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