If you know of a project or would like further information on where to find out more about historic buildings you can download our advice sheet here.

PAST PROJECTS

Restoration of 13 East Green, Cellardyke This 17th and 18th house of great character was purchased by the Society, and its renovation was completed in 1967. The restoration cost about £4500. It was then sold to become a family home again.	Renovation of Andrew Wood’s Tower, Upper Largo This 16th c tower house on the estate of Largo House had deteriorated to a very poor state when the Society stepped in in 1978, took on the project, raised funds for it and carried through a full restoration.	St Monans Windmill Establishment of a heritage site on the saltpans and restoration of the windmill at Coal Farm, St Monans

The windmill project was initiated by the Society in the 1970s, with fund-raising and many meetings, to ensure the restoration of the windmill, and to excavate the foundations of the houses of the salt panners of St Monans, just below the windmill. There are now information boards explaining the process of salt production there, and it has become a heritage site and visitor attraction.

Refurbishment of the Mausoleum at Kellie Castle
The burial place of Archibald, 7th Earl of Kellie and his sister Anne (d.1803) was probably built as a folly by an earlier earl. Earls had been buried in their own aisle in Carnbee church until then. The surrounding fields belonged to a local farmer but the mausoleum was still retained by The Earl of Mar and Kellie.
This project was jointly funded by the Society and Hew Lorimer, and overseen by Murray Jack. It included the removal of the dangerous roof, cleaning out of the interior and repair of railings around the two graves.

Restoration of doocots:

The doocot at Kilrenny had a tree growing through the roof when restoration began, but is now re-roofed and can be viewed on the way to Kilrenny Common.	At Newark, there was re-pointing and harling of the walls of the round doocot, leaving the flower hat.	Pitkerie doocot was restored in 1975, including the central revolving ladder for collecting eggs, known as a potin.

Milestones The Society had been involved in restoration of the historic milestones around the roads of North East Fife, with the active participation of Fife Council.

Armorial Stone The Society commissioned and presented armorial stones to the Scottish Fisheries museum to mark the Millennium in 2000, and to St Monans Heritage Centre the following year. We have a stone ready for Cellardyke once a suitable location has been secured. The designs are by Bob Crerar and the stone mason is Nicholas Sweeney.	Restoration of plan of Colinsburgh Town Hall, 2006 This 1893 Gillespie and Scott plan was recently discovered by Colinsburgh Community Council, but was in poor condition. It was sent to Hopetoun House for restoration, where it was flattened, had water stains removed, backed onto linen and stored in an acid free box. Digital copies were made and one of these is now on display in the Town Hall.

Lamposts at Elie Church gate	Toll Green Drinking Fountain in Elie

• Serpentine Walk between Upper and Lower Largo

• Elie Church towards the cost of placing historic lamp posts at gate to church

• Elie and Earlsferry Community Council towards the cost of renovating the old drinking fountain at Toll Green, funds raised by local members

• St Monans Kirk towards the cost of window renovation

• Wall of Abercrombie well re-built

• Area around St Monan’s Cell was tidied up and a retaining wall built.

• Butler’s House, Arncroach bought and sold to restoring purchaser.

• Re-pointing of walls at Newburn Church

• Restoration of Lorimer door at St Monans Church Hall

• Repointing The Lady's Tower (see right)
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FUTURE PROJECTS:

Potential restoration of the Gatehouse, Pittenweem Priory

Feasibility study at Anstruther Wester Town Hall, with Anstruther Improvements Society

PUBLICATIONS
The Society has been responsible, either in part or wholly, for a number of publications over the years. Some of these are still available on request.

The East Neuk of Fife. An Illustrated Survey of its Burghs and Countryside by Dr Ronald G Cant
What to see in East Fife. Twelve Trails for Walks or Drives
Landmarks in Fife and Kinross, a book of drawings by Elizabeth Bevan
St Monans Saltpans by Paula Martin with aerial photos by Colin Martin
The Milestones of Fife by Alex Darwood and Paula Martin (price £3.50 from the Society)
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AWARDS

Miss Scott Moncrief, the founder member of the Society, set in motion an awards scheme “ in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the heritage of the East Neuk”. The first award was given in 1988 to Pitcorthie Mains Farm where the Balcarres Estate had converted old farm buildings into four houses. This was followed by an award to the Roads Department of Fife Council in recognition of their work on the road markers and milestones. A third recognition was given to Hurd Rolland for their work on the windmill at St Monans. In recent times awards have been given to the Fisheries Museum for their extension, to Gillespie House in South Street Elie for the restoration of the stone carved doorway, to Fife Council in recognition of their work on Cellardyke Harbour, to Kilconquhar Church for the changes carried out to the interior of the Church, and for the restoration of Elie Pharmacy.

Awards for 2007
Under the chairmanship of Jerry Eccles, a local Architect, the purpose of the awards for 2007 was widened and the award system now aims to bring to the attention of residents and businesses in the East Neuk and its environs, the value of our existing surroundings and to encourage by example, to protect, improve and refresh the built form and to generally enhance their surroundings.
There were two categories, Built Form and Environment. Fourteen entries were received and five of these won awards.

Building Category:
• An extension to Eden Cottage, Upper Largo.

The Coach House, Pittenweem for the rebuild of old garage premises into a retail concern selling local knitwear and crafts.	A restoration of Wynd Lodge, Rankiellor Street, Elie.

Environment Category:

• Fife Council received 2 awards, for its work on the Gillingshill Nature Reserve and for it's work on the milestone at Pitcruvie crossroads.

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