The East Neuk Preservation Society has been involved in a number of
different projects in the area and takes great pride in being able
to share a few of these details with you below.
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. |
|
|
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. |
Grants have also been awarded to help fund various projects:
|
|
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)
top
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)
top
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.
Awards were presented at Kellie Castle in September 2007 by the
Vice-President of the Society, Mr David Pirie, consultant architect
with Hurd Rolland.
It is hoped to present awards every three years. Details will be
published in due course on this website.
top
|