Myres Castle

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Myres Castle in the middle of its park

Myres Castle is a country house near the village of Auchtermuchty in the Scottish county of Fife . Its history is closely linked to that of the nearby Falkland Palace ; the current house dates from 1530. The country house and the magnificent gardens now serve as a private conference center with accommodation.

Origin of name and early history

Its history is intertwined with that of the nearby Falkland Palace, as Myers Castle, the traditional seat of Mace carrier or Sergeant of Arms of Falkland . The word "Myres" is associated with a swampy place and, in fact, Myres Castle is surrounded by fields and lands with poor drainage. The drainage of the fields was not significantly improved until the 1970s. In front of the country house there is an attractive pond that also serves to take in seepage water . The lands of what is now the Myers estate were originally part of the extensive possessions of the Earl of Fife , with the Myres share being passed on to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany , through marriage . In 1425 Murdoch , Robert's son, forfeited the property to the Crown. From that time until the 16th century, there are records of rents paid by peasants in the roles of royal treasurer , indicating that the estate belonged to the king at that time. The first recorded tenant of the southern district of Auchtermuchty, called "The Myres", was Robert Coxwell , who resided at the royal court.

Architectural history from 1530

The country house itself is based on a tower house with a Z-shaped floor plan, which may have been designed by its owner John Scrimgeour around 1530 .

The house has two, sometimes three full floors, a basement and an attic. In the inner corners there are round stair towers.

The house has a stepped gable and a slate roof. Most of it is plastered with ocher-colored Harl ; only its square tower, added in 1616, shows raw masonry made of gray ashlar . This tower is decorated with stone garlands , a heraldic relief with incised initials and a parapet . The masonry on the ground floor appears to be of an older date, possibly from the 14th century, as it is a Romanesque-style structure with vaulted ceilings and a medieval kitchen. Further renovations were carried out in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1872 the building was repaired and slightly redesigned; the architect James Campbell Walker incorporated echoes of the Scottish Baronial Style.

At the entrance to the property is an attached stone gatehouse in Victorian style , which served as a residential building until at least 1997. The attraction of Myres Castle is a spectacular, enclosed garden with shaped yew trees , beautiful flower beds and a small fish pond. The garden walls are over 3 meters high and probably date from the 17th century.

Historic Scotland has listed the country house Myers Castle as a Category B Historic Building, as well as the gardens with their sundial and statue of Mercury. The gatehouse with the gate pillars is considered a historical building of category C.

20th century

Myres Castle is set in 17.6 acres of garden, farmland and other lands. The Fairlie family has been associated with Myres Castle for some time. There are family memorabilia there, such as hunting books that go back to 1903. It is noted for 1915 that James Ogilvy Reginald Fairlie , His Majesty's Chamberlain , resident of Myres Castle, died in action during World War I. His son was the well-known Scottish architect Reginald Fairlie . The family lived in the country house until 1997. The park gained from the careful planting of Captain `` Reginald Fairlie '' in the early 1980s. Currently, Myres Castle serves as an exclusive conference center, wedding and event location with overnight accommodation.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ^ Myres Castle . In: Dictionary of Scottish Architects . Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  3. ↑ James Campbell Walker . In: Dictionary of Scottish Architects . Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  4. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  5. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  6. ^ Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie . In: Dictionary of Scottish Architects . Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  7. ^ Website of Myres Castle. Retrieved November 29, 2017.

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Web links

Commons : Myres Castle  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 56 ° 17 ′ 4.1 ″  N , 3 ° 13 ′ 39.3 ″  W.