Myres Castle

Myres Castle is a Scottish castle situated in Fife near the village of Auchtermuchty (grid reference NO241109). Its history is interleaved with that of nearby Falkland Palace with present day castle construction dating to 1530. The castle and magnificent Scottish garden are now operated as a private conference centre with lodging.

Name derivation and early history

Its history is intertwined with the nearby Falkland Palace, since Myres was the heritary home of the Macers and Sergeants of Arms of Falkland. The word "myres" is associated with a boggy place; in fact, Myres Castle is located within fields and policies with marginal drainage. Further drainage improvements to the fields were made as late as the 1970s. There exists an attractive pond in front of the Castle, which also serves to collect runoff. The lands of the present Myres estate originally part of the extensive properties of the Earl of Fife, the Myres portion being converyed by marriage to Robert, Duke of Albany. In the year 1425, Murdoch, the son of Robert, forfeited the holding to the crown. From that time until the 16th century, the tenant farmers rents are recording in the rolls of the Royal Exchequer, indicating continuing ownership of the king. The first recorded tenant of the south quarter of Auchtermuchty, known as "the myres", was Robert Coxwell who resided at the Scottish Royal Court.

Architectural history from 1530

The castle itself originated circa 1530 as a Z-plan fortress and has an ochre harled exterior with some exposed grey ashlar stonework on its square tower added in 1616. The tower is adorned with garland stonework, heraldic relief with carved initials and a parapet. The basement course appears to be an older, possibly 14th century piece, due to its barrel vaulted construction, and clear architecture of a medieval kitchen. Further modifications took place in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the property entrance there is a detached Victorian stone gatehouse, which was inhabited as a residence up to at least 1997. The prize of Myres is a spectacular walled garden featuring gigantic topiary yew trees, elaborate herbacious borders and a small fishpond. The garden walls exceed three metres in height and are probably of 17th century origin.

20th century events

Myres is embedded among 44 acres (180,000 m2) of gardens, farmlands and policies. The Fairlie family has been associated with Myres for some time. There are Fairlie memorabilia at Myres including shooting diaries as far back as 1903. A recording is noted in the year 1915 that James Olgilvy Reginald Fairlie, Chamberlain to His Majesty, resident of Myres was killed in action in World War I. The castle was the home of the Fairlie family up until 1997; moreover, the policies, or wooded perimeter, were augmented with the prudent planting by Captain Reginald Rairlie in the early 1980s. At present Myres serves as a conference centre with nine deluxe bedrooms.

Bibliography

  • Nigel Tranter, History of the Fortified House in Scotland, Five Volumes (1962-1971}
  • The Catholic Who's Who and Yearbook 1916, and Burns and Oates
Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
There are no tips nor hints for Myres Castle yet. Maybe be you will be the first one to post useful information for fellow travellers? :)
6.2/10
3,310 people have been here
Map
3 Station Road, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife KY14 7DP, UK Get directions

Myres Castle on Foursquare

Myres Castle on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Balbirnie House Hotel

starting $111

The Bruce Inn

starting $71

The Covenanter Hotel

starting $143

Best Western Balgeddie House Hotel

starting $76

Holiday Inn Express Glenrothes

starting $82

Firbank Bed and Breakfast

starting $56

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Falkland Palace

Falkland Palace in Fife, Scotland is a former royal palace of the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
MacDuff's Cross

MacDuff's Cross, also known as the Cross of MacDuff or Ninewells, is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Denmylne Castle

Denmylne Castleis a ruined 16th-century tower house, about 1 mile

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Balvaird Castle

Balvaird Castle is a particularly fine and complete example of a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Lindores Abbey

Lindores Abbey was a Tironensian abbey on the outskirts of Newburgh in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fernie Castle

Fernie Castle is an enlarged sixteenth century tower house in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Collairnie Castle

Collairnie Castle is an L-plan castle in Dunbog, Fife, Scotland. The

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Crawford Priory

Crawford Priory is a country house about 2 miles south west of Cupar,

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein, pronounced ])

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tower of London

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Château de Vincennes

The Château de Vincennes is a massive 14th and 17th century French

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Old Westbury Gardens

Old Westbury Gardens is the former estate of John Shaffer Phipps

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle in Arundel, West Sussex, England is a restored medieval

See all similar places