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Scotstarvit Tower

Scotstarvit Tower seems to have been built in the second half of the 15th century, and was certainly in existence by 1475, when it was known as Tarvet. It stands on a slight rocky outcrop, rising above the surrounding land.

The estate was acquired by the Inglis family in 1487, and the tower was seemingly remodelled by them between 1550 and 1579. But in 1611 Alexander Inglis sold the property to Sir John Scot, who renamed it Scotstarvet after himself.

Sir John Scot was a Director of Chancery, member of the Privy Council and later a Lord of Session. In 1624 he received a charter of the two parts of the lands of Wester Pitcorthie, anciently owned by Dryburgh Abbey, from Sir William Anstruther of Anstruther. Perhaps as a result of his increasing status and fortunes, Sir John is said to have rebuilt the tower in 1627.

Scotstarvit Tower is a tall, simple tower, measuring around 10.1 metres by 8.2 metres, with a small wing measuring around 2.1 metres by 4.0 metres projecting to the south-east.

The entrance is at ground floor level, just to the west of the re-entrant angle. The door opens into a small hallway with access into the ground floor level ahead, and the spiral staircase leading up from the right.

The ground floor is a double height barrel-vaulted room, with corbels on the wall and twin windows one above the other indicating that it was originally split into two levels by a wooden floor.

The same arrangement continues higher up in the tower, the second and third floors being formed by the insertion of a wooden floor within a double height barrel-vaulted room.

Above that is the fourth floor, at the bottom of another double-height space. Again corbels on the wall show that this space would have been divided, with a garret level under the roof making six floors in total.

An ornate carved stone fireplace once warmed the garret level, but it was removed to Hill of Tarvit mansion house in the early 20th century. It is carved with the date 1627, the initials JS and AD for John Scot and his wife Anne Drummond, sister of Sir William Drummond of Hawthornden, and the arms of both families.

The spiral staircase continues up into a circular caphouse with conical roof. A door gives access to the parapet walk, and above the door is a carved armorial panel once again carrying the arms of John Scot and Anne Drummond and the date 1627.

Evidently there were originally ancillary buildings around the base of the tower, and probably also a courtyard wall, but these have now been removed and their place taken by a 19th century cottage.

Scotstarvit Tower remained in the Scot family until 1776, when, upon the death of John Scot’s great-great-grandson Major-General John Scot, a Member of Parliament for Fife, the male line failed. Scotstarvit passed to this John Scot’s eldest daughter, but she sold the estate to Oliver Gourlay of Craigrothie who then sold it soon after to Colonel Wemyss of Wemysshall (now Hill of Tarvit).

In 1903 the Wemyss family sold Scotstarvit Tower and Hill of Tarvit to a Dundee jute magnate by the name of Frederick Bower Sharp, better known as F.B. Sharp. His daughter left the properties to the National Trust for Scotland in 1948 following her death. Scotstarvit Tower continues to be owned by the National Trust for Scotland but is managed by Historic Scotland.

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Alternative names for Scotstarvit Tower

Inglistarvit; Scotstarver; Scotstarvet; Scottistarvett; Tarvet

Surnames associated with Scotstarvit Tower

Inglis

Scott

Where is Scotstarvit Tower?

Scotstarvit Tower is in the parish of Ceres and the county of Fife.

Grid reference: NO 37032 11269

Lat / long: 56.289729, -3.0187

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Scotstarvit Tower

Glenrothes North, Falkland & Lomond Hills (Auchtermuchty & Cupar)
OS Explorer map 370


Directions to Scotstarvit Tower

Enter a starting point

  • Beer Gifts from Beer Hawk

Weather at Scotstarvit Tower

2°C
max 3°C / min 1°C
2km/h WNW
993mb
93%
0%
08:29 16:15

Clear sky
Weather observed at Ceres at 14:53

References (books)

The Place-names of Fife, Volume Two
Simon Taylor
Donington, 2008

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wikipedia

Castles near Scotstarvit Tower

Struthers Castle

1.7km away

Cupar Castle (site of)

3.4km away

Carslogie House

3.6km away

Craighall Castle (site of)

3.8km away

Clatto Castle (site of)

4.3km away

Prestonhall (possible)

4.3km away

Castle of Tacis (site of)

4.4km away

Downfield

4.6km away

Balgarvie (site of)

4.7km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Scotstarvit Tower

Newton of Collessie standing stone

8.0km away

Drumcarrow Craig broch

9.1km away

Lundin Links stone circle

9.2km away

Kilmany cursus

11.7km away

Balfarg henge and stone circle

12.0km away

Reedieleys cursus

14.0km away

Bogleys standing stone

17.9km away

Abernethy Den stone circle

18.7km away

Licher-Stanes stone circle

18.8km away
more ancient sites....
  • http://www.onegreatfamily.com

Pictish stones near Scotstarvit Tower

Walton Class I symbol stone

1.8km away

Collessie Man Class I symbol stone

8.0km away

Largo Class II cross slab

9.4km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

9.7km away

Creich Class I symbol stones

11.0km away

Lindores Stone Class I symbol stone

13.1km away

East Lomond Hill Class I symbol stone

13.6km away

Westfield 1 Class I symbol stone

13.7km away

Westfield 2 Class I symbol stone

13.7km away
more Pictish stones....

Pictish sites near Scotstarvit Tower

Norrie's Law hoard

5.5km away

Haddington silver chain

40.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

42.1km away

Whitlaw silver chain

64.6km away

Hoardweel silver chain

65.9km away

Borland silver chain

71.9km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

73.4km away

Dunnicaer fort

89.6km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

106.7km away
more Pictish sites....

Accommodation near Scotstarvit Tower

Dairsie Castle
self-cateringCupar
6.4km away
Fernie Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLetham
6.4km away
Craigsanquhar House Hotel
hotelStrathkinness
8.2km away
Old Manor Hotel
hotelLundin Links
9.3km away
Lundin Links Hotel
hotelLundin Links
9.4km away
Lomond Hills Hotel
hotelFreuchie
9.8km away
The Caledonian Hotel, Leven
hotelLeven
10.6km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
10.7km away
Rufflets Country House Hotel
hotel, self-catering lodgesSt Andrews
11.9km away
Milton Lea Bed & Breakfast
bed and breakfastBalmullo
11.9km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Scotstarvit Tower

Fernie Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLetham
6.4km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
10.7km away
Luigino's
hotel, restaurantFalkland
12.4km away
The Covenanter Hotel
hotel, restaurant, bar, caféFalkland
12.4km away
Best Western Balgeddie House Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barGlenrothes
14.0km away
Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
14.2km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
14.5km away
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
14.5km away
Premier Inn Glenrothes
hotel, restaurantGlenrothes
14.5km away
Best Western Scores Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
14.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Cairns Castle and Harperrig Reservoir
Published on the 29th of June 2011 at 9:54 pm. Updated on the 22nd of June 2020 at 10:29 am.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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