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West Barns (site of)

Barns, also known as West Barns, was a castle belonging to the Cunninghams however its exact location is not known.

The property was owned by the family of Polwarth of Polwarth in the 14th century however in 1376 the lands of Barns were resigned by Patrick of Polwarth and granted to Sir Neil or Nigel of Cunningham.

Sir Neil may appear as the neighbouring laird in a fable regarding the Anstruthers of Anstruther although some sources state that it was the laird of Thirdpart. Sir William Anstruther is said to have lived at Dreel Castle in Anstruther with his daughter, Margaret, his son being at the court of Robert. Margaret is said to have fallen in love with the 22 year old Patrick Home, whose ancestor had supposedly killed Sir William’s grandfather on the Firth of Forth. The story goes that Sir William was in dispute with a neighbouring laird who seems to have had intentions regarding Margaret of which Sir William did not approve leading him to insult the laird. This prompted the laird to devise a plot to kill his neighbour.

The laird invited Sir William and Margaret to his house but a wandering beggar got wind of the plan and informed Sir William who then invited the laird to Dreel instead. When he arrived Sir William hit him over the head with an axe and killed him. Sir William vowed to repay the beggar’s kindness in warning him of the danger and did so by offering his daughter’s hand in marriage, at which point the beggar is supposed to have cast off his disguise to reveal himself to be Patrick Home.

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Alternative names for West Barns

Barnes; West Barns of Crail

Clans associated with West Barns

Cunningham

Surnames associated with West Barns

Cunningham

Where is West Barns?

West Barns is in the parish of Crail and the county of Fife.

Grid reference: NO 59 06

Lat / long: 56.24474700, -2.66315410

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

OS Map for West Barns

St Andrews & East Fife (Cupar, Anstruther & Crail)
OS Explorer map 371


Directions to West Barns

Enter a starting point

Weather at West Barns

7°C
max 7°C / min 7°C
17km/h WSW
1039mb
87%
90%
07:05 17:41

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Anstruther at 00:59

References (books)

History of The Family of Anstruther
Arthur Wellesley Anstruther
Edinburgh, 1923
The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Canmore

Castles near West Barns

Thirdpart (site of)

0.8km away

Capelochy Castle (site of)

1.0km away

Innergellie House

1.8km away

Rennyhill (site of)

2.0km away

East Barns (possible) (site of)

2.3km away

Crail Castle (site of)

2.7km away

Airdrie

3.4km away

Dreel Castle (site of)

3.5km away

Balhouffie (site of)

3.7km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near West Barns

Drumcarrow Craig broch

14.9km away

Lundin Links stone circle

18.7km away

St Baldred's Cave cave

21.5km away

North Berwick Law fort

22.0km away

Kilmany cursus

25.4km away

Preston Mains cursus

28.0km away

Drylawhill cursus

28.1km away

Kirklandhill standing stone

28.5km away

The Chesters fort

28.9km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near West Barns

The Coves, Caiplie Class I symbols

1.0km away

Crail Class III cross-slab

3.1km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

7.3km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

7.3km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

7.3km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

7.3km away

Largo Class II cross slab

16.8km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

21.0km away

Walton Class I symbol stone

22.9km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near West Barns

Norrie's Law hoard

18.0km away

Traprain Law silver chain

31.1km away

Haddington silver chain

33.3km away

Hoardweel silver chain

50.0km away

Whitlaw silver chain

58.8km away

Borland silver chain

79.5km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

81.4km away

Dunnicaer fort

83.9km away

Nigg silver chain

102.8km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near West Barns

Balcomie Links Hotel
hotelCrail
3.4km away
Symphony Craw's Nest Hotel and Restaurant
hotel, restaurant, barAnstruther
4.0km away
Fairmont St Andrews
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
9.4km away
The Old Station Country Guest House
bed and breakfastSt Andrews
9.4km away
Kilconquhar Castle Estate
hotel, restaurant, self-catering cottagesElie
10.2km away
Elie House Apartment 11
self-catering apartmentElie
10.8km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
11.8km away
Albany Hotel, St Andrews
hotelSt Andrews
13.4km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
13.5km away
St Andrews Tourist Hostel
hostelSt Andrews
13.5km away

Accommodation search

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bed and breakfasts
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holiday parks
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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near West Barns

Symphony Craw's Nest Hotel and Restaurant
hotel, restaurant, barAnstruther
4.0km away
Fairmont St Andrews
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
9.4km away
Kilconquhar Castle Estate
hotel, restaurant, self-catering cottagesElie
10.2km away
Station Buffet Bar
barElie
11.3km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
11.8km away
Northpoint Café
caféSt Andrews
13.3km away
Zizzi St Andrews
café, restaurantSt Andrews
13.3km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
13.5km away
St Andrews Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
13.8km away
Best Western Scores Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.9km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 18th of January 2012 at 10:41 pm. Updated on the 21st of June 2020 at 6:53 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

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