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Wormistoune House


Fifae Vicecomitatus, The Sherifdome of Fyfe.
Joan Blaeu, Amsterdam, 1654image courtesy of NLS

Wormiston House is a 17th century L-plan tower house and the property was owned by the Spence family from the 14th century.

Around 1527 Elizabeth Spence, daughter of Thomas Spence of Wormiston, married John Anstruther of Anstruther. In 1575 their grandson, also John Anstruther of Anstruther, married his second wife, Margaret Learmonth, daughter of Sir James Learmonth of Dairsie and Balcomie and widow of Sir David Spence of Wormiston.

Towards the end of the 16th century an attempt was made to settle the Western Isles with people from Fife loyal to the Crown. The islands were considered to be a wild and untamed part of the Scottish kingdom at this time, an almost lawless fiefdom of the MacLeods of Lewis. In order to reassert the King’s control over the islands an Act of Parliament was passed in 1597 requiring chiefs to present their titles to the Lords of the Exchequer on Whitsunday in 1598 and to provide security for any rents owed to the Crown. When the chiefs of Lewis, Harris, Dunvegan and Glenelg failed to produce their titles their estates were declared forfeited.

Lewis was granted to a company of adventurers from Fife which included Sir James Anstruther, younger, of Anstruther, Sir Patrick Leslie, Commendator of Lindores, Sir William Stewart, Commendator of Pittenweem, James Learmonth, younger, of Balcomie and James Spence of Wormiston, led by Ludovic Stewart, 2nd Duke of Lennox, who was later involved in the Plantation of Ulster and the colonisation of New England. They set out for Lewis in October 1599 on an ill-fated expedition to colonise the island hampered by the weather, disease and conflict with the MacLeods.

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Alternative names for Wormistoune House

Weirmestoun; Wilmerstoun; Wirmestoun; Wolmerstoun; Wormiston House; Wormistone; Wormistoun; Wylmerstoun

Surnames associated with Wormistoune House

Spence

Where is Wormistoune House?

Wormistoune House is in the parish of Crail and the county of Fife.

Grid reference:NO 61064 09585

Lat / long:56.27712800,-2.63038180

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OS Map for Wormistoune House

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


Directions to Wormistoune House

Enter a starting point

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Weather at Wormistoune House

10°C
max 10°C / min 9°C
19km/h WSW
1025mb
81%
40%
08:03 16:45

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Anstruther at 17:42

References (books)

The Castles of Scotland
Martin Coventry
Prestongrange, 2015

References (websites)

Listed Building record
Canmore
Wormistoune House

Castles near Wormistoune House

Randerston House

1.3km away

Newhall Tower (site of)

1.3km away

Balcomie Castle

1.4km away

Randolphstoun Castle (site of)

1.5km away

Cambo (site of)

2.0km away

Crail Castle

2.1km away

East Barns (possible) (site of)

2.6km away

West Barns (site of)

3.0km away

Kippo (site of)

3.3km away
more castles....
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Ancient sites near Wormistoune House

Drumcarrow Craig broch

15.5km away

Lundin Links stone circle

21.6km away

Kilmany cursus

24.9km away

St Baldred's Cave cave

25.1km away

North Berwick Law fort

25.9km away

Woodhill cursus

26.7km away

Ardestie souterrain and rock art

27.1km away

Laws Hill broch and fort

27.9km away

Balgay Hill rock art

31.5km away
more ancient sites....
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Pictish stones near Wormistoune House

Crail Class III cross-slab

1.6km away

The Coves, Caiplie Class I symbols

3.9km away

Abercrombie 1 Class III cross slab

10.8km away

Abercrombie 2 Class III cross slab

10.8km away

Abercrombie 3 Class III cross slab

10.8km away

Abercrombie 4 Class III cross slab

10.8km away

Largo Class II cross slab

19.6km away

Scoonie Class II cross slab

23.9km away

Walton Class I symbol stone

24.7km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Wormistoune House

Norrie's Law hoard

20.2km away

Traprain Law silver chain

34.8km away

Haddington silver chain

37.3km away

Hoardweel silver chain

52.6km away

Whitlaw silver chain

62.7km away

Dunnicaer fort

79.8km away

Borland silver chain

83.5km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

85.4km away

Nigg silver chain

98.8km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Wormistoune House

Balcomie Links Hotel
hotelCrail
1.5km away
Fairmont St Andrews
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
7.8km away
Symphony Craw's Nest Hotel and Restaurant
hotel, restaurant, barAnstruther
8.0km away
The Old Station Country Guest House
bed and breakfastSt Andrews
8.7km away
Albany Hotel, St Andrews
hotelSt Andrews
12.3km away
Five Pilmour Place
hotelSt Andrews
12.5km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
12.5km away
St Andrews Tourist Hostel
hostelSt Andrews
12.6km away
Greyfriars Hotel
hotelSt Andrews
12.6km away
St Andrews Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
12.7km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Wormistoune House

Fairmont St Andrews
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
7.8km away
Symphony Craw's Nest Hotel and Restaurant
hotel, restaurant, barAnstruther
8.0km away
Northpoint Café
caféSt Andrews
12.2km away
Zizzi St Andrews
café, restaurantSt Andrews
12.3km away
West Port Bar & Kitchen
hotel, restaurant, pubSt Andrews
12.5km away
St Andrews Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
12.7km away
Best Western Scores Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
12.8km away
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.0km away
Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barSt Andrews
13.4km away
The Inn at Lathones
hotel, restaurantSt Andrews
13.6km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 24th of January 2012 at 8:52 pm. Updated on the 3rd of July 2021 at 4:32 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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