Myres Castle facts for kids
Myres Castle is a historic Scottish castle located in Fife, close to the village of Auchtermuchty. It has a long history, closely connected to the nearby Falkland Palace. The castle you see today was mostly built around 1530. Myres Castle, with its amazing Scottish garden, is now used as a private venue for events and stays.
The Castle's Name and Early Days
Myres Castle has a history that is linked to Falkland Palace. This is because Myres was the traditional home of the "Mace Bearers" or "Sergeants of Arms" for Falkland Palace. These were important officials.
The word "myres" means a boggy or marshy place. Myres Castle is indeed in an area that used to be quite wet. There's a lovely pond in front of the castle today, which helps collect water.
The land where Myres Castle stands was once part of the large properties owned by the Earl of Fife. This part of the land was later given to Robert, Duke of Albany, through marriage. In 1425, Robert's son, Murdoch, lost the land back to the king. For many years after that, the king owned the land. The first known tenant, or person renting the land, was Robert Coxwell. He lived at the Scottish Royal Court.
Myres Castle's Architecture and Changes Over Time
The castle itself was first built around 1530. It was designed in a special way called a "Z-plan fortress," possibly by its owner, John Scrimgeour of Myres. The outside of the castle is covered in a yellowish plaster called harl. Some parts show the grey stone underneath.
A square tower was added in 1616. This tower has decorative stone carvings and symbols. The very bottom part of the castle seems to be even older, perhaps from the 1300s. It has a special arched ceiling and looks like a medieval kitchen.
The castle was changed and updated many times in the 1600s and 1700s. In 1872, it was repaired and given some new touches by James Campbell Walker. These changes gave it a style known as Scots Baronial.
At the entrance to the property, there is a separate stone building called a Victorian gatehouse. This building was used as a home until at least 1997.
One of the most special parts of Myres Castle is its amazing walled garden. This garden has huge topiary yew trees, which are trees shaped into interesting forms. It also has beautiful flower beds and a small fishpond. The garden walls are very tall, over three meters high, and were likely built in the 1600s.
Myres Castle in the 20th Century
Myres Castle is surrounded by about 44 acres of gardens, farmland, and woodlands. The Fairlie family has been connected to Myres for a long time. There are many items at Myres that belonged to the Fairlie family, including old hunting diaries from as far back as 1903.
A sad note from 1915 mentions that James Ogilvy Reginald Fairlie, who lived at Myres, was killed in World War I. He was an important official to the King. His brother was the famous Scottish architect Reginald Fairlie.
The Fairlie family lived in the castle until 1997. The wooded areas around the castle were also improved with new tree plantings by Captain Reginald Fairlie in the early 1980s. Today, Myres Castle is rented out for special events and weddings.
