Tour
The Beautiful Fishing Village Of Anstruther
This
East Neuk fishing village in Fife is where I was raised
in Scotland. I have a deep and abiding love of this area,
and all of Fife.
Anstruther
gained its Royal Charter in 1587 and comprises Anstruther
Easter & Wester, Cellardyke and Kilrenny. In its heyday,
Anstruther was one of the busiest ports in the East Neuk
and is steeped in history. Even with the general decline
of the Fishing industry Anstruther is still a great attraction
because of the Scottish Fisheries Museum. The museum is
housed in old domestic buildings and also in the 16th century
site used by the monks from Balmerino Abbey.
It is best to explore Anstruther on foot and a walk through
the old streets will recapture the names and history of
days from a bygone age. The Dreel River forms the boundary
between Anstruther Easter & Wester and in olden days
was guarded by the Dreel Castle. The Parish Church of Easter
was built in 1634 and dedicated to St. Adrian.
Robert Louis Stevenson stayed in nearby Cunzie House while
his father was working on the new outer wall of the harbor
in 1868. The seafaring Anstruther must have made great impression
on the young author.
The
cottage where Thomas Chalmers was born in 1780 stands off
the High Street. He was instrumental in forming the Free
Church of Scotland. Other famous people from Anstruther
include; Lt. Andrew Waid who bequeathed his fortune in 1804
to establish Waid Academy for the benefit of local education.
William Tennant ( 1784-1848), who was born in the High Street
and became Professor of Oriental Languages at St Andrews
University. James Goodsir who was born at the Hermitage
and became the Conservator of the Museum of College of Surgeons.
Cellardyke which was previously named Nether Kilrenny and
Skinfasthaven has a beautiful and charming harbor and narrow
winding streets.
