OS1/13/102/8

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 8

The castle
"The castle od St Andrews is situated about 250 yards to the northward of the Cathedral, on an eminence immediately overhanging the sea. It was first erected about the beginning of the 13th century by the bishop of that period as a place of residence for himself and his successors in office. After standing nearly a century and a half it fell into the hands of the English and was subsequently besieged taken and demolished by the Scottish forces. It lay in ruins for half a century during which period the bishop resided within the monastery and it was rebuilt by bishop Trail near the close of the fourteenth century. It is affirmed that James lll [third] was born in it in 1460. After the murder of Cardinal Beaton and the subsequent siege it was dismantled to a considerable extent but the injury was in a great measure repaired a few years afterwards by Archbishop Hamilton and was occasionally occupied by succeeding Archbishops until the period of the civil wars when it became uninhabitable and the priory having been annexed to the Archbishoprick in 1638 the prelates who held the see after the Restoration resided within the monastery in the building denominated the New Inn. The Castle when entire formed a quadrangle with a court in the interior of considerable dimensions. But with the exceptions of a part of the south wall including a handsome square tower and a few other fragments it is entirely in ruins. The sea within these few years has made considerable encroachments on the east wing and the northern division will probably ere long share the same fate". Stat. Acct [Statistical Account] of Co. [County] Fife p [page] 45

Transcriber's notes

Continuation of Description for Castle, for rest of transcription see Page 9.