OS1/13/113/39

Continued entries/extra info

(38) Town Cupar Sheet 5 Trace 7

[Quotation]
"The only religious house which existed in Cupar at the time of the Reformation was a Convent of Dominican or Black Friars. It was situated at the foot of the Castlehill and connected with the Castle. A considerable part of the chapel built of cut freestone still stands." Old Stat. Acct [Statistical Account] vol. [volume] 17 p. [page] 162

[Quotation]
"In the beginning of the thirteenth century a monastery of Dominicans or Black Friars was founded and endowed by Malcolm Earl of Fife, the sixth in succession from Macduff. It belonged originally to the Isle of May but was afterwards gifted to the priory of St. Andrews. This monastery was situated at the foot of the Castle hill part of the houses which form St. Catherine Street having been erected on its site. This situation existed to the period of the reformation and there is little doubt that in the earlier part of its existence, it tended to the advantage of the town and to the increase of the small traffic then existing. At the reformation the buildings of the monastery and the yard which surrounded them appear to have passed into the possession of the lairds of Balgarvie and what remained of the Chapel was fitted up by them with some additions as a mansion house which they styled Balgarvie House. The remains of the Chapel of the monastery and Balgarvie house which was rather an elegant building were removed at the time St. Catherine Street was opened up. The last resident in Balgarvie house was the Lady Elizabeth Anstruther." Leighton's Hist. [History] of Fife vol. [volume] II p. [page] 8