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[Quotation] The next place of consequence in the parish is the estate and mansion-house of Dunbog. This property formed in remote times a part of the extensive barony of Balinbriech, which belonged to the family of Rothes. It subsequently passed into the hands of Lord Home. In the reign of James IV [4th], Alexander Lord Home sold it to David Bethune of Creich in whose family it remained till 1658 when it was sold to James Bethune of Balfour, and elder branch of the same house. After passing through several other hands, it was purchased in 1694 by Major Henry Balfour of Starr who forfeited in the rebellion of 1715. It was restored however to his son, and finally disposed in 1766, to Sir Lawrence Dundas, to whose descendant Lord Dundas it now belongs, and again forms a part of the barony of Balinbriech. The vulgar tradition of the country assigns the building of the house to Cardinal Bethune of St. Andrews. There is every reason to believe that it was erected by a Bethune of Balfour, of which house the celebrated Cardinal was a member. But as a decided proof that neither the Cardinal nor his uncle David Bethune had anything to do with the erection of this mansion house of Dunbog. It is sufficient to state that the Cardinal was put to death in 1546 nearly a century before this property came into the possession of his family. Long before the time of which we now speak, the monks of the Abbey of Balmerino had a small building or preceptory on the site of the present house of Dunbog. It was called the preceptory of Gadvan, tenanted in general by two or three of the brotherhood, whose chief occupation was presume to have been the culture of some 24 acres of ground attached to their cell. A small portion of this land is comprehended in the glebe - but it is principally laid out in the garden and enclosures of Dunbog. Stat: Acct: [Statistical Account] of Fifeshire p. 211