Overview of Kilrenny

A village in the East Neuk of Fife, Kilrenny lies to the northeast of Anstruther. It was formerly known as Upper Kilrenny to distinguish it from Nether or Lower Kilrenny which is now known as Cellardyke.

A church was founded here in AD 864 by the Celtic Culdees who dedicated the place to St Ethernan and in 1578 the village became a burgh with rights to hold a weekly fair. The present parish church, whose square tower was known to fishermen as 'St Irnie', dates from the 15th century and was extended in 1808 and renovated in 1933.

In the churchyard are to be found the Scott of Balcomie Mausoleum, the Beaton Burial Enclosure and Lumsdaine's Burial Enclosure. Innergellie House, a former home of the Beatons and part of the marriage dowry of King Robert III's wife Annabella Drummond, was rebuilt in a Baroque style in 1740. Nearby is the Skeith Stone, a mediaeval boundary stone, and further up the coast are the Caiplie Caves which are associated with Iron Age settlement and with St Adrian and St Ethernan.

A Conservation Area was established in Kilrenny in 1977.