Earlshall Castle

An L-plan tower house in NE Fife to the east of Leuchars, Earlshall Castle was built in 1546 by Sir William Bruce of Earlshall. Today it lies next to the runway at RAF Leuchars.

Earlshall was restored from a ruinous state in 1891-8 by Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929) under the patronage of its owner W.R.M. Mackenzie. Mackenzie was aware of Lorimer's success at nearby Kellie Castle. Lorimer found in Earlshall an almost derelict castle, but one unspoilt by alteration. With complete freedom and the generous budget supplied by Mackenzie, Lorimer was able to excel, undertaking a restoration of the utmost quality and sensitivity. A particular delight is the Long Gallery, featuring carefully restored painted tempera work, originally from 1617, showing animal and heraldic images. The carved wooden hall screen is a reproduction of an original in Falkland Palace.

Situated amidst wooded parkland, featuring a garden with a topiary of yew chessmen which were rescued by Lorimer as mature trees from an abandoned Edinburgh garden.


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