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Anstruther is a small town situated on a stretch of coastline
known as the East Neuk of Fife on the East coast of Scotland (click
here for map). The coastline from Largo to Kingsbarns is dotted
with small fishing villages of which Anstruther is the largest,
interspersed with rich fertile farmland. Indeed James II of Scotland
famously once described the East Neuk as 'a fringe of gold on
a beggar's mantle’. Edinburgh is approximately 50 miles South
West and Dundee about 20 miles to the North. The area boasts a
number of castles such as Kellie
Castle (National Trust for
Scotland) and golf courses together with a number of ancient
churches.
There is strong evidence that Anstruther was settled early in
Scottish History and there are a number of settlements that have
been linked to the Picts. For instance the remains of a pictish
cross slab was discovered at Kilrenny. Kilrenny was also the site
of an early Culdee church that survived until the 19th century.
Anstruther also became linked to the early Christian missions
and it is probable that the Chapel Cave, Caiplie were used for
early worship. The Isle
of May about five miles off the coast of Anstruther became
the site of an early monastery and in the later Medieval period
became one of Scotland’s most noted places of pilgrimage. It is
still possible to visit the Isle of May to see the archaeological
excavations and view the birdlife - boat trips are operated in
summer according to tides (see link from our East
Neuk Links page).
At the reformation Anstruther comprised of three distinct communities
- Anstruther Easter, Anstruther Wester and Cellardyke which was
the harbour for Kilrenny. Anstruther Wester received a royal charter
in 1587. Eleven years later a Spanish ship which had been part
of the Armada was wrecked off shore but its sailors were given
a warm reception from the townsfolk and helped to return to their
native land. The town continued to grow throughout the 17th and
18th centuries with increasing emphasis on fishing and trading.
Trade was vital to Scotland at this period to secure a much wider
range of goods than would otherwise have been available. Ships
from Anstruther and other East Neuk ports regularly sailed to
ports in the Baltic such as Danzig (Gdansk) and to the Low countries
where there were sizeable communities of Scots.
Much trade took place as smuggling when import duties rose dramatically
in the 18th Century and on dark nights and high tides, brandy
and rum were brought up the Dreel river - The ‘Smugglers Inn’
still remains with a seaward door down to the burn.
Anstruther Captains were famed for their seafaring skills and
later in the 19th Century a number were actively involved in trade
across the oceans, several in particular played a major role in
the China tea trade. During the 19th century as trading ships
got larger Anstruther increasingly turned to the fishing and the
North Sea herring industry. Whole families would be involved with
men at sea or mending nets and the women salting and packing the
herring into barrels. Anstruther landed herring was particularly
popular in Poland and the fishing fleet would follow the Herring
run down the North Sea as far as Lowestoft.
Today the significant fishing port in the East Neuk is Pittenweem
with the other harbours including Anstruther and Cellardyke being
mostly used for pleasure craft. Indeed tourism is now the major
industry for the town.
The Kilrenny and Anstruther Burgh
Collection is committed to preserving and maintaining the
historical records of the town. We hold a number of exhibitions
throughout the year and produce a series of publications on topics
relating to Anstruther and its history.
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