Creich Castle

Creich Castle is a large and well-preserved tower house of the 16th century situated adjacent to a working farm. Access is permitted and efforts have been made to ensure visitors can appreciate the monument. Built within a shallow bowl on high ground, it may once have been surrounded by a marsh or lake, but the site is otherwise not strong.

The castle consists of an impressive L-shaped tower house with a square stair tower in the angle, and although the building is isolated today, there is evidence to suggest a courtyard range was associated with it originally. The tower was once three storeys high with an attic; the wing a storey higher. In the 13th century, the lands of Creich were a royal property granted to the earl of Fife, but had been reclaimed by John Balliol during his reign, and may have been the subject of dispute. Two hundred years later they were in the hands of a family by the name of Liddell or the Hays, who sold them to Sir David Beaton of Balfour, and it is clear that the Beaton family were responsible for the building of the tower, probably on the site of an earlier defensive manor. The Beatons and their offshoots retained the castle until the late 18th century, by which time the castle was falling into ruin, and parts were probably used to build the farmtoun of Creich.

HES Canmore database entry