Denmylne Castle

Denmylne Castle is a modest T-plan tower house sitting within a working farmyard at the lower end of the Den of Lindores, a steep sided glen containing an upland route past Lindores Abbey towards the Howe of Fife. The tower dates back to the 15th century in part, but is largely of 16th and 17th century date. It is partially visible from the main road.

The lands of Denmylne were the property of the earls of Fife, and it may be no coincidence that the Den of Lindores might have been a convenient route for the medieval earls to travel to get from parliament in Perth back to their seat at Falkland. They were forfeited back to the crown in the reign of James I after Murdoch, Duke of Albany, was executed in 1425. A lease of the lands were granted to the Balfour family in 1451, again in 1460 and in 1501, at which point the “old fortified tower” was mentioned. It may be that the Denmylne estate was burdened by dues granted to Lindores Abbey, and long after the Reformation the Balfour family still saw money going to the Commendator. However this did not prevent the extension of the tower and remodelling. The 17th century saw a series of unfortunate events result in financial difficulty for the Balfours of Denmylne, last of which is the vanishing of the 5th baronet in 1709, and the further decline of the estate. Denmylne was sold to the Scott family of Balcomie before 1773, but the house was surplus to requirements and was in ruins by 1840.

HES Canmore database entry