Pitteadie Castle

Pitteadie Castle is a ruined great tower perhaps dating to the late 15th century but does not stand in an area of great defensive strength. It is on sloping land which looks eastwards to the Firth of Forth south of Kirkcaldy. It is barely visible from public roads, and access is problematic as it seems to involve agricultural land and private gardens. The tower was extended more than once, but the whole structure is ruined.

The lands of Pitteadie were held by a series of landowners in the 14th and 15th century before this stabilised with the Vallance family, who probably acquired the estate through marriage, and are likely to have been responsible for the earliest phase of construction here. Subsequent history is somewhat confused as there are multiple properties with similar names about at this time – perhaps reflecting the breaking up of the old estate. In 1612 the estate and tower were held by John Boswell, whose descendants then sold up, this time to Scott of Scotstarvit. Later the estate was sold again and ended up being part of a complex bankruptcy case in the 18th century. Recently the castle and estate (including the modern house) were sold again, and it remains in private hands.

HES Canmore database entry