Old Photograph Balcaskie House Scotland

Old photograph of Balcaskie House located North of Pittenweem, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. This Scottish house was first built before 1629, as the home of the Moncrieffs of that Ilk, and was an L-plan house of four storeys. In 1665 the estate was bought by Sir William Bruce, who set about enlarging the house between 1668 and 1674. Bruce planned the new house himself, and employed John Hamilton as mason, and Andrew Waddell as wright. The estate was sold in 1684 to Sir Thomas Steuart, when Bruce moved to his new home at Kinross House. In 1698 it changed hands again, becoming the property of Sir Robert Anstruther, whose son Philip undertook works in the mid-18th century, including heightening the central block. It was now that the wing walls and pavilions were added, according to John Gifford. Further alterations were made by William Burn in 1830-32, including a porch and new windows, and a stable block. Between 1856 and 1858 David Bryce worked at Balcaskie, adding several baronial features. Balcaskie remains the seat of the Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Anstruther.



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