Britain - Ireland - Castles . com
Castles and Historic Buildings of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland

 Castles of Scotland - Balgonie Castle






Map by mapchart.net - Some rights reserved.


Location
near Markinch, Fife, Scotland

Description
Balgonie Castle is situated on the south bank of the River Leven near Milton of Balgonie, 2.5 miles east of Glenrothes, Fife. The original keep was built in the 14th century, and other structures were added until the 18th century. The tower has been recently restored, but other parts of the castle are ruins.The Tower is approximately 75 feet to the parapets with walls 10 feet thick at the base. The Great Hall is in original condition. The castle courtyard is surrounded by a defensive wall that was over 20 feet high.

Since the restoration of the Chapel in 1989, the Castle has been used as a wedding venue.The Castle is licenced for Civil Weddings. The Great Hall is used for weddings, banquets and receptions, corporate events and parties.

History
The sandstone Tower was built in the 14th century for Sir Thomas Sibbald of Balgonie. A North Range was built in 1496 for Sir Robert Lundin of Balgonie with a defensive 10 foot gap between it and the Tower. There is a chapel on the ground floor. The gap between the Tower and Hall House was filled in by a Tower in 1666. Balgonie fell into disrepair in the late 19th century, and the roofs were removed.The castle was vandalised in the 1960s. Raymond Morris of Balgonie & Eddergoll bought the castle in 1985, and is restoring it back to its original condition. Famous visitors to Balgonie Castle include Daniel Defoe, Dr Benjamin Rush (signatory of the American Declaration of Independence), James Boswell and Dr Johnson.


Other Castles in the Area
  Aberdour Castle, Fife
  Balhousie Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Ballinbreich Castle, Fife
  Balvaird Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Burleigh Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Collairnie Castle, Fife
  Dairsie Castle, Fife
  Denmylne Castle, Fife
  Dirleton Castle, Lothian
  Dundas Castle, Lothian
  Edinburgh Castle, City of Edinburgh
  Elcho Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Evelick Castle, Perth And Kinross
  Falkland Palace, Fife
  Fenton Tower, Lothian
  Fernie Castle, Fife
  Fingask Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Huntingtower Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Kellie Castle, Fife
  Lauriston Castle, Lothian
  Lochleven Castle, Perth and Kinross
  Lochore Castle, Fife
  Lordscairnie Castle, Fife
  Myres Castle, Fife
  Newark Castle, Fife







Newark Castle
Balgonie Castle

Photograph by David Johnston. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Newark Castle
Balgonie Castle. A 15th-century tower house on the south bank of the River Leven.

Photograph by Paul McIlroy. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

© OpenStreetMap contributors licensed as CC BY-SA