Stands
by the roadside, east of Milnathort. Built of red sandstone, the original tower of c.1500
still stands today together with a small tower dated 1582 and a stretch of connecting
curtain wall, with a gateway through it. The remainder of the barmkin has long since been
removed, as have lesser buildings that were built against the wall.
The old tower has a vaulted
basement and a stairway to the first floor located in the north east corner which projects
into the rooms. The upper floors are gone, but large corbels for carrying the joists
survive, some with masons’ marks. There are garderobes off the two upper floors.
The second tower is basically
circular in plan, but a small stairway projects outwith the circumference. On the second
floor the tower is corbelled out to the square, to support the surviving roof. The arms of
Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich and Margaret Balfour of Burleigh adorn a skewputt. The
Balfours owned Burleigh from 1446. King James IV was a regular visitor at one time. In
1709 the Master of Burleigh was sentenced to death for murdering the dominic of
Inverkeithing, but he escaped prison dressed as his sister. He later became a fervent
Jacobite and, in disgrace, his Baron of Burleigh title was attaint until 1868. |
