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Information about St Monans

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St Monans (west end of harbour)
St Monans is a town in the East Neuk of Fife named after the legendary saint Monan. Situated approximately 3 miles west of Anstruther, this small picturesque fishing community rests on a hill overlooking the Firth of Forth Estuary, with views over to North Berwick, the Bass Rock and the Isle of May. St Monans contains many historical buildings, most notably the now defunct Windmill that once powered a salt-panning industry, and a 14th century church that sits on the jagged cliffs above the water on the western side. Approximately 1/2 mile west of St Monans, are the remains of the once great Newark Castle, a 16th century manor that has since fallen to ruin through cliff erosion and disrepair. In 2002 with the permission of Historic Scotland, an attempt to restore the castle was made however for whatever reason was unsuccessful (if anyone knows why please feel free to add that in).

Parish Church

St Monans church is situated within its kirkyard just to the west of the village on the very edge of the sea. It is indeed said to be the church nearest the sea in the whole of Scotland. The church, one of the finest remaining from the Middle Ages in Scotland, was built by King David II Bruce (1329-71), initially for a small house of Dominican friars. It later became the Church of Scotland parish church. Though the church may never have been finished (it lacks a nave), it has many features of architectural interest, notably the fine stone vaulting in the choir and the simple but handsome sedilia. White-washed throughout internally, the church is particularly light and attractive among ancient Scottish churches.

Major restoration to the windows and masonry was completed in March 2007. The church is open to visitors daily from April - October.

St Monans Parish Church is linked with Largoward Parish Church. The current minister of both parish churches is the Revd Dr Donald MacEwan.

Businesses

St Monans is home to many businesses, of which fish merchants and fish-smokehouses are most abundant, however you will also find Miller Ship Chandlers who have a large grey workshop sitting on the harbour, The Seafood Restaurant, The Mayview Hotel, a selection of convenience stores and an internet cafe, the East Neuk Veterinary Clinic and there are one or two driving schools based in St Monans too. A community cafe, the Harbour Houwff, opened in April 2007. There is also a caravan park which attracts many visitors, largely from the west coast of Scotland, a tradition that has stuck since the days of the railway line.

In fact in the Industrial Estate at the entrance to St Monans, you will find the remains of the old train station, a relic of the old East Neuk Katsy Rail Line that was shut down in the 1960's after the Beeching cuts. All that remains to be seen is the south platform which is overgrown with grass, however a little along from that is the station master's house, now a private residence which stands out from all the other buildings in the vicinity because it is the only one of its era.

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The East Neuk or East Neuk of Fife is a geographically ill-defined area of the coast of Fife, Scotland, which none-the-less stirs local passions.

"Neuk" is the Scots word for nook or corner, and the East Neuk is generally accepted to comprise the fishing villages of
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saint is one who is sanctified (cf. 2 Chron. 6:41). The early Christians were all called saints. (Heb. 13:24; Jud. 1:3; Phile. 1:5, 7) Over time, the traditional usage of the term saint
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Saint Monan (fl. 6th-7th century) is a legendary saint about whom very little is known. He may have lived in the 6th to 7th centuries. The only description of his life comes from the Brevarium Aberdonense, which was published in Edinburgh in 1509 - 1510.
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Anstruther (Enster in Scots, Eanstar in Scottish Gaelic) is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two Anstruthers are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews.
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Firth of Forth (Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh, and East Lothian to the south.
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North Berwick
Gaelic - Bearaig-a-Tuath


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Bass Rock

Location
OS grid reference: NT602873

Names

Gaelic name:

Area and Summit
Area: 3 ha
Highest elevation: 107 m

Population
Population (2001): 0

Groupings
Island Group: Islands of the Forth
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Isle of May

Location
OS grid reference: NT656992

Names

Gaelic name: Eilean Mhàigh
Norse name: Máeyar (cf. plural)
Meaning of name: Uncertain

Area and Summit
Area: 45 ha
Area rank (Scottish islands): 198=
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14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400.

Events

  • The transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age
  • Beginning of the Ottoman Empire, early expansion into the Balkans

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As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 through 1600.

See also: 16th century in literature

Events

1500s

  • 1500s: Mississippian culture disappears.

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Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Executive, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.

Its website states:
"Historic Scotland was created as an agency in 1991 and was attached to the Scottish Executive Education Department, which

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Motto
Nemo me impune lacessit   (Latin)
"No one provokes me with impunity"
"Cha togar m'fhearg gun dioladh"   
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Middle Ages form the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three "ages": the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern Times.
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David II:
  • David II Magistros of Tao-Klarjeti
  • David II of Imereti, King of Imereti
  • David II of Kakheti, King of Kakheti
  • David II of Scotland
  • Dawit II of Ethiopia

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Order of Preachers (Ordo fratrum Praedicatorum), after 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order, or Dominicans is a Catholic religious order, created by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century in France.
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Order of Preachers (Ordo fratrum Praedicatorum), after 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order, or Dominicans is a Catholic religious order, created by Saint Dominic in the early 13th century in France.
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Church of Scotland

Modern logo of the Kirk
Classification Protestant
Orientation Mainline
Polity Presbyterian
Founder John Knox
Origin 1560:
Separated from Roman Catholic Church
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nave is the central approach to the high altar. "Nave" ( Medieval Latin navis, "ship,") was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting. The nave of a church, whether Romanesque, Gothic or Classical, extends from the entry — which may have a separate
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A choir, chorale, or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers.

A body of singers who perform together is called a choir or chorus. The former term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church (whether or not they actually occupy the quire) and the
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The sedilia (the plural of Lat. sedile, seat), in ecclesiastical architecture, the term given to the seats (often) on the south side of the chancel near the altar for the use of the officiating priests.
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Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, or calsomine is a type of inexpensive paint made from slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and chalk (whiting). Other additives have historically included water glass, glue, egg white, Portland cement, salt, soap, milk or flour.
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Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching (21 April 1913 - 23 March 1985), commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer.
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