Burghs of Elie & Earlsferry
Earlsferry Town Hall
Earlsferry Town Hall, built between 1864 and 1872, has a sailing ship as its weathervane. As well as the plaque to James Braid there is one which commemorates the Polish soldiers stationed in the town during the Second World War. Many of them stayed and married local women.
Elie Parish Church
Elie Church was built by William Scott of Ardross in 1639. The distinctive tower was added by Sir John Anstruther in 1726. The clock on the tower only has three faces as there were no buildings on its north side when it was installed in 1900. Have a look at some of the church’s gravestones. One 19th century grave is inscribed ‘Charles Fox Cattanach, wife of James Smith’. She was given a man’s name by mistake when she was christened and her superstitious family continued to use it!
Lady’s Tower and Ruby Bay
Lady Janet Anstruther, wife of the laird of Ardross and Elie estate, built Lady’s Tower at Ruby Bay as her summerhouse and changing room for use when she went seabathing. She sent a bell-ringer around the town each time she went swimming to warn the townsfolk to keep away! Lady Janet was also responsible for the removal of the hamlet of Balclevie in 1771 to improve her view from Elie House. A local spey-wife (fortune-teller) is said to have placed a curse on the Anstruthers because of it, saying that only six generations of the family would ever live in the house. Her prediction came true.
