Denmylne Castle

Denmylne Castle is a ruined 16th-century tower house, about 1 mile (1.6 km) south east of Newburgh, Fife, Fife, Scotland, and 1 mile (1.6 km) north west of Lindores Loch. It may be known alternatively as Den Miln Castle. 

History

The Balfours owned the property from 1452 to 1710. The castle dates from the late 16th century.

In 1460 James Balfour of Denmylne died at the siege of Roxburgh Castle, while John his son was killed in the battle of Flodden in 1513.

In 1617 Sir Michael Balfour of Denmylne's watermills were targeted by armed vandals who demolished the dam on Auld Lindores Loch. The flood broke the axles and wheels of the mills, and nearly demolished the buildings. The mill lades were filled up with red mud, as was a nearby house called Burnside belonging to John Leslie, 6th Earl of Rothes.

Arms of the Balfours of Denmylne

Sir James Balfour, 1st Baronet of Denmilne and Kinnaird was appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1639 (according to Coventry). He compiled an important collection of Scottish historical manuscripts; and he also officiated at the coronations of both Charles I and Charles II. His brother Sir Andrew Balfour was the founder of the first Edinburgh Botanic Garden.

1791 Engraving by F. Grose

In this old engraving, made in 1791 by Francis Grose, the doorway can still be seen, emerging from the stair turret at the top of the stair tower, by which access to the parapet along the north wall and east gable was gained. Why they went to the trouble of building a parapet on this east gable, but didn't continue it round the rest of the building, is another mystery.

Internally, the castle contains three main storeys, with a garret floor at parapet level. The basement contains two vaulted chambers, neither provided with the usual wide arched fireplace to indicate a kitchen. Perhaps the smaller room on the first floor, next to the Hall, was where the cooking was done, or, as Tranter suggests, the kitchen was in a separate building in the courtyard.

The castle is now in a derelict condition and it is only visible from the roadside, since it lays on a private property.