Blog: Cellardyke, Fife

Situated along Fife’s rugged coastline, you find quaint fishing villages hugging the waters edge. Visitors are attracted to the area for a multitude of reasons including the scenic views, expansive coastline and cultural heritage. However the last thing they expect to find is foreign architecture.

A noticeable feature to Fife’s architectural language, and that of my own own Cellardyke, is the Flemish influence on roofing types. Centuries past Scotland had strong trading links with Holland and as Fife is situated on an eastern peninsula it found that many Dutch traders who would stop here to trade bright red pantiles for salt, linen and wool. These tiles were used as a ballast for the journey across in the belly of the empty ships. The pantiles are often coupled with another flemish vernacular the crow-stepped gable, also referred to as corbie step.

This sawtooth like feature is very noticeable as you walk through the town due to its bold image and foreign nature, the use of this technique is more so for decoration but also a way to finish off the brick course. Throughout the various coastal towns there are signs of Flemish architectural flare such such as Crail townhall.