Archaeology Notes

Event ID 690175

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/690175

NO50SW 6 5498 0252

(NO 5498 0252) Cave (NR) Well (NR)

OS 6" map (1912)

St Fillan's Cave is a Y-shaped natural hollow in a rock outcrop c.80 yds N of Pittenweem harbour. It is 93' long, divided into two by a wall 33'6" in from the seaward entrance, which has a wall, with a 17th century doorway, across it. A stairway was built by the monks of the priory from the cave, ending in a vaulted cellar in the Priory grounds, at the foot of Cove Wynd. The cave was restored by the late Canon de Voil, Dean of Brechin, and reconsecrated in 1935.

St Fillan's Well, which is little better than a drip from the side wall, is about 21' from the end of the inner cave.

W F Lyon 1893; RCAHMS 1933, visited 1928; H Fenwick 1970

The cave and well are as described, and open to the public.

Visited by OS (DWR) 30 May 1974.