Mastertown, Pitreavie's Hospital

NT18SW 11 1217 8494

This site has been mistakenly plotted. The NGR previously given lies approximately 140m to the E. It is not possible to accurately identify the site of Pitreavie's Hospital [see RCAHMS below], therefore the new NGR is sited in the centre of the row of houses as shown on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Fife and Kinross 1856, sheet 39)

Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 2 August 1999

(NT 1231 8491) Pitreavie's Hospital (AD 1675) (NAT)

OS 6" map (1948)

In the year 1675, Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie instituted a hospital in the village of Masterton, Dunfermline...a house of four rooms, still standing, in favour of four widows.

P Chalmers 1844

This hospital has been demolished together with the majority of the remainder of the village of Masterton.

Visited by OS (AC) 12 March 1959

'One of a row of cottages occupied by four widows to whom a grant was made in the year 1675 by Sir Henry Wardlaw allowing them six bolls of meal yearly to be furnished by the proprietor or proprietors of the Pitreavie Estate. In accordance with the wish of the Rev P Chalmers (author of the His. of Dunfermline) the name was not supplied on trace as he did not consider the present cottage was constructed for the purpose of an "Hospital" and it was not to the cottage the grant was made and therefore in his opinion could not be noticed on the Plans as an Hospital.'

Name Book 1856

The annotation 'Pitreavie's Hospital (1675)' appears on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Fife and Kinross 1856, sheet 39) beside a roofed long building. To the south of this building are attached three conjoined enclosures which would indicate that three houses were contained within the building. This is probably the 'row of cottages' mentioned in the Name Book [see above] one of which was the hospital, although it is not clear which.

Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 2 August 1999