Pitcullo

#176 - 180 Pitcullo Castle
Near Leuchars, Fife, Scotland
Late 16th century and later
This is NOT an official Lego site

Pitcullo Castle may be a surprising choice for this castle project I am creating for Brickworld Chicago 2022. It is a fine but uninspiring Scottish L-plan tower house, built near the end of the 16th century, in Fife, less than 5 miles from Cupar and less than 7 miles from St. Andrews. However, with a finite number of years to recreate castle models in Lego, I try not to repeat my castle projects, unless I feel a newer model would be significantly more accurate or striking. That said, I wanted to create an example of what has happened to hundreds of Scottish towers and other castles over the centuries, and Pitcullo was in the right place at the right time. There are to be five models of Pitcullo: the original L-plan, the conversion to a U-plan in the 17th century, the abandoned ruin, the 1971 restoration, and finally the 1980s embellishment. It will be a fun project, both in the research and the building!

The land upon which Pitcullo Castle rests was originally the property of the Sybbalds (or Sibbalds). It was acquired by the Balfours around the beginning of the 16th century. According to MacGibbon and Ross, The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland (1892), the initials "D.B." above the entrance door refer to a grandson or great-grandson of one "David Balfour of 'Petcullo' (who) was dead before January 1514/5." The original tower house was a classic L-plan with a single stair block wing protruding from the southwest corner of the roughly 22 by 51 foot main block. The walls are about four feet thick. The entrance of the three story castle was in the re-entrant angle at the base of the stair wing. The main circular stair rose only to the main floor, with access to the second floor and attic via a corbelled-out stair turret above the door, and a service stair turret near the middle of the north side. The castle had an undercroft [basement] at the east end of the main block. I can find no images of this tower [my #176]. The castle was harled and likely washed in an ochre color. At some point in the next century, the decision was made to create additional space with a second wing, but placing it symmetrically at the east end of the south face would have interfered with existing windows, so the roughly 15 foot square tower was placed against the angle of the SE corner, creating a trio of unheated rooms in the shape of a five foot wide backward "L" [see plans below]. The function of these odd rooms is unknown - cold bedrooms perhaps [my #177].

By 1707 the castle was in the hands of the Trents, as Last Will and Testaments of a William Trent, another William Trent and a Maurice Trent, all "of Pitcullo", are registered in May 1707, August 1726 and January 1787. However, by the early nineteenth century, the castle was the property of the 'Pitcairns of Pitcullo'. Andrew Pitcairn, of Pitcullo Castle, [b. March 1767] fourth son of Provost John Pitcairn, and his wife Janet, gave birth to ten sons and one daughter. The second son, John [b. 1807] married Cecillia Paterson, who died in April 1897 'at Pitcullo'. Lieut. Col. Andrew Pitcairn [b. April 1822], of Pitcullo Castle, died in 1892, 'at Pitcullo'; and his son Ronald Andrew Pitcairn [b. October 1858] is listed as 'the present owner of Pitcullo Castle'. However, note that the pair of pencil drawing by Alexander Archer are dated "5th Septr 1838" and show not only significant deterioration of the protective harl, but numerous broken window panes, strongly suggesting the castle itself was abandoned by that time! The photographs of the Pitcullo ruin flanking the second paragraph are dated about 1888, indicating that the castle was derelict and roofless by the time Ronald Andrew acquired it! [my #178] The castle was rescued in 1971 by R. C. Spence, of Cunningham, Jack, Fisher & Purdom, Architects, and restored to much like it's original form [my #179][photo to the right]. It was purchased as a private residence by merchant banker Angus Grossart, and his artist wife Gay, in 1977, and gentrified in the early 1980's by Ian McKerron Begg, architect with L. A. Rolland & Partners [my #180]. It is currently occupied.

Photos of the five Lego Models Under construction in early April, 2022

On April 4, construction begins with the five bases laid out in a row	The layouts are similar, with the center three adding space for the 17th C tower.	By the end of the day the five identical slopes begin to take form.	On April 6, 2022, the five landscaped plots are ready to accept a pleasant tower house! For each, see below:


Here is the 16th c L-plan on April 7, ready to build.	On April 10 the ground floor is almost complete, with the Balfours starting the protective lime and pebble wash.	By April 13 it's obvious that the Balfours have a huge job ahead, harling their entire castle!	The tower is at three stories on April 16, and ready for roofing to begin.	By April 20, roofing is well underway. The next photos will be of the completed model.


The 17th C U-plan adds the second tower to the front of the castle.	The ground floor is almost complete on April 10.	The 17th century Pitcullo has a much more finished appearance.	By April 17, the U-plan tower is complete to the proposed roof line.	The 17th century castle is being roofed on April 20. See below for finished castle.


I will do my best to mimic the deterioration of the late-19th and early 20th centuries.	Building the ruined interior promises to be a unique challenge...	On April 14 there's more to be seen of the abandoned U-plan tower house.	Three days later I got a bit carried away as I framed the deteriorating castle...	...and actually roofed the stair tower, adding some weeds as well. Fine tuning will follow. See below.


Here is the April 7 outline of R. C. Spence's 1971 Restoration	By April 10 the ground floor is done, with the remnant of the second tower still visible.	The restored castle looks more and more like a white-washed version of the original on April 13.	The April 18 model is just about ready for a roof.	The 1971 restoration is acquiring a roof of April 23. The completed model is below.


The 1980s Gentrification by Ian Begg will look a lot like the first Restoration - at the base of the castle.	Here is the progress on April 10.	And we can begin to see the results of Ian Begg's gentrification of the 1980s.	On April 18, the tower is ready to be roofed. Note the subtle differences added by Ian Begg.	More differences become evident as roofing and corbelling begin on April 23. Final photos below.


Within several decades the castle is a U-plan, with the SE tower added.	From the front, the castle now sports two unique turrets.	The view from the west - pretty much unchanged...	...except the trees on the north side have matured nicely!	The view from the east has changed a lot, of course.	And the Trent owners are reluctantly handing over the keys to the delighted Pitcairns.


Sadly within a few decades the castle has gone from...	...disrepair to picturesque ruin, losing most of the pebble slurry protection...	...and sporting increasingly enthusiastic weeds.	The trees in back have died, and become wood in someone's fireplace...	...and a pretty patch of bluebells adorns the old east lawn.	But it a romantic setting for this young couple's picnic, adorned by a pot of fresh bluebells.


In 1971 R. C. Spence restores Pitcullo, painting her white instead of ochre.	It's much like the original, but with the caphouse gone, and the roofline lowered.	Stair tower rooflines have changed, due to the lower main roof.	Here's the restored castle from the north, stair caphouse seemingly more prominent.	The ground floor storeroom is now living space with a much larger window.	This montage shows children playing pirate in the front yard, while Mr. Spence points out where the new tree is to be planted.


Finally, we see the current state of the castle, embellished...	...in the early 1980s for Mr. and Mrs. Grossart. The decorative watchtower...	...in place of the original caphouse, is accessed by ladder.	The second story gabled windows are more decorative...	...and the corbelled bartizan an interesting touch on the SE corner.	And Angus takes a brief break to admire Gay's landscape.


The front from the lawn...	...and the drone's eye view.	The view from the west.	And the NNE, from above.


Ground Floor Plan late 16th century	First Floor Plan late 16th century	Ground Floor Plan mid-17th century	First Floor Plan mid-17th century	Current Basement Floor Plan	Current Ground Floor Plan	Current First Floor Plan


Here are the pictures of the just completed late 16th century castle.	The front view from the south.	The view from the west.	The back of Pitcullo, with newly planted garden and trees.	And the end of the main block from the east.	And a closer look at the Balfour family beginning to apply the protective coat of harl.

Build Your Own

Lego Top Down Plan 17th	Lego Top Down Plan 1971	Lego Top Down Plan 1980s

Lego Ground Floor Plan 17th C	Lego Ground Floor Plan 1971	Lego First Floor Plan 1971


South Elevation 17th Century	East Elevation 16th Century	South Elevation 1980s (including undercroft [basement])	West Elevation 1980s

Photos of the Lego Models Built April, 2022

Here is the panorama of the front of each of the five Pitcullo models.	And the panorama of the back side of each model. More below!