Scotland · Ruin
Newark Castle
Newark Castle is a 15th-century ruined tower house on a rocky promontory just west of St Monans on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. The upper storeys are now ruinous while vaulted cellars survive beneath; a separate round dovecote stands nearby and the site is a scheduled monument.
Its prime
1500
Today
Ruin
As it stood in 1500
What Newark Castle looked like in its prime.
Perched on a low rocky headland directly above the North Sea, the castle is dominated by a tall, rectangular multi-storey stone tower with vertical window openings and battered lower walls, beside fragments of curtain wall including a large arched opening and low ranges of rubble masonry. To the east sits a distinct small round stone dovecote/tower. All masonry is pale-brown local stone; roofs are absent in the photo, but at its prime the tower and curtain walls would have been complete above vaulted cellars.
Its story
The story of Newark Castle.
Newark Castle stands on a rocky promontory just west of St Monans on the Fife coast, overlooking the North Sea. The present building was begun in the 15th century by the Kinloch family and passed by marriage to the Sandilands of Cruivie.
In 1649 the Sandilands sold it to David Leslie, a prominent commander in the English and Scottish Civil Wars who became Lord Newark after them. Following Leslie's death in 1682 the castle passed to the Anstruther family, and finally to the Bairds of Elie. The upper storeys are now ruinous, but vaulted cellars survive beneath, hidden from view; a separate round dovecote stands nearby, and the site is a scheduled monument.
Step inside
7 places to explore in 1500.
The record describes 7 distinct spots at Newark Castle — including 2 interiors: round dovecote (exterior and interior), vaulted cellars (subterranean). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Newark Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1500 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Newark Castle.
The families that held Newark Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Kinloch
The Kinloch family began the present castle in the 15th century.
Sandilands
Passed by marriage to the Sandilands of Cruivie, who sold it in 1649.
Held by David Leslie, Lord Newark, from 1649 until his death in 1682.
Anstruther
Passed to the Anstruther family after Leslie's death in 1682.
Held latterly by the Bairds of Elie.
Nearby
