Description
In its completed state the residential element of Collairnie was of L-shaped plan and, although it has been so extensively modified that it is difficult to be certain if that plan was the consequence of one or more building campaigns, that state was probably reached in 1581, in the time of David Barclay. The main block was aligned from north to south (in fact from north-east to south-west), and appears to have been of three main storeys, possibly with a garret within the roof. There is inadequate evidence for the use of the ground floor, but the indications of the much-modified tall windows at first-floor level suggest they lit a spacious hall, while at second-floor level there were at least two chambers on the indication of the adjoining doors off the stair well. There was evidently a shallow transverse section of roof connecting the roof over this range with west flank of the chamber tower, which rose to a greater height than the main block. The chamber tower projected from the east side of the main block's northern end, and the two parts were both served by a spacious circular stair in the re-entrant angle between them. The principal entrance was in the south face of the chamber block, though a later door has been formed at the base of the stair.
Both the chamber tower and the main block were unusually finely detailed. Apart from the moulded reveals to the doors and windows, there is a heavy cable moulding around the stair tower and south face of the chamber tower, and several features were framed by revived dogtooth mouldings. There are heraldic plaques above the entrance and at the head of the stair tower. At the lower levels there was an impressive display of wide-mouthed shot-holes, with that adjacent to the entrance being of quatrefoiled form. The eastern angles of the chamber tower were capped by turrets, and it may be suspected that there were others to the main block.
The aspirations of its owners for Collairnie are now perhaps best seen in the painted heraldic ceilings above the second and third floors of the chamber tower. Despite now being largely decayed beyond recognition, it is recorded that these were decorated with the arms of a large number of local land-holders, amongst which branches of Barclay and Balfour families were given particular prominence.
Views taken before the construction of the steading show that, as would be expected, the main courtyard of the castle was to its south, and that there were circular angle towers to the southern angles of the enclosing wall, with a gatehouse between.
History
The castle was home to a branch of the Barclay family, and two main phases of construction are indicated by inscriptions. On the lintel over the main entrance is the date 1581 and the initials of David Barclay, which suggests that the castle was either built or extensively remodelled at that time. But within the panel over that entrance is what appears to be a re-set dormer gablet with the date 1607 and the initials of Hugh Barclay, suggesting there was further remodelling.
On the evidence of a basket-arched fireplace in the surviving part of the castle, it continued to be occupied into the eighteenth century. In 1789 it passed to a son of the Balfour of Fernie family, a family with which the Barclays had already inter-married, and it may have been soon after then that it was abandoned as a primary residence. A new house was built a short distance to the south around this time, which was considerably expanded in 1849 to the designs of Alexander Blyth.
In 1844 an extensive farm steading was built by the mason Archibald Mitchell, enveloping the south and west sides of the castle, and the main body of the castle was truncated and adapted as a barn. The latter operation involved extensive modifications, with the construction of several new openings and quoins, all marked by droved ashlar. It may have been around the same time that the ashlar turrets at the eastern angles of the chamber block were cut down and covered by swept roofs, while the stair turret was given a double-pitched roof.
Status
Over the past century the condition of the remaining parts of the castle has been a matter of concern. In 1887 MacGibbon and Ross said that the painted ceilings were already in a very neglected state, and following its visit in 1925 the officers of the Royal Commission recorded that it was in bad repair. But in 1931-2 works to make the tower wind-and-water-tight were carried out under the direction of the distinguished architect Reginald Fairlie, and in 1985-6 further works with the same intention were carried out.
The chamber tower is covered by a modern roof, though the floors, together with the important heraldic ceilings beneath two of them, are in a parlous condition. The barn formed within the main body of the castle, together with the steading that now envelopes the castle on its south and west sides, would require a considerable amount of work to bring it back into a state of full repair.
Conservation Options
The five floors of the chamber tower element of the castle are structurally complete to the wall-head, and, while a considerable amount of work would be required to make them habitable, they could be restored to their historic state without resort to major speculation. Conversely, the main block of the castle is now so fragmentary and so extensively modified that any proposals for its restoration would represent considerable difficulties. However, the owners have indicated that, if they were to consider selling the castle, they are only likely to do so if the attached steading were to be included in the sale, and there could be scope for domestic adaptation of that complex.
Bibliography
Bath, Michael, Renaissance decorative painting in Scotland, Edinburgh, 2003, pp. 248-49.
Gifford, John, The buildings of Scotland, Fife, pp. 129-30.
MacGibbon, David and Ross, Thomas, The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland, vol. 2, Edinburgh, 1887, pp. 172-74.
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Inventory of Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan, Edinburgh, 1933, pp. 100-04.
Tranter, Nigel, The fortified house in Scotland, vol. 2, Edinburgh, 1962, pp. 30-31.