By Cheryl Wood

THE REMAINS of an important 16th century castle in Fife could soon be opened up to the public—but at a price.

Owners of Collairnie Tower hope to raise money to repair and conserve the ancient monument through a development of new houses which would flank it.

The tower, the only remaining wing of Collairnie Castle, boasts two tempera-painted ceilings considered of great importance in the history of Scottish heraldry, but it is currently part of a working farm.

Surrounded by a cattle court, only animals and farm workers ever get near the A-listed tower house.

Previous attempts to attract funding from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the structure, which is on the Scottish Civic Trust’s Buildings at Risk register, failed. The “enabling development” now the subject of a planning application by the owners of the farm, Collairnie Proprietors, is considered the only viable option.

It would involve conversion of the existing steading into seven houses, the construction of a further eight houses, and alterations to the four-storey tower to allow public access.

The houses, ranging from three to five bedrooms, would be created in the character of a Scots estate village, according to the developer.

A report submitted with the planning application states, “This is seen as an appropriate neighbour to an 18th century farm steading and the remains of a castle. The number of residential units proposed is the minimum necessary for the development to attract the required investment.”

It also claimed the heritage benefit of the enhancement or survival of the tower would outweigh the disadvantage of the housing development.

The tower’s painted ceilings, one of which dates to 1607, are said to be in poor condition but not beyond conservation and the first and second floors have collapsed or partially collapsed.

Some £850,000 worth of repairs, restoration and alteration to allow access are estimated to be required.

The tower is owned by Collairnie Tower Charitable Trust, which was set up in 1986 to protect and preserve the tower and is in support of the proposals.

An interpretation room would be created in the tower, giving information about Scottish painted ceilings and the significance of those at Collairnie, Scottish medieval heraldry, local families and their history and the history of Collairnie Tower.

It would also house two suspended replica ceilings to show how the real ceilings would have looked when they were new.

It is expected the tower would be a “low-key visitor attraction,” with no more than 20 visitors a day over a typical summer weekend.

As income would not support a member of staff, designated key holders would provide access and in return the community of Collairnie would be allowed free use of the interpretation room for meetings and functions.

Financial support for the project is anticipated from Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund.