Palace of Monimail
Encyclopedia
The Palace of Monimail, also known as Monimail Tower, was a Renaissance
palace in Fife
, Scotland
. Its remains are situated in the grounds of Melville House
, near the tiny village of Monimail, 4 km north of Ladybank
.
Originally a residence of the Archbishops of St Andrews
in the early seventeenth century, Monimail became a chief seat of the Melville family
. Lord Monimail is one of the subsidiary titles of the Leslie-Melville Earls of Leven.
Melville House" by Tom Morton Associates Architects of Auchtermuchty
, Fife
(October 2003) Monimail Palace is situated on "where the main road from St. Andrews to Perth
joined
that from St. Andrews to Stirling
." In Medieval times it would have "stood on a sunny prominence with a good prospect across the Howe of Fife."
. Around 1319 William Lamberton (Bishop of St. Andrews
1298-1328) constructed a manor house of some quality at Monimail "in the period of stability that followed Bannockburn
" ("Historic and Architectural Information relating to Melville House" - or HAIRMH).
David Beaton
. However, HAIRMH asserts that this is wrong and that the building is in fact the work of his uncle (and predecessor as Archbishop
of St Andrews
between 1522-1539) James Beaton
. HAIRMH describes Monimail in that era as "a comfortable, if quiet, country residence, capable of accommodating the elite and their entourages."
The records of the Episcopates of James and David Beaton show that it was their favourite residence after the city of St Andrews itself. James Beaton
went to the expense of importing fruit trees from France to plant in the gardens.
After David Beaton's murder in 1546 the palace continued to be used by his successors until the time of the Reformation
. "In 1552 Archbishop Hamilton
spent eleven weeks at Monimail, under the celebrated treatment of Jerome Cardan, the most famous physician in Europe at this time. His treatment primarily related to dietary requirements, but included use of a shower bath and sleeping on raw silk rather than feathers" (HAIRMH).
In 1564 Archbishop Hamilton sold the Palace to Sir James Balfour of Pittendriech who, in turn sold (in 1592) the "palice, ludging, and maner place of Monymeil, with houssis,
biggingis, yairdis, ortcheardis, barnis, doucattis, cunynghairis, paitis, pendiclis,
outsettis, annexis, connexis and dependencis; and als the grene lyand foranent the
foir yet of the said place" to Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie. This was ironic as members of the Melville
family had been involved in the murder of the palace's most famous inhabitant, David Beaton.
, who had recently been appointed President of the Privy Council, decided to build himself a mansion in the fashionable Classical style on his Monimail estate, to be called Melville House.
For many years, Monimail Palace was maintained as picturesque folly
in the park of the new stately home
. It was described as being in "pretty good preservation" as late as 1791 (HAIRMH).
However, the presence of so much good quality stonework was too tempting for subsequent generations and much of the fabric of the palace was removed for re-use.
In the 1820s the Melvilles decided to landscape their park and much of the remaining palace was buried. One tower remains. Recently restored to a high standard of authenticity using historically correct materials, it can be visited in summer. The architectural detail, notably the Renaissance-style portrait roundels on the parapet, is comparable to that at the near contemporary Falkland Palace
, making it one of the finest surviving early Renaissance buildings in Scotland
.
(This article is almost completely based on the "Historic and Architectural Information relating to Melville House" by Tom Morton Associates Architects of Auchtermuchty
, Fife
(October 2003
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
palace in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Its remains are situated in the grounds of Melville House
Melville House
Melville House lies to the southside of Monimail in Fife. It was built in 1697 by the architect James Smith for George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville, incorporating the 14th Century Monimail Tower...
, near the tiny village of Monimail, 4 km north of Ladybank
Ladybank
Ladybank is a town and former burgh of Fife, Scotland. It is located about north of Edinburgh, southwest of Cupar, close to the River Eden. Its 2006 population was estimated at 1,582.-History:Prior to the 18th century, this area was mostly marshland...
.
Originally a residence of the Archbishops of St Andrews
Archbishop of St Andrews
The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name...
in the early seventeenth century, Monimail became a chief seat of the Melville family
Melville family
Melville is the name of a notable and nobility Scots family originally from Fife in eastern Scotland.*Alan Melville, English playwright, composer, lyricist, scriptwriter and performer*Alan Melville, South African cricketer...
. Lord Monimail is one of the subsidiary titles of the Leslie-Melville Earls of Leven.
Location
According to the "Historic and Architectural Information relating toMelville House" by Tom Morton Associates Architects of Auchtermuchty
Auchtermuchty
Auchtermuchty is a town in Fife, Scotland, situated beside Pitlour Hill nine miles north of Glenrothes. Until 1975 it was a royal burgh, established under charter of King James V in 1517. There is evidence of human habitation in the area dating back over 2,000 years, and the Romans are known to...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
(October 2003) Monimail Palace is situated on "where the main road from St. Andrews to Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
joined
that from St. Andrews to Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
." In Medieval times it would have "stood on a sunny prominence with a good prospect across the Howe of Fife."
Origins
Monimail's situation upon the two roads that link Scotland's religious capital with two of the kingdom's most important cities would have made Monimail an attractive property for the Bishops of St Andrews and from the time of its earliest documentation (1206), Monimail was an estate belonging to the BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. Around 1319 William Lamberton (Bishop of St. Andrews
1298-1328) constructed a manor house of some quality at Monimail "in the period of stability that followed Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
" ("Historic and Architectural Information relating to Melville House" - or HAIRMH).
The Renaissance Palace
According to legend the Palace was built by its most famous inhabitant: CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
David Beaton
David Beaton
The Most Rev. Dr. David Cardinal Beaton was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish Cardinal prior to the Reformation.-Career:...
. However, HAIRMH asserts that this is wrong and that the building is in fact the work of his uncle (and predecessor as Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
between 1522-1539) James Beaton
James Beaton
Dr. James Beaton was a Scottish church leader, the uncle of Dr. David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland....
. HAIRMH describes Monimail in that era as "a comfortable, if quiet, country residence, capable of accommodating the elite and their entourages."
The records of the Episcopates of James and David Beaton show that it was their favourite residence after the city of St Andrews itself. James Beaton
James Beaton
Dr. James Beaton was a Scottish church leader, the uncle of Dr. David Cardinal Beaton and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland....
went to the expense of importing fruit trees from France to plant in the gardens.
After David Beaton's murder in 1546 the palace continued to be used by his successors until the time of the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. "In 1552 Archbishop Hamilton
John Hamilton (archbishop)
The Most Rev. Dr. John Hamilton , Scottish prelate and politician, was an illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
spent eleven weeks at Monimail, under the celebrated treatment of Jerome Cardan, the most famous physician in Europe at this time. His treatment primarily related to dietary requirements, but included use of a shower bath and sleeping on raw silk rather than feathers" (HAIRMH).
In 1564 Archbishop Hamilton sold the Palace to Sir James Balfour of Pittendriech who, in turn sold (in 1592) the "palice, ludging, and maner place of Monymeil, with houssis,
biggingis, yairdis, ortcheardis, barnis, doucattis, cunynghairis, paitis, pendiclis,
outsettis, annexis, connexis and dependencis; and als the grene lyand foranent the
foir yet of the said place" to Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie. This was ironic as members of the Melville
Melville
-In Australia:*Melville, Western Australia - the suburb*City of Melville, Western Australia - the local government authority*Melville Island, Northern Territory in Australia-In Canada:*Melville, Saskatchewan*Melville, Ontario*Melville Peninsula, Nunavut...
family had been involved in the murder of the palace's most famous inhabitant, David Beaton.
The decline and ruin of Monimail
In the late 1690s Sir Robert's descendant, George Melville, 1st Earl of MelvilleGeorge Melville, 1st Earl of Melville
George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville was a Scots aristocrat and statesman during the reigns of William and Mary.In 1643, he succeeded his father as Lord Melville.-Career:...
, who had recently been appointed President of the Privy Council, decided to build himself a mansion in the fashionable Classical style on his Monimail estate, to be called Melville House.
For many years, Monimail Palace was maintained as picturesque folly
Folly
In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs...
in the park of the new stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
. It was described as being in "pretty good preservation" as late as 1791 (HAIRMH).
However, the presence of so much good quality stonework was too tempting for subsequent generations and much of the fabric of the palace was removed for re-use.
In the 1820s the Melvilles decided to landscape their park and much of the remaining palace was buried. One tower remains. Recently restored to a high standard of authenticity using historically correct materials, it can be visited in summer. The architectural detail, notably the Renaissance-style portrait roundels on the parapet, is comparable to that at the near contemporary Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace in Falkland, Fife, Scotland, is a former royal palace of the Scottish Kings. Today it is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and serves as a tourist attraction.-Early years:...
, making it one of the finest surviving early Renaissance buildings in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
(This article is almost completely based on the "Historic and Architectural Information relating to Melville House" by Tom Morton Associates Architects of Auchtermuchty
Auchtermuchty
Auchtermuchty is a town in Fife, Scotland, situated beside Pitlour Hill nine miles north of Glenrothes. Until 1975 it was a royal burgh, established under charter of King James V in 1517. There is evidence of human habitation in the area dating back over 2,000 years, and the Romans are known to...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
(October 2003