thumb|seal of Crail

Crail (; ) is a coastal village and former royal burgh and community council area (Royal Burgh of Crail and District) in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.

The locality has an estimated population of 1,630 (2018).

Etymology

The name Crail was recorded in 1148 as Cherel and in 1153 as Karel. The first element is the Pictish *cair (cf. Welsh caer) meaning "fort", The parish church was itself dedicated (in the 13th-century) to the early holy man St. Maelrubha of Applecross in Wester Ross.

Crail Castle was an occasional residence of David I of Scotland during the 12th century but subsequently fell into ruin. Robert the Bruce granted permission to hold markets on a Sunday..

In 2017, the Community Council was granted the Letters Patent to the Crail Shield and Coat of Arms. This was lost when the Royal Burgh of Crail Council was abolished in 1976.

Architecture

thumb|[[Crail Tolbooth and Town Hall|Crail Tolbooth (on the left)]]

The most notable building in the town is the parish church, situated in the Marketgate – from the mid-13th century St Maelrubha's, in later medieval times St Mary's, but now, as part of the Church of Scotland's ministry, known just as Crail Parish Church. It was founded in the second half of the 12th century. From early in its history, it belonged to the Cistercian Nunnery of St Clare in Haddington, East Lothian, and remained the Nunnery's possession until the Reformation. The kirkyard also includes a war memorial gateway of 1921.

Crail Tolbooth is near the juncture of Tolbooth Wynd and the Marketgate. It stands on its own at the edge of the large marketplace with its Mercat cross in the centre of the town. This is where the Sunday markets were once held. (The former marketplace is now used as a car park.) The tolbooth has a characteristic tower dating from about 1600 and a European-style roof, similar to buildings in Holland. The weathervane on the spire is in the form of a smoked haddock (known locally as a Crail Capon) rather than the traditional cockerel form.

The Golf Hotel, on High Street, is Category A listed, dating to the 18th century or earlier.

Culture

In 1965, Crail Pottery, a family-run pottery and ceramics workshop and retailer, was founded in the locality by Stephen and Carol Grieve. The pottery has attracted attention from both local and national sources as a longstanding craft business and attraction.

Harbour

In 1610, the eastern pier was described as "new foundit" (newly built); however, by 1707 it was called "old and ruinous", requiring rebuilding.

The structure of the inner walls of the harbour features a highly unusual vertical coursing of the stones.

Notable residents

  • Andrew Duncan, minister exiled for opposing the policies of James VI ( c.1560–1626)
  • Joan Clarke, cryptanalyst and former fiancée of Alan Turing (1917–1996)
  • King Creosote, singer-songwriter (1967–)
  • William Dickson, footballer (1866–1910)
  • James Oswald (1710–1769), composer
  • James Sharp, became Archbishop of St Andrews (1618–1679)
  • Oswald Wynd, author (1913–1998)

Carboniferous fossils

On the beach beside the harbour, there are fossilised trees related to Horsetails, dating back to the Carboniferous geological period.

Sport

The Crail Golfing Society, formed in 1766, is the seventh-oldest in the world. Their oldest course, Balcomie, was formally laid out by Tom Morris Sr. in 1894, but competitions had been played there since the 1850s.

Public transport

Stagecoach East Scotland's bus service 95 from Leven to St Andrews via Pittenweem and Anstruther is the only bus service which serves Crail. The hourly service runs every day.

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Image:The unusual stonework at Crail Harbour.jpg|The unusual stonework at Crail Harbour

Image:Scotland Fife Crail 20070725 0117.jpg|Crail Harbour

Image:Scotland Fife Crail 20070725 0119a.jpg|House near the harbour

Image:Crail harbour.jpg|Crail Harbour

Image:Scotland Fife Crail 20070725 0136.jpg|Viewing the harbour from above

Image:Crail Harbour, Fife, Scotland.JPG|Boats in Crail Harbour

</gallery>

References

;Citations

;Sources

  • The Royal Burgh of Crail and District Community Council