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The Spelling of Feddinch varies surprisingly little over the centuries, Fedinch, Feddinch, Feddinche. The name of Feddinch first appears, in 1479, written upon what is known as The Golden Charter of the See of St Andrews. This was a charter documenting the privileges and rights within the 'Roman Catholics' Church area or See of the Archbishopric of St Andrews. St Andrews, at that time, was a place of great religious pilgrimage for Christians from all over Europe, having possession and enshrining some of the relic's of the Apostle "Saint" Andrew. Reference book : Martine, Reliqui Divi Sanct Andræ, 1797. The stone used to build Feddinch is most likely to have come from the local quarry, Nydie quarry, which was operating in the 13th century. In St Andrews University Library, Rare Books Department A Psalter published in 1491 which is inscribed in latin, rough translation - 'William Schevez's Book. Archbishop of Saint Andrews' and "Nunc liber d[omi]ni Jo[hann]is Symsone" which I think is 'Now Book of Father {or Canon} John Symsone'. The Library list Symson as the owner, flourishing in the 15th Century and a Canon of St Andrews. Canon John SYMSONE at St Andrews circa 1478 {Schevez made Archbishop at Holyrood, Edinburgh, in 1478, died 1496 and buried in St Andrews Cathedral over against the High Altar in a brass monument provided for him, versed in Astronomy, Theology and Medicine} Sir John SYMSONE, Sub-Granitor to the Cardinal in 1542. {son of the Canon or the same man ?} In 'The Rentale Sancti Andræ' Quite a few mentions of Sir John Symsone, Sub-Granitor to the Cardinal. I believe the Granitor to be either in charge of the castle's supplies, food, drink, clothing etc Or something akin to the household manager for the Cardinal. Sir John also had a servant called Martin, and they were employed and paid for by the Church and appeared to have had a very high level of trust given to them. The original building was probably just a smallish square tower - a defensive building to some degree as the English were being offensive at the time, invading etc., a note in the Rentale Sancti Andrae mentions Sir John {Symsone} being sent back from Edinbugh, with haste, to take care of the Castle {St Andrews Castle} when the English invaded Edinburgh. The English also had warships to lay seige and bombard coastal castle's and port's. Scotland was an independant Kingdom from England and the majority population and the ruling classes belonged to the Catholic Church, the English had already separated from Roman Catholicism to become Anglican, hence the dispute.. One little problem with the ancient writing is the spelling, Symson, Symsoun, Symsone, one writer can spell it one way and another writer in another way, there was no standard way of spelling other than phonetically - by sound, which required a good speaker and listener In 'The Baxter Books of St Andrews' (Baxters = Bakers) There's a George Symsone, son of Thomas Symsone, sometime Clark of Anstruther, in 1649. Enlarged illustration from Blaeu's Atlas of Scotland published in 1654  Appearing as a 'towered' building on Blaeu's 1654 Map of East Fife, gives an indication of the buildings status  AYTOUN - no reference yet LINDESAY W. Lindesay Esqr. noted at FEDINCH on John Ainslie's 4 sheet map of Fife, 1775 {also a W. Lindesay at Wormiston in Crail Parish, ? same family or same person ?}  William Lindesay - land owner, Feddinch, 1845 found in The Statistical Account of Scotland, 2nd edn., 1858 the Greenwood, Fowler & Sharp map of Fife 1828  Documents held in Dundee University Library Archives Name of the reference collection ~ MS 17 Thornton Collection Thomas Thornton, Son & Co., Solicitors, Dundee Records relating to Women - Part One Reference: MS 17/7/1 (29 - 37) ~ Collection: THORNTON Date: 1649 Description: Title deeds of Feddinch, St Andrews. Parties mentioned include Catherine, Mary and Janet Symsone. Records relating to Agriculture - Part One Reference: MS 17/7/1 ~ Collection: THORNTON Date: 1518-1721 Description: Title deeds of Feddinch and Cairnsbank in the regality and Barony of St. Andrews. Reference: MS 17/7/1 (1)-(60) ~ Collection: THORNTON Date: 1518-1721 Description: Title deeds of Feddinch (Fife). Reference: MS 17/7/1 (69)-(70) ~ Collection: THORNTON Date: 1762 Description: Title deeds of Cairnsbank and Feddinch (Fife). From " Fife Pictorial and Historical ", by A. H. Millar, 1895. Vol. 1. page 340 "Feddinch,.. held under an annual charge in 1596 of £40, payable to..." Visiting dignitaries, Kings and Queens, Mary Queen of Scots having a particular fondness for staying in St Andrews. The flicker of flames as Protestant martyrs were put to the fire, the seige of St Andrews Castle and the bombardment of its seaboard by French Frigates and by two large canons from the land, one of which was called Mons Meg and is now on display at Edinburgh Castle. The turmoil of the Reformation, and the once great Cathedral falling into ruin, it was never destroyed by the Reformers as is commonly thought, an earlier roof fire, unstable foundations and disuse after the Reformation led to its collapse. St Andrews then came through a dark period to what we see today. Still a medæval Town but with a thriving, varied and unique shopping area, an internationally renowned University, and, of course, the 'Old Course' golf course, which is accepted as 'the' Home of Golf and 'The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews' the founders and makers of the Rules of Golf as we know them today. |
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© copyright A. D. Waugh |
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