The mysterious history of a Fife building could soon be revealed, thanks to a new research project.
Experts from the AOC Archaeology Group and St Andrews University are to descend on St Serf’s Tower in a bid to pinpoint exactly when and how it was built.
Local historians have puzzled over the construction of the 80ft tower, which was a steeple for the old church and served as a lookout and defensive position in time of war.
Experts will remove small samples of wood and these will be taken out and analysed using a technique called dendrochronology, which can pinpoint the year in which the timber was cut down.
Professor Richard Fawcett, from the School of Art History at St Andrews University, said: “Although it has been suggested that Dysart’s tower may have been added around the time that Ravenscraig Castle was built, there has been no way of being certain of this.
“However, the survival of what appear to be original timbers in the tower roof offers the prospect of establishing a firm date by means of tree-ring analysis.”
A talk on the project by Professor Fawcett is to be held tonight at Dysart St Clair Church Hall, West Port, Dysart, from 7pm to 8pm. Admission will be free.