St Monans Author Leonard Low claims to have found documents indicating that a significant battle occurred a short distance from the church grounds in 1548. Low claims that the Scottish army, pulling away from losses in Musselburgh and Edinburgh turned to fight, and defeat, the invading English army at St Monans. Written records of this battle appear to have been lost when Oliver Cromwell ordered all Scottish records be shipped to the Tower of London, and several barrels filled with documents were lost at sea en route. The only surviving record of the battle was recovered in an account written for Mary Queen of Scots. History The village takes its name from St Monan, who was killed by invading Danes in about 875. St Adrian was killed on the Isle of May in the same raid, and 6,000 Fife Christians are said to have died. Like other small East Neuk towns, St Monans is rich in vernacular fisher and merchant houses of the 17th to early 19th centuries, with characteristic old Scots features, e.g. forestairs, crow-stepped gables, datestones, pantiled roofs etc. The tradition of shipbuilding has now ceased. For over 200 years the boat builder J W Miller & Sons Ltd produced fifie fishing boats, yachts and motor launches in the village. The author Christopher Rush grew up in the village. His autobiography Hellfire and Herring describes the community as seen by a small boy in the 1940s, 1950s and earlier, and as recounted by his grandfather and other relatives. Notable residents Charlie Cooke, professional footballer References Footnotes External links St Monans East Neuk of Fife, Scotland - information resource St Monans St Monans Windmill Villages in Fife Parishes in Fife