Logie

"Hollow among hills." That is what its name means, and well described it is, for the hamlet lies completely hidden, tucked away into a high fold of the northern hills of Fife, and reached by narrow roads which curl thinly down to it from the high pasture-land where the flocks of sheep graze, their fleece parting to the winds from the Firth of Tay. But small though the village is and difficult to reach, it was once famous for a magnificent library. The library was that of Walter Bowman, who bought the lands of Logie in 1750, and on its shelves were rare books. They included such treasures as an illuminated Ptolemy, a copy of Bleau's Atlas and other precious volumes. These he had collected during his book-hunting on the Continent.

When he died he left most stringent instructions for the preservation of his great collection. He forbade his heir to lend anyone a single one of the books from the library. But this did not mean that they would rest there unread and unseen. The heir was ordered to set aside a room for reading, so that those who wished to consult the precious volumes could do so at the house. In the room had to be at all times available a basin with water and a towel, so that the books would not be soiled by unclean hands. But Walter Bowman insisted that only grown men were to have access to the library. No women were to be admitted, no children. These instructions were carried out, but later the library was dispersed and now no longer exists.

The Laird of Logie

During the reign of Robert III, Logie was the property of Sir John Wemyss, an ancestor of the Earls of Wemyss, and it is believed that he built the 15th-century fortalice of Cruivie after his castle at Rires was destroyed by the Duke of Rothesay in 1402. Now Castle Cruivie is a gaunt ruin in the shadow of Crumblie Hill two miles north of Logie. Of one of the owners of Cruivie Scott wrote his ballad Laird of Logie.

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