Page "Pittenweem" Paragraph 5

The white houses with red roofs shown in the above picture " Pittenweem from the outer harbour wall " illustrate the classic East Neuk building style, influenced by trade with the Low Countries ( Belgium and the Netherlands ).

The East Neuk offered natural trading ports for Dutch and Belgian captains as they sailed up past the east coast of England.

These ships brought red pantiles as ballast and the locals soon found them to be excellent roofing material.

It is just possible to make out the " crow step corbie-steppit gable ", where the gable ends rise in steps rather than the more normal smooth angled line-an architectural feature imported from the Low Countries.

These and other vernacular features are common throughout the small town, which has one of Scotland's best-preserved and most attractive townscapes, with many historic buildings ( some restored by the National Trust for Scotland ).

The ' organic ' layout of the town centre, which grew up piecemeal over several centuries, with numerous winding streets and alleys, is one of its particular charms.

Few Scottish towns have so well preserved their ancient character.