32 C O N T E X T 1 2 8 : M A R C H 2 0 1 3 MATTHEW PRICE Crowsteps in Fife The Dutch connection helps to explain why distinctive crow-stepped gables, often seen combined with clay pantile roofs, are so common among Fife’s vernacular buildings. A characteristic feature of many of Fife’s vernacular buildings is the corbie or ‘crow-stepped’ gable, which is often seen combined with a clay pantile roof, particularly in the picturesque East Neuk fishing villages. Although seen elsewhere along the eastern coast and inland, these distinctive roofs contribute much to their special character and sense of place. It is likely that few of the many visitors who now enjoy these buildings will have paused to wonder why they are so common in this part of Scotland. Fife’s historic burgh ports have had a long tradition of contact and trade with the Low Countries. As is so often the case, this was accompanied by an exchange of ideas, skills and even building materials. Bruges in Flanders (now Belgium) was the first Scottish Staple port in the 15th century.This gave it trading rights, importing Scottish skins and wool, which had been traded between the countries since the 12th century.The Staple Contract granted the port a monopoly on importing, storing and trading Scottish goods in the Netherlands. Later, in the 16th century coal and salt replaced wool. When Bruges harbour silted up, the Staple moved to Middleburg, Zeeland (1518) and then to nearby Veere (1541), aka Campvere, which became the main Staple port. By the end of the 18th centuryVeere had declined and by 1799 Rotterdam had taken over. In 1680 there were already more than a thousand Scots in Rotterdam. Two of the houses remaining from that time, occupied by Scottish traders, are the so called ‘Scottish Houses’ (Het Lammeken built in 1539 and De Stuys built in 1561) both of which, although much altered, have stepped gables (trapgevel). In the Netherlands these trapgevel became extremely common. There are also many examples to be seen in A crowstepped and pantiled building typical of Fife, particularly along the coast Blue-grey pantiles mixed with the more common red pantiles
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