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Ceres in East Fife.
Ceres a small ancient
village with a long history. In recognition of the part played
by the men of Ceres at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314 the
village was granted an annual fair which is still held each year
in June. 'The oldest free games in Scotland.'
Griselda Hill Pottery
was founded in 1985 to revive the production of the famous and
highly collectable Wemyss Ware. The pottery continues the
traditional production of the
 typical hand painted cats, pigs
and giftware. Shop, working pottery and visitor centre in a
delightful rural Fife setting. Visitor Centre offers views of
painters and potters at work and an insight into the history of
this famous Scottish pottery. Open all year. Kirkbrae, Ceres.
Tel:01334828273
www.wemyss-ware.co.uk
Fife Folk Museum, in the old High Street of Ceres, has
something for everyone, cottage interiors and tools of lost
trades. There are also fine linens and costumes as well as
agricultural implements and bicycles.
Open 1 May to 1 October. Daily 11.30 to 4.30pm
Tel: 01334 828180
Email:fifefolkmuseum@btopenworld.com
www.fifefolkmuseum.co.uk
Ceres Village Heritage
Trail. This excellent trail guide (30p from local shops)
will take you round the ancient village of Ceres, full of
history with buildings and places of interest galore. The guide
has a clear pictorial map of the village, pointing out 20
separate places of interest on the trail. Allow 45 - 60 min for
this 1 km (3/4 mile) walk. The stonework shown on the Guide
cover can be found at the Cross in Ceres and shows the Toby-jug
figure of Rev Thomas Buchanan, minister of Ceres 1578 - 1599,
known as ‘the Provost of Ceres’. Beneath him is a panel that may
show either a Pictish hunt or the battle of Bannockburn.
A SHORT WALK THROUGH CERES
  1. From the Car Park, walk carefully across the old cobble setts
of Bishops’s Bridge and up into the High Street.
2. Housed in a row of old
weaver’s cottages and part of a 17th C Tollbooth as well as in an
extension across the road, find the Fife Folk Museum - well
worth a stop.
 3. On up the street you will
come to The Cross, where many old tracks converged in ancient
times making it a hub of activity and trade. Look out for the
Provost of Ceres, a Toby-jug figure of the Rev. Thomas Buchanan,
minister of Ceres from 1578 - 99. Have a bite to eat or a mug of
drink at the Ceres Inn.
4. Further down Main St you
can find a rebuilt 18th C house, Plum Tree Cottage. In the lane
behind is a hand-pump, dated 1850.
 5. Take the right hand fork
and you will find the present Kirk, believed to be the site of
church established by Celtic missionaries. The Kirkyard contains
some interesting vaults and gravestones.
6. Further down the road, you
will come to Griselda Hill Pottery take a moment to see the potters and painters at work.
Beyond that you find Mansefield, built in 1788 as a new manse.
7. Walking down toward the
Burn. Follow the path and the iron bridge across it to find
Spout Well. The local minister in 1840 (who lived to 90)
advised: ‘If you want to live long in Ceres, drink daily at the
Spout Well.’
8. Follow the path to the
Village Green and view the Bannockburn Memorial, commemorating
Ceres residents who fought under the Earl Marshall of Scotland
from Struthers Castle on Midsummer’s Day 1314.
Anstruther and Cellardykes / Ceres / Crail / Elie and Earlsferry / Falkland / Pittenweem | 
