The first castle at Dairsie was constructed between 1298 and 1328 and it is thought that this was due to Bishop Lamberton of St Andrew’s. The castle was rebuilt by the Learmonth family in the 16th century. In the 17th century it was sold to John Spottiswoode, Archbishop of St Andrew’s who built the church next to the castle in 1621.
Along the entrance avenue to the church yews are found at the beginning and at the end before entering the churchyard. Other yews are found in the woodland next to the avenue. It appears that close plantings were made along the avenue and this has been detrimental to the growth patterns of the yews as all of them exhibit poor canopies and trunks are often smothered in ivy and other hedgerow growth. It is a similar case with other plantings, none look very healthy. It is very unlikely these yews are contemporary with the building of the church 400 years ago and appear to be planted sometime in the late 18th or 19th century.
