Harbour
Being one of the most important elements of the village, St Monans Harbour is truly wonderful. Upon its shoulders stands a still-thriving industry, dating back hundreds of years, bringing tourism and community to the village. Community is, ultimately, the foundation for success, and St Monans was no different in this way of life. The village was built upon people's endeavours and hard work.
Fuelled by the picturesque surroundings of the Forth, the village's Fishing Industry was growing, and St Monans would 'stay afloat' thanks to the trade. The past area of Inverie was now in a prosperous state of affairs, and was making the slow, yet vital transition to become the beloved village of St Monans. During this change of scene, many faces new and old saw themselves moving to the village, in an effort to find a home, and find work. In these early days, the Salt Industry was at its absolute peak (<1820), and was set to dwindle over the next century, (eventually halting in the 1820's), making excellent leeway for the piers of St Monans to continue to shine. Having had 1 pier serve the village for nearly 300 years, (Central Pier), a plan was devised to build a further 2 piers and 2 breakwaters over the coming 100 years.
There are three piers located at the site of St Monans Harbour, with two breakwaters, only one of which is well-known (The Zig-Zag Pier). The other is rectangular, and is known locally as the 'Pan Loaf'!
The piers were each built to sustain demand, and prevent further damage to the coveted seafront. With rare, but deadly storms attacking harbours all across the nation, changes were needed, and requests were met. With extra measures, such as the prescence of a harbourmaster, a controlled harbour environment, and 2 brand-new breakwaters in place, industry could now thrive. On top of this, a new slipway for boats was constructed at the site of the current Welly-Boot Garden.
The slipway was an excellent way of manouvering boats, but it required many people in order to function properly, and for this reason, its use ceased over time.
Now housing the vibrant and widely-loved Welly Boot Garden, the slipway has been revitalised, adding a pop of colour to the harbour.
Nowadays, the harbour is less-used, but still serves some excellent purposes, such as:
- A thriving tourist hotspot, bringing thousands to the village each year.
- A place for local fishermen to park their boats, and for locals to park their yachts.
- A photography gem, with international photographers flocking to the pier each morning, day and night to photograph its wonder.
- A place to eat, and drink. The East Pier Smokehouse, Craig Millar Restaurant, and on Saturdays, Murray's Chippy, serve some excellent coastal-themed dishes, fuelling the industry in the local area. One can also eat in or take away from the village café, The Giddy Gannet.