Desperately Seeking Crusoe
“You’ve no doubt heard of Robinson Crusoe. But did you know he may have hailed from the Kingdom of Fife?”
The statue of Andrew Selkirk in Fife’s seaside village of Lower Largo.
In the seaside village of Lower Largo, a statue stands in honour of Andrew Selkirk—believed by many to have inspired Daniel Defoe’s legendary castaway. While Robinson Crusoe is fiction, first published in 1719 and translated into nearly as many languages as the Bible, its roots may be tangled in real-life adventure.
There’s the Hollywood twist, of course—Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks and his volleyball sidekick, Wilson. One can only imagine Crusoe raking through wreckage for a set of Wilson irons and crafting a beachside golf course. Bunker practice, sorted.
But back to Selkirk.
Born in Lower Largo in 1676, Alexander Selkirk (often called Andrew locally) was a hot-headed Fifer, youngest of seven brothers, and famously unruly. Summoned before the local Kirk in 1693 for “indecent conduct in church,” he dodged discipline by running off to sea. By 1701, he was back home—only to clash again with his family and the church.
Eventually, Selkirk became a navigator aboard the ‘Cinque Ports’, captained by Thomas Stradling. Their relationship was stormy. Selkirk claimed the ship was unseaworthy—its hull being eaten by shipworms—and demanded to be left ashore on the Pacific island of Más a Tierra (now part of Chile). The captain obliged, marooning him with just a sea chest, musket, a pound of gunpowder, and some basic tools.
It turned out, Selkirk was right—the Cinque Ports later sank off the coast of Colombia. Selkirk, meanwhile, survived for a total of four years and four months alone before being rescued.
A decade later, Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe. Many believe Selkirk’s tale was his inspiration. Others argue Defoe blended several castaway accounts. Some even suggest Selkirk himself claimed to be the model for Crusoe post-publication. The truth is still debated…
Cardy House was built in 1871 overlooking the Cardy Net Works which were owned by Selkirk’s descendants. Selkirk was born in a cottage at the bottom of the garden.
When I first visited Lower Largo, I met Ivy Jardine, a proud relative of Selkirk’s. She ran a tiny museum in his honour and later invited me to her home—a perfectly preserved Victorian time capsule. She hoped Historic Scotland might take it over, though that didn’t materialise. The house has since been converted into private flats, overlooking the old rope works once owned by Selkirk’s descendants.
Today’s village of Lower Largo has been enhanced with some interesting garden decorations.
Ivy and her son had even travelled to Chile to visit the island—now officially renamed ‘Robinson Crusoe Island’ by the Chilean government.
Today, Lower Largo still celebrates its most famous son. The village is full of quirky seaside charm, with garden sculptures and creative flourishes that make it well worth a wander—not just for the Crusoe connection, but for the character of the place itself.
The village of Lower Largo celebrates its own colour and character, all well worth a visit if you’re in Fife.
