Harviestoun, is an estate in Tillicoultry parish, Clackmannanshire. It lies at the base of the Ochil Hills, East-North-East of the town. Harviestoun Castle, was built in 1804 by Craufurd Tait (1765-1832) after inheriting the estate from his father John Tait in 1800. He also constructed a new home farm, coach house and walled garden and moved the main road to Dollar half a mile to the south. Craufurd Tait died in 1832 and was buried in the private family graveyard, now known as Tait's Tomb. The main road takes a wide sweep to its north as a linear route would have obliterated the tomb, which lies midway between Dollar and Tillicoultry.
Craufurd's youngest son, Archibald Tait (1811-82), Archbishop of Canterbury, spent much of his boyhood there.
Sir Andrew Orr (1802-74) bought the estate in 1859, added a new tower and porch in pink sandstone, and formed two approaches, one leading from Tillicoultry, the other from the East Lodge, situated about one mile West of Dollar on the A91. After fire destroyed much of the Playfair building at nearby Dollar Academy in 1961, Harviestoun Castle acted briefly as a satellite for Prep (Primary) School classes, as secondary school pupils occupied the Preparatory School building. Much of the castle was 'out of bounds' due to structural problems (possibly dry rot), but was a popular home for pupils of that era, according to accounts in school magazines. The grounds featured extensive gardens framed by two giant sequoia trees on the South lawn, and extensive plantings of rhododendron and bamboo. The castle was demolished in 1970.
It was during a visit to Harviestoun in the summer of 1787, that Robert Burns met Charlotte Hamilton, the 'Fairest Maid on Devon Banks'. A commemorative cairn, on the main road near the east lodge, marks his visit.
For a period in the 1970s a small private coal mine operated on the estate.
The Harviestoun Brewery was founded on the estate in 1985 before moving to Alva in 2004.
An iron sword of Roman origin was discovered near Harviestoun Castle at the end of the eighteenth century.[1][2]