The solid‐liquid interface shape during growth from the melt has been determined for pure materials in the vicinity of external and internal surfaces; both the cases of isotropy and anisotropy of solid‐liquid interfacial energy have been considered. From these considerations it is possible to determine some effects associated with interface and external surface anisotropy. For example, a preferred direction of growth, a surface layer phenomenon and stray‐crystal formation during seeding and normal crystal growth may arise as a result of the solid‐liquid interface configuration.