FFHS NEWSLETTER

(1) FAMILY HISTORY IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. By Mr Chris Neale, December 8 1992. A warm welcome was extended to all present in the New Caledonian Hotel, Leven, at the recent meeting of the Fife Family History Society by Chairman, Mrs Ivy Jardine. She introduced as guest speaker, Mr Chris Neale, Reference Librarian of Dunfermline Central Library, who gave an illustrated talk entitled "Family History in the Public Library." Records, Mr Neale explained, were kept on a person when he was born, married, died, became poor and in receipt of poor relief, became a voter, and, in certain circumstances, became unemployed and was considered a blackleg. Mr Neale then went on to explain all these records, which could be found at Dunfermline Central Library - mostly on microfilm - the Old Parochial Registers of births, marriages and deaths, kept by the Church of Scotland, the Census Returns, Voters' Rolls and Kirk Session returns. The Mormon IGI Fiche was also important. Trade incorporation records were also useful. as were town and trade directories. Photographic evidence was also useful to the family historian, and Mr Neale then went on to show a selection of slides from the Dunfermline Library archives. Mr Neale concluded at how amazed he was at the number of American visitors who came to the Library and claimed that their forbears had been neighbours of Andrew Carnegie in Moodie Street. To date, the number is 24 but, no doubt, would rise. The members present appreciated Mr Neale coming from Dunfermline to give such an interesting and illuminating talk. Mr Andrew Campbell gave the vote of thanks. (East Fife Mail, Dec 16 1992)

(2) KENNOWAY AND ITS ANCESTORS. By Dave Reid, Jan 12 1993. Due to the extreme weather conditions, this talk had unfortunately to be cancelled.

(3) A TOUR ROUND THE VILLAGE OF WEMYSS. By Frank Rankin, Feb 9 1993. Last Tuesday local historian, Mr Frank Rankin, gave a delightful illustrated "Tour Round the Parish of Wemyss" to members of the Fife Family History Society in the New Caledonian Hotel, Leven. Starting from Wemyss Castle, which, Mr Rankin explained, possibly originated in 1421, and which was greatly extended by David, 2nd Earl of Wemyss, between 1669 and 1670, the tour passed by Glass Cave, so called because of the glass works established in it in 1610, and which collapsed in 1901, and then progressed onward to the Michael Colliery, which was sunk in 1898, and which became the largest colliery in Scotland until it was tragically closed after the disaster of Sep 1967. Passing the Wemyss Linen Factory, established by Messrs Johnstone in 1828, and the Brewery Brae, named after the Brewery established there in the 18th century, the Wemyss Caves were then reached. Mr Rankin gave a history of each cave in turn [see FFHS Journal Vol 4 No 1, April 1992, for a more detailed history of these caves - Ed], and explained that these caves had more Pictish markings and symbols in them than all the other caves in Great Britain put together. Speaking on behalf of himself, and also on behalf of the Save the Wemyss Ancient Caves Society, he made a passionate plea for their preservation.

Leaving the Wemyss Caves, the tour then reached Macduff Castle, named after the famous Thane of Fife, though the original of the present stone castle was probably built several centuries after his death. In 1342 it fell into the hands of the Livingstons of Drumry, who, in 1530, exchanged estates with the Colvilles of Ochiltree, in Ayrshire. On the death of Lord Colville in 1630, Sir John, lst Earl of Wemyse, bought back Macduff Castle, which he made his chief residence. His son, David, 2nd Earl, preferred Wemyss Castle, which he greatly enlarged and extended between 1669 and 1670. Macduff Castle was last known to have been inhabited in 1666, following which it steadily declined to its present ruinous state.

The tour then reached the West Sands of Buckhaven, which became a very busy and popular holiday resort in the 1920's and 1930's, attracting holiday makers principally from Glasgow and the West of Scotland, who were entertained by beach entertainers, or "pierrots." A bathing pool was built in 1926. Buckhaven harbour was then reached. In 1831 Buckhaven had the largest fishing fleet in Scotland, with 198 boats. Its own "natural" harbour proved too small to accommodate all those boats, and a harbour was built at the west end of the town. The east breakwater was completed in 1838, the west in 1840, and it was further extended in 1853. Between 1900 and 1932 Buckhaven had its own lifeboat, the "Isabella." In the 19 times it was launched in earnest, it saved 8 lives. Mr Rankin then gave a history of the various schools and churches in Buckhaven.

The tour then reached the Links of Buckhaven, whose houses now lie under the redd waste of the former Wellesley Colliery. Mr Rankin explained that the former Wemyss Coal Co had taken over the Denbeath Colliery from Bowman and Co in 1905. A new shaft had been sunk in 1907, and the colliery was renamed the Wellesley. A site was required for the redd waste. After consultations between the then Laird of Wemyss and the Town Council, Wemyss Coal Co acquired the Links of Buckhaven. In return, the Laird agreed to built Wellesley Road to connect Muiredge with Leven as a replacement for the Links Road, and also new houses in College Street for the displaced owners of the Links properties. The Laird of Wemyss also built the Railway from Thornton to Buckhaven in 1881, and extended it to Methil in 1887. The line was closed to passenger traffic on Jan 10 1955, and to goods traffic on Oct 15 1966. From here the tour went on to Methil Docks (No 1 Dock was opened in 1887, No 2 in 1897, and No 3 in 1913), and then reached Bawbee Bridge, built in 1840 to replace a ferry and suspension bridge.

Here the tour turned round and returned to Wemyss by the "high" road. Mr Rankin devoted most of the return trip to the Wemyss and District Tramways, built by the then Laird, Mr Randolph Gordon Erskine Wemyss, and opened on Aug 25 1906, and which operated between Durie Street, Leven, and Gallatown. A small fleet of buses was added after the lst World War. The S.M.T. bought up the bus side of the operation in 1930, and acquired a controlling interest in the Tramways in 1931. The last tram ran in Jan 1932. This part of the tour followed the route of the former Tramway, passed Bayview Park, the home of East Fife F.C., founded in 1903, and which still holds the record as the only 2nd Division Club to have won the Scottish Cup (in 1938); passed the War Memorial, unveiled on Nov 26 1922 by Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Wester Wemyss; through Denbeath, and passed the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, opened by Lady Eva Wemyss in 1909; and passed the Muiredge Colliery, originally sunk by Bowman & Co in 1864, and acquired by the Wemyss Coal Co on the expiry of their lease in 1905, and continued to 1928.

The Fife Family History Society were quite fascinated by the tour, and to all of the older members of the audience it brought back some wonderful memories of better days long gone. Mr David Jardine gave the vote of thanks. (East Fife Mail, Feb 17 1993)

(4) THE GRAVESTONES OF FIFE, By Mrs Ann Watters, March 9 1993. Last Tuesday members of the Fife Family History Society welcomed Mrs Ann Watters of the Kirkcaldy Civic Society, who gave an illustrated talk on "The Gravestones of Fife." Graveyards, Mrs Watters explained, were often cold, damp and dreary, and she preferred to take photographs of the stones she was interested in, and study them later in the warmth of her own home. She showed slides of many of the older stones, and pointed out the various symbols and emblems that could be found on them. There were religious mortality emblems representing the immortality of the soul, such as crossed bones, the hour glass and the Hand of God. Resurrection emblems, such as the so-called "Green Man," represented Life after Death. There were also trade and profession symbols. A figure "4" represented a merchant, who was a member of the merchants' guild; a share and coulter indicated a farmer, or ploughman; a crown and hammer for a member of the Hammerman Guild; and.a shuttle for a member of the Weavers' Guild. Of special interest were the Churchyard memorials in Crail. Mrs Watters went on to discuss some individual stones, such as the famous "Pet Marjorie" (Marjory Fleming) stone in Abbotshall Churhyard, and the stone of Michael Brown, who was murdered in 1908, in East Wemyss Cemetry. Her talk was very well received, and created a great deal of discussion. Mrs Janet Ross gave the vote of thanks. (East Fife Mail, March 17 1993)