PARISH OF BURNTISLAND.
THIS PARISH, containing a town of its own name, is situated on the south- west coast of the County. It lies opposite Granton, and is bounded on the south by the Firth of Forth, by Aberdour on the west, and by Kinghorn on the east and north. Formerly this Parish was called Western Kinghorn, but eventually it took the name of the town, which was anciently called Bertland or Bertiland, the modern name, Burntisland, being a corruption. It is two and a half miles long from north to south, by about two and a quarter in breadth. A plain extends inwards from the sea for about half a mile, when the ground becomes hilly and the soil of an inferior quality. The shore is rocky to the west and sandy to the east of the town. To the north the hills exhibit marks of volcanic action, Dunearn, which rises to the height of about 700 feet, being like an extinct volcano, the crater of which has been converted into a small lake. On the north side of the hills are basaltic columns, and on their tops are cairns and tumuli of great size.
There is a quarry of excellent freestone, and a great extent of the Parish abounds in limestone of the finest quality. Starlyburn, on the west boundary, produces stalactites and incrustations of moss and wood, and falls over a high rock into the sea, amid luxuriant foliage, forming a fine cascade. Rossend Castle, on an eminence at the west end of the town, was built in the fifteenth century, and was long a military stronghold ; and though much altered by modern additions, still forms a striking feature in the rich scenery of the district. The ruins of the original Parish Church, bearing marks of great antiquity, stand at the village of Kirkton, at a small distance from the town, and around them there is a small burying-ground. There is a very extensive distillery at Grange, about half a mile north of the town.
The town of Burntisland is a sea-port and a Royal Burgh, governed by twelve councillors, including a provost, two bailies, a treasurer, and a dean of guild, and unites with Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, and Dysart, in returning a member to Parliament. It stands at the Fifeshire terminus of the E. P. & D. Railway, four and a half miles north from Granton. It is screened by hills in the form of an amphitheatre, which shelter the harbour from the north and east winds. The town consists of two streets running parallel to each other, with some lanes running of the main streets. The chief street is the High Street, which is broad and spacious ; and there are a number of handsome cottages for summer visitors toward the east. The town was fortified during the reign of Charles I., and was beseiged by Cromwell during the Commonwealth, the inhabitants being zealous Covenanters, and only surrendered to him on the condition that he should repair their streets and harbour, which condition he honourably fulfilled. Part of the old wall and east port still remain. The harbour is reckoned the best in the Forth, being both capacious and of great depth of water. It has also a dry dock, and a light-house stands at the entrance to the haven. It has acquired an increased importance of late years, from its being made the terminus of the Railway, which has greatly extended the trade of the harbour, especially in the export of coal and pig-iron, and the shipping business is still steadily increasing. Upwards of twenty years ago, the late Sir John Gladstone, of Fasque, erected a substantial and commodious low-water pier, making Burntisland the principal Ferry station between Fife and Mid-Lothian. The pier with the right of ferry was sold to the Railway Company on their obtaining their Act of Parliament, and has been worked by them, in connection with the Railway, ever since. A breakwater has lately been erected, which protects the harbour and pier from the west and south-west winds, the only winds to which the harbour is exposed. From the excellent position of Burntisland as a sea-port town secure from the north and east winds, its excellent bathing ground, and its contiguity to Edinburgh, it has become a fashionable summer residence, and to that, next to the opening of the Railway, its present prosperity is due. For the purpose of accommodating strangers, many of the inhabitants have built and furnished suitable houses, which they let out during the season to summer visitors, and our Directory comprises a list of those that do so ; but we would recommend strangers in quest of lodgings to consult Mr Alex. Blaikie, Wine Merchant & Grocer, Waverly Buildings, who can at all times supply information as to parties whose apartments may be still unlet, and the nature of the accommodation each is able to furnish.
The Parish Church, which was erected about the end of the sixteenth century, is a commodious and venerable edifice, overlooking the sea. There is also a United Presbyterian Church, a Free Church, and an Episcopalian Church. In addition to the Burgh School, which is also the Parish School, there is a Free Church, an Episcopalian, and several Private Schools.
A number of the inhabitants of the town are employed at the engineering works connected with the Railway, and on the locomotives and ferry-boats, and other duties connected with the harbour. The fish-curing establishments also employ a number of hands, and the remainder pursue the occupations of shopkeepers and tradesmen. In the country, the lime quarries at Newbigging, the distillery at the Grange, and agricultural pursuits, furnish the chief employments.
POST OFFICE, Burntisland, Andrew Bousie, Post Muster.-Letters from Edinburgh and the south arrive about 7.10 A.M., and 4 P.M., and are despatched at 8.30 A. M., and 4.30 P.M. Letters from Dundee, Perth, and the north, arrive at about 8.35 A. M., and 4.50 P.M. and are despatched at 6.50 A. M., and 3.30 P.m.
BAKERS.
Balderstone, John, High Street
Bread Society, do James Wilson, Salesman
Cook, George, High Street
Paterson, Alex., do Strachan, Thomas, do
BANKS.
NATIONAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. Alexander Kidd, Agent
SAVINGS' BANK. Alexander Kidd, High Street, Treasurer. Open every Friday evening from half-past seven to half-past eight
BLACKSMITHS.
Arnot, David, Shore Calley,
Alexander, Lothian Street
Calley, Andrew, Kirkton
Turnbull, Thomas, High Street
BOOKSELLERS.
Paterson, Alex., High Street (Subscription Library)
Wood, David, High Street (Circulating Library)
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Cowan, James, & Son, High Street
Donaldson, John, do
Henderson, David, Harbour Place
Leitch, Peter, High Street
Moyes, David, do
Moyes, John, Kirkton
Robertson, David, High Street
Wilson, Archibald, Kirkton
CARRIERS.
E. P. & D. Railway
Christie, William, to Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn, Tuesday and Friday
Shoolbred, John, to Inverkeithing, Aberdour, Kirkcaldy, &c., Tuesday & Friday
CARTERS.
Christie, Andrew, High Street
Christie, William, Shore Lane
Gaines, Alexander, Back Street
Hay, Archibald, High Street
Morton, Archibald, Quality Street
CHINA MERCHANTS.
Campbell, Lawrence, High Street
Cowan, Andrew, do
Stewart, Mrs, do
CLERGY.
Couper, David, Free Church, Craigholm Crescent
Crawford, D. G., U. P. Church, Quality Street
Forbes, G. H., Episcopalian, Parsonage
Robin, J., Parish Church, Cromwell Road
Stewart, Wm., (Residenter) James' Park
DRAPERS.
Morison, Alexander, High Street
Paterson & Duncanson, do
DRESSMAKERS.
Those marked thus * are also Milliners.
Christie, Miss Grace, Kirkgate
Eadie, Miss Isabella, Thistle Street
* Geddes, Misses A., & J., Harbour Place
Hutchison, Miss R., High Street
* Kennedy, Misses J., & C., do
McArthur, Miss, Craigholm Crescent
Nelson, Miss Jane, High Street
Swinton, Misses M., & E., do
FARMERS.
Beveridge, George, & William, Orrock
Bruce, William, High Street
Jackson, David, Thistle Street
Muckersie, Henry, Balbie
Smith, W. D., Back Street
Spence, David, Craigkelly
Young, James, High Street
Young, Joseph, Esq., Grange
FISHCURERS.
Laird, Matthew, Back Street [
Methven, James, do, Donald Davidson, Manager
Simpson, Robert, & David, Castle Street
Smith, William D., Back Street
FLESHERS.
Brown, Robert, High Street
Thomson, William, do
FURNISHED LODGING-HOUSE KEEPERS.
Abercrombie, Miss, Gladstone Terrace
Anderson, Miss, Craigholm Crescent
Bell, David, Greenmount Villas
Blaikie, Mrs, Buccleuch Place
Bousie, Andrew, Buccleuch Place
Cameron, Mrs Esther, High Street
Connel James, Craigholm Crescent
Doig, Miss, James' Park
Eadie, Mrs, Cromwell Road
Fyall, Miss, Craigholm Crescent
Fyall, Miss E., Gladstone Terrace
Gourlay, John, Greenmount Villas
Hardie, Miss, Lammerlaws
Harris, Mrs T., Gladstone Terrace
Hume, James, Lammerlaws
Inches, Mrs, Gladstone Terrace
Inglis, Mrs, Rose Street
Jones, Mrs, Gladstone Terrace
Kellock, Mrs Elizabeth, Greenmount Villas
Kelly, Miss, Gladstone Terrace
Leitch, John, Greenmount Villas
McArthur, Mrs, Craigholm Crescent
McKay, George, Baths
McOmish, Mrs, Lammerlaws
Milne, James, Craigholm Crescent
Orrell, Mrs Thomas, Lammerlaws
Page, William, Craigholm Crescent
Paterson, Alexander, Greenmount Villas
Paterson, George, Lammerlaws
Paterson, Miss, Gladstone Terrace
Reekie, Mrs, Buccleuch Place
Reid, Alexander H., do
Robertson, George, Craigholm Crescent
Salmond, Robert, Lammerlaws
Shanks, Miss, West Park
Stenhouse, Mrs, Gladstone Terrace
Symon, Mrs, Lammerlaws
Wemyss, Miss Jean, High Street
Wilson, Mrs David, James' Park
Young, Miss Francis, Westbrae
GARDENERS.
Bell, David, (Jobbing) Greenmount Villas
Ferguson, William, (Market) James' Park
McIlroy, John, (Market) South Hill Street
Morgan, Nicol, (Jobbing) Quality Street
Paton, John, (Jobbing) Lundie's Close
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Anderson, J. D., (Provost) Cromwell Road
Bennet, William, Greenmount Villas
Beveridge, Mrs Capt. Wm., Gladstone Terrace
Boosie, Mrs, Greenmount Villas
Boyd, Mrs Waddel, Nellfield
Cooper, Miss, Gladstone Terrace
Cooper, Mrs Major, Kirkbank
Curror, John, High Street
Dewar, Dr. Andrew, Little Dean
Higgiuson, Mrs, High Street
Hutchison, Alexander, do
Jervis, Mrs, Craigholm Crescent
Kerr, Miss Mary Ann, High Street
Kirk, Robert, Esq., of Greenmount
Kynnier, Misses, Rose Street
Laurie, Wm. A., Esq., of Rossend Castle
McFarlane, Miss, Back Street
McGlashan, Mrs, Whinnyhall
Morrison, James, High Street
Peters, Mr Moffat, Gladstone Terrace
Salmond, Mrs, Kirkgate
Seivewright, Mrs, Young's Place
Speed, James, High Street
Stewart, Thomas, Kirkton
Watt, Miss, Gladstone Terrace
Watt, Robert, Craigholm Crescent
Wemyss, Misses, Leven Street
Williamson, S., R. N., Gladstone Terrace'
Wright, Mrs Mary Ann, Young's Place
Young, Mrs R., Colinswell
Young, Joseph, Esq., of Dunearn, Grange
Young, Misses, Young's Place
GROCERS.
Those marked thus * are also spirit dealers.
* Beatson, David, High Street
* Blaikie, Alexander, Waverly Buildings
* Do., Harbour Place
* Cameron, Mrs Esther, High Street
* Cant, Henry, Rose Street
Edgar, Mrs, High Street
* Honeyman, Peter, do
* Hutchison,Thos., do
* Little, John, do
*Marshal, Mrs M., do
Mollison, Mrs A., Kirkton
* Pearson, John, High Street
* Reid, Miss J., do
Roper, Inglis, Harbour Place
Salmond, Robert, High Street
Stevenson, Robert, do
*Sutherland, John, do
Syme, Alexander, do
* Wilson, Mrs Isabella, Links Place
HOTEL KEEPERS.
Clarke, Mrs, Forth Hotel, (Posting) Forth Place
Laidlaw, Robert, George Hotel, (Posting) Harbour Place
INSURANCE AGENTS.
Blaikie, Alex. ,Merchant, Scottish National
Bousie, Andrew, Writer, City of Glasgow
Connell, James, Shipping Agent, Minerva
Duncanson, J., Merchant, United Kingdom Provident
Fuller, T. G., Druggist, Monarch
Hutchison, James, Writer, Caledonian
Kidd, Alexander, Banker, North British, do., Edinburgh, do., Scottish Plate Glass
McDonald, John, Spirit- Merchant, Scottish Union
Paterson, A., Bookseller, Standard
IRONMONGERS.
Blaikie, Alexander, Harbour Place
Brownlie, Robert, High Street
Pittilo, Robert, do
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
Those marked thus * are also Cabinet- Makers.
*Beveridge, Robert, High Street
*Ferguson, George, do
*Harcus, Alexander, do
Young, Thomas, do
MASONS.
Hoag, Robert, Cromwell Road
Grant & Pitkethly, High Street
Penny, Peter, Kirkton
Philip, Henry, & Son, High Street
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
Christopher, Wm., M.D., Lochies
Williamson, J., M.D., High Street
PAINTERS & PAPER-HANGERS.
Dewar, James, High Street
Scott & Mitchell, do
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, SOCIETIES, &c.
Burntisland Golf Club, Dr. James Williamson, Sec. [Sec.
Burntisland Funeral Society, DavidWilson,
Burntisland Music Hall, Thistle Street, Alex. Harcus,
Burntisland Young Men's Christian Institute, David Wood, Sec. [
Manager Public Baths, Links, Mrs Clarke, Forth Hotel, Manager
Reading & News Room, Railway Station
SHIPMASTERS.
Gibson, Andrew, High Street
Hutchison, Thomas, Leven Street ,
Kilgour, Robert, Young's Place
SHIPPING AGENTS.
Connel, James, Shore, forLochgelly Iron Co.
Grieve, G. J. P., Shore, for Donibristle Coal Co.
SLATERS.
Alexander, James, Leven Street
Mitchell, Thomas, High Street
TAILORS.
Those marked thus * are also clothiers.
Deally, Thomas, High Street
Gibson, John, do
Melville, John, do
Melville, Robert, Kirkgate
* Paterson & Duncanson, High Street
* Wilson, Thomas B., do
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Brown, John, Episcopal School, Leven Street
Davidson, Mrs John, (Boarding) Music, &c. Craigholm Crescent
Fraser, Mary, Infant School, Leven Street
Inches, Miss, Private School, Reading & Music, Gladstone Terrace
Low, David, Burgh School, Mount Pleasant
McLaren, A., F. C. School, Leven Street
TEMPERANCE COFFEE-ROOMS.
Beveridge, James, High Street
Blyth, William, Harbour Place
Melville, John, High Street
Watson, Janet, do
TINSMITHS & GASFITTERS.
Brownlie, Robert, High Street '
Moyes & Carnegie, do
TOY MERCHANTS.
Graham, William, High Street
McCall, Mrs, do
VINTNERS.
Bruce, John, Rose Street
Fyall, Andrew, Harbour Place
Heigh, John, Kirkton
Kinnell, William, High Street
Pearson, Alexander, do
Steadman, Mrs Janet, Harbour Place
WRITERS.
Bousie, A., (and Assessor for the Burgh) Quality Street
Hutchison, J, (and Notary and Town Clerk)
MISCELLANEOUS.
Allison, James, Saddler, High Street
Anderson, Andrew, Letter Carrier, do
Blaikie, Alexander, Distributor of Stamps, Waverly Buildings and Harbour Place
Boosie, Andrew, Cattle Salesman, Craigholm Crescent
Brown, John, Supervisor, Kirkton
Carron Iron Co., Lime Quarry Owners, Newbigging
Chalmers, Thomas, Contractor, High street &c., Craigholm Crescent
Connel, J., Shipping Agent, Danish Vice-Consul for Burntielsnd and Aberdour
Fuller, Thomas G., Chemist & Druggist, High Street
Garvie, John, Manager, Gas Works, Thistle Street
Hutchison, James, Principal Coast Officer, Custom House, High Street
Logan, David, Freestone Quarries, Starlyburn
McArthur, James, Architect, Craigholm Crescent
McDonald & Co., Wholesale Spirit-Merchants, Kirkton
McFeely, Daniel, Sheriff Officer and Keeper of Town Hall, High Street
Melville, William, Inspector of Poor and Collector of Poors' Rates, Kirkgate
Nicolson, Robert, Manager, Locomotive Department, E. P. & D. Railway
Paterson, Alex., Registrar, High Street
Pendrich, Andrew, Watchmaker, do
Robertson, George, Miller, (Corn & Flour) Ged's Mill, Kirkton
Stewart, Miss, Ready-made Boot & Shoe Shop, High Street
Walker, James, Harbour Master and Collector of Shore Dues, Shore
Walls, John, Farm Overseer, Grange
Wood, David, Letterpress Printer, High Street
Young, Wm., & Co., Distillers, Grange
ADD
Beattie, Miss, Teacher, Infant School,
Cant, Mrs, Summer Lodgings, West Lochies
Duncan, John, Manager, Corn & Flour Mill, Gedsmill
Gellatly, David, Managing Partner, Grange Distillery
Gilmour, R., Ship Chandler, Harbour Place
Gow & Fowler, Slaters
Kay, Miss Barbara, Grocer, Kirkgate
McBain, Miss, Teacher, Episcopal School, Leven Street
McConnochie, Archibald, Tinsmith & Gasfitter, High Street
McFarlane, Miss, Grocer & Spirit Dealer, High Street
McKay, George, Public Baths, Links
Melville, John, Vintner, High Street
Murray, Miss, Dressmaker, do
Sivewright, C. R., Esq., Young's Place
Walker, William, Ship Chandler, Harbour Place
Walls, John, Grocer & Spirit Dealer, Harbour Place -
DELETE
Alexander, James, Slater, Leven Street
Blaikie, Alexander, Ironmonger & Grocer, Harbour Place
Brown, John, Teacher, Episcopal School
Fraser, Mary, Teacher, Leven Street
Geddes, Misses, Dressmakers
McIlroy, John, Market Gardener
McOmish, Mrs, Summer Lodgings
Melville, John, Temperance Coffee-House
Moyes & Carnegie, Tinsmiths, &c.
Salmond, Mrs, Kirkgate
ERRATA.
For Nelson, Miss, Dressmaker, High Street, read Buccleuch Place
For Shanks, Miss, West Park, read James Park