Local records and maps

EXCERPT FROM THE 1861 PAROCHIAL DIRECTORY FOR FIFE AND KINROSS

 

PARISH OF CULTS.

CULTS is a small Parish in the centre of the County, chiefly lying in " the Howe of Fife," to the south of the Eden. It is bounded on the north by Collessie and Monimail, on the east by Cupar and Ceres, on the south by Scoonie and Kennoway, and on the west by Kettle. It contains the village of Pitlessie, and the hamlets of Kirkton, Crossgates, Cults Mill, and Walton. Its length northward is about two and a half miles, and its breadth westward about one and a half miles. The surface is generally flat, but swells up to the Cults lime-hills on the southern boundary. The eastern part is well wooded. The soil is light, and in some places, particularly on the banks of the Eden, gravelly, but towards the south it is a strong clay. Only a small portion is in pasture. The only mansion-house in the Parish, Crawford Priory, erected in 1813 by Lady Mary Lindsay Crawford, is a magnificent Gothic structure. The noble family of Lindsay Crawford was connected with this Parish for five centuries. Their Fifeshire property was obtained from the Keiths in exchange for Dunnottar Castle, in the fourteenth century. George, the 22d Earl of Crawford and 6th Earl of Lindsay, died in 1808. His sister and heiress, and the last member of the family in the direct line, died in 1833. At her death the Earl of Glasgow came into possession of the estates, but not only is the Earl non-resident, but he seems to count so little upon this splendid property, that since his accession he has barely paid it a flying visit. The Earldom of Crawford has been adjudged by the House of Lords to James, 7th Earl of Balcarres. The Earldom of Lindsay still continues dormant. Sir David Wilkie, the celebrated painter, was a native of Cults, of which his father was minister. There are few things of which some of the older parishioners seem so proud, as that they were the school-fellows and companions of one who in after years acquired so world-wide a reputation.

There are extensive lime quarries in the Parish, great quantities of which are sent by Railway to Perth and other distant places. Sandstone is also met with in several localities. There are two meal, two flour, and one saw-mill in the Parish.

The great Fife road leading from Newport to Kirkcaldy traverses the Parish, and there is ready access to the E. P. & D. Railway at Ladybank and Springfield.

In the country the inhabitants are almost wholly employed in agricultural operations, or in the lime quarries, and in Pitlessie nearly all are linen weavers.

The POST TOWN is Ladybank, with a Sub-Office at Pitlessie, John Garland, Sub-Post blaster.- A walking postman leaves Ladybank about 8.30 A.M., and 5.30 P.M., delivering letters along the road by Muirside and Ramornie House, arriving in Pitlessie about 9.20 A.M., and 6.20 P.M., and leaving for Ladybank at 5.50. A.M., and 2.15 P.M.

 

BLACKSMITHS.

Doig, Peter, Pitlessie

Graham, William, Kirkton, by Pitlessie

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.

Hardie, Thomas, Pitlessie

Ramsay, James, Jun. , do

Stevenson, Robert, do

CARTERS.

Fernie, Thomas, Pitlessie

Forrest, John, do

Melville, Robert, Sweet Home, by Pitlessie

Pratt, Thomas, Pitlessie

Speed, James, Sweet Home, by Pitlessie

Taylor, Thomas, Pitlessie

CHINA MERCHANTS.

Michie, Mrs, Pitlessie

Robertson, James, do

CLERGY.

Anderson, James, Parish Church, Kirkton

Smith, Andrew W., U. P. Church, Pitlessie

FARMERS

Cairns, John, Cults, Pitlessie

Graham, William, Kirkton, by Pitlessie

Grey, Thomas, Upper Bunzion

Hutton, Alexander, Cults & Walton

Imrie, Henry, Brotus

Learmonth, John, Pitlessie Mill

Mackay, Robert M., Priestfield

Martin, David, Sodom Park

Mitchell, Robert, Skelpie

Moon, William, Hospital Mill

Smith, Andrew, Waltonhill

Smith, William, Cults Mill

Thoms, William, Lower Bunzion

GROCERS,

Guilland, John, Pitlessie

Hardie, Thomas, (& Spirit Dealer) Pitlessie

Henderson, George, do

Mercer, Mrs, do

Neilson, Peter, do

Ramsay, James, Jun., do

JOINERS & WRIGHT'S.

Gibson, John, Pitlessie

Moyes, Thomas, Pitlessie

Wishart, John, (& Turner) Pitlessie

LIBRARIES.

Cults Parochial Library, Charles Robertson, Pitlessie, Librarian

Wilkie Library, James Ramsay, Jun., Pitlessie, Librarian

LIME BURNERS & MERCHANTS.

Cairns, John, Cults

Martin, David, Sodom Park

MASONS.

Archibald, Robert, Pitlessie

Forsyth, Robert, Crossgate, Pitlessie

Guilland, John, do

Hunter, David do

Hunter, William, do

MILLERS.

Learmonth, J., (Corn & Flour) Pitlessie Mill

Smith, William, (Corn & Flour) Cults Mill

TAILORS.

Danskin, Arthur, Pitlessie

Simpson, Arnot, do

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Forrester, Andrew, Free Church School, Pitlessie

Robertson, Charles, Parish School, Pitlessie

VINTNERS.

Gold, Robert, (Inn license) Pitlessie

Ramsay, James, Sen., do

Shaw, Thomas, do

MISCELLANEOUS.

Crossthwaite, Thos., Linen Manufacturer, Pitlessie

Fotheringham, M., Dressmaker, Pitlessie

Gossip, Robert, Gardener, Crawford Priory

Methven, Andrew, Landstewart, do

Morton, Wm., Sawmiller & Wood Merchant, Hospital Mill

Pryde, John, Weavers' Agent, Pitlessie

Smith, William, Plashmiller, Cults Mill

Walker, M., & J., Basket Makers, Pitlessie

DELETE lines relating to the boundaries of the Parish, and substitute the following :-It is bounded on the north by Cupar, on the east by Ceres, on the south by Kettle, and on the west by Collessie and Kettle.

ADD

Charles, David, Boot & Shoemaker, Pitlessie.

DELETE

Graham, William, Blacksmith, Kirkton,

Hardie, Thomas, Boot & Shoemaker, Pitlessie.

 

 

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