PARISH Of ELIE
THIS PARISH, containing the post town of its own name, is on the south coast of the County. It is bounded by the Firth of Forth on the south, by Abercrombie on the east, and by Kilconquhar and Newburn on the north and west. It comprises a main body of about two miles in length from east to west, by nearly one in breadth, and two detached portions to the north-west, the one containing two farms at the distance of two miles, and the other, one farm at the distance of three miles. There are no hills and scarcely a rising ground in the Parish, the whole surface being flat, and a considerable portion near the sea-shore forming sandy links. The promontories which form the two extremities of the bay of Elie consist of amygdaloid and basalt, the latter exhibiting sometimes a columnar structure. Between these head-lands the beach is low and composed of alternate thin beds of sandstone and shale, with occasionally seams of coal and strata of limestone--the whole inclined at high angles and in different directions, and without any regularity. Basalt occurs in various places extending in long reefs far into the sea.
The greater portion of the Parish originally formed what was called the Barony of Ardross; and about the beginning of the seventeenth century came into the possession of Sir William Scott, who held the office of Director of Chancery during a part of the reign of Charles I., and was sold by his descendants to Sir William Anstruther, of Anstruther, about the end of the same century. A few years ago the estate was purchased from the representative of the Anstruther family, by William Baird, Esq., one of the Messrs Baird, of Gartsherrie, who during the present generation have realized immense fortunes by the manufacture of iron. The ruins of the ancient Castle of Ardross, the manor place of the barony, still remain about a mile to the eastward of the village. Elie House, the present mansion-house, is situated a little to the north of the village; the grounds are beautifully wooded, and have been laid out with great taste. The Parish was originally a part of Kilconquhar, and became a separate erection about the year, 1633.
The village of Elie stands at the head of Elie Bay, five miles east south east of Largo, and about the same distance west south west of Anstruther. It is a Burgh of Barony, and stands near the sea, the water frequently washing the walls of the houses; and so nearly does it adjoin the suburbs of the Burgh of Earlsferry, in the parish of Kilconquhar, that, though treated and spoken of as different towns, no stranger would consider them separate places. Elie has the appearance of having formerly been .a place of greater importance, as a number of the older houses have evidently been inhabited by families of distinction; and although now a place of little trade, the whole is well built, and the streets are clean, wide, and regular. It is well sheltered from the east and north winds, and has long been a place of resort for sea-bathers during the summer. Indeed its chief importance and support is owing to that cause, a great number of the inhabitants letting a portion of their houses to visitors during the season; and no place on the south coast, to the east of Burntisland, is so well adapted for sea-bathing as Elie, and the advantages it holds out in that respect seem every year to be more and more appreciated by the public. The harbour is naturally a good one, and has recently, at much expense, been greatly improved and extended by the proprietor of Elie. It is easily accessible to boats and vessels, many of the former having to flee to it for shelter during a storm from the east and north-east, when it would be dangerous to attempt the harbours to the eastward. The only winds to which it is exposed are those from the west and south-west. Elie seems peculiarly adapted for a fishing station, yet, strange to say, the inhabitants derive little advantage from that branch of industry, for the fishermen connected with the place scarcely supply the wants of the village and neighbourhood.
There is no particular branch of industry carried on to any considerable extent in the Parish. A few are connected with agriculture, and a number are employed as village shopkeepers and tradesmen. A considerable number eke out a limited income by letting out either the whole or a part of their premises to country visitors during the bathing season; while a number more may be described as being in easy circumstances, and independent either of trade or profession.
The main road from Anstruther to Kirkcaldy passes through the Parish; and the Kilconquhar station of the East of Fife Railway is within a mile of the village, and coaches run to and from the station in connection with all the trains. A Bill passed through Parliament in 1861, for the purpose of carrying on the Railway to Anstruther; the extended line passes close to the village.
The Parish Church is a neat structure with a Spire. The precise date of its erection is not known, but it must have been somewhere about 1640. The Spire was built in 1728, and in 1831 the Church, which contains 600 sittings, underwent a thorough repair. The only other place of worship is the Free Church, which is also ornamented with a neat Spire. The Parish School and School-House is a very commodious and handsome building, built in 1860, and reflects great credit on the proprietor of. Elie estate, who erected it at his own expense. The only other School in the Parish is an Evening School, taught for the last forty years during the winter months, by Mr James Clark, Gardener. The branches chiefly taught are, writing, arithmetic, and trigonometry. Mr Clark, as a non-professional teacher, deserves credit for the zeal and tact he has so long displayed in the education of the neighbouring youth.
Elie is the POST TOWN for the district, Ann Gourlay, Post Mistress.- Letters are delivered in Elie and Earlsferry twice a day, commencing about 9.30 A.M. and 6.45 P.M., and are despatched at 6.30 A.M. and 2.45 P.M.
BAKERS.
Alexander, Andrew, South Street
Philp, Robert, West End
Tod, William, High Street
BANKS.
NATIONAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, High Street. William R. Ketchin, Agent
SAVINGS' BANK, for Elie, Earlsferry, and district, open daily. Henry Randall, Manilla Cottage, Manager
BLACKSMITHS.
Dall, John, Back Dykes
Edwards, John, East End
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Bowers, William, High Street
Boyd, James, do
Boyd, Peter, South Street
Dick, William, High Street
Herd, John, Park Place
BUILDERS.
Currie, Thos., (& Architect) South Street
Given, David, Vennel
Given, William, High Street
CARRIERS.
Brown, William, from Elie and Kilconquhar to Cupar, every Thursday
Mackie, Alex., from Kilconquhar (calls :at Elie) to Kirkcaldy, every Tuesday
Railway, East of Fife, Station at Kilconquhar, about one mile north-west of Elie, T. S. Walker, Agent
CARTERS & LAND LABOURERS.
Adamson, Alexander, Toll Wynd
Given, William, High Street
CHINA MERCHANTS.
Duff, Miss, South Street
McRuvie, Mrs D., Park Place
Watson, Mrs J., Soapwork Street
CLERGY.
Buchanan, Robert, Parish Church, Manse
Longwill, David, Independent Chapel, Park Place
Wood, Walter, Free Church, South Street
COACHES.
Marshall, Mrs, from Kilconquhar Station, by Elie, to St Monance, Pittenweem, and Anstruther, on the arrival of the morning and afternoon trains
Smith, Thomas, from Kilconquhar Station, by Elie, to St Monance, Pittenweem, and Anstruther, on the arrival of the forenoon and evening trains
DRAPERS.
Birrell, George, West End
Foggo, John, High Street
DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.
Alexander, Miss, High Street
Davidson, 'Miss Christina, (& Straw Bonnets) High Street
Gourlay, Miss Elizabeth, East End
Murray, Misses B., & M., Toll Wynd
Sime, Misses, South Street
FARMERS.
Allan, Andrew, West End
Brown, John, Wade's Lea, East End
Currie, Thomas, South Street
Curror, William, Ardross
Fortune, William R., Esq., Muircambus
Galloway, Andrew, Millburn
Luke, James, Muircambus Mill
Luke, John, (Bowhouse) East End
White, Robert, Park Place
GARDENERS.
Brown; John, Elie House Gardens
Clark, James, (& Seedsman) School Wynd
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Archibald, Miss, High Street
Baird, W., Esq., Elie House (occasionally resident)
Beale, Mrs A., Soapwork Street
Bennet, Misses, Park Place
Brown, Misses, South Street
Carey, Lieutenant, R. N., West End
Chapman, Misses, Braehead
Christie, Alexander, Elie, Lodge
Couper, Mrs, High Street
Cumming, John, Mill Hill
Cumming, Robert, Mill Hill
Currie, Peter, High Street
Douglas, Mrs, Park Place
Edie, Miss Agnes, South Street
Fairbairn, Misses, Park Place
Fraser, Dr. Peter, South Street
Fortune, Miss Ann, High Street
Fortune, Wm. R., Esq., Muircambus House
Gentle, Misses, High Street
Gourlay, James, Esq., Park Place
Grieve, John, Esq., South Street
Laing, Mrs, Soapwork Street
Luke, James, Esq., Muircambus Mill
Luke, Mrs David, East End
McDonald, Mrs A., High Street
Milligan, Mrs, South Street
Milne, Miss Charlotte, High Street
Morrison, Rev. John, Braehead
Porteous, Mr James, Mill Hill
Raimes, Richard, Esq., South Street
Richard, Mrs, Middle Wynd
Russell, Miss Anabella, Henderson House
Russell, Miss Janet, South Street
Robertson, Mr Andrew, Park Place
Telford, Mrs, West End
Thomson, Miss Isabella, Braehead
Wood, Miss, Middle Wynd
GROCERS.
Those marked thus*are also Spirit Dealers. *
Cook, Andrew, High Street
Duff, Miss, South Street
* Foggo, William, High Street
Glass, Robert, East End
* Keddie, M., & E., South Street
Kier, Jane, Stenton Row
*Kidd, Mrs Agnes, High Street
Thomson, Charles, High Street
Thomson, John, South Street
White, Alex., (& Ironmonger) Park Place
INSURSANCE AGENTS
Birrell, Geo., Draper, City of Glasgow, life.
Currie, Thomas, Builder, Scottish Union, fire and life
Foggo, John, Draper, Life Association of Scotland, life
Gilchrist, William, Bookseller, Caledonian, fire and life
Ketchin, W. R., Banker, Phoenix, fire, Insurance Co. and Scottish Provident, life
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
Currie, Thomas, South Street
Hunter, Thomas, Back Dykes
White, Alexander, Park Place
White, Robert, do
PAINTERS & PAPER-HANGERS.
Bain, James, & George, Middle Wynd
Gibb, Robert, South Street
SHIPMASTERS.
Ballingall, Thomas, South Street
Gray, Archibald, High Street
Gray, John, High Street
Nicol, Walter, North Street
Ovenstone, William, Park Place
Smith, Robert, South Street
Stewart, Robert, do
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Clark, James, (Evening School during winter) School Wynd
Riddock, G., Parish School, (& Registrar) Park Place
TAILORS.
Those marked thus* are also Clothiers.
Adamson, Alexander, High Street
* Birrell, George, West End
Brodie, William, Soapwork Street
*Philp, Benjamin, East End Philp, Robert, do
VINTNERS.
Aitken, Alex., (Hotel license) High Street
Simpson, Peter, Ship Inn, John's Place
MISCELLANEOUS.
Binbridge, Lieutenant, R. N., Coast Guard Officer, West End
Bell, Thomas, Salmon Fisher and Fish Merchant
Cumming, William, Ship Carpenter
Elie Subscription Library, James Boyd, Shoemaker, Librarian
Foggo, John, Manager of Elie and Earlsferry Gas Works, Elie
Gilchrist, William, Bookseller, Stationer, & Binder, High Street
Latto, Alex., Parish Beadle, Little Wynd
Leitch, George, Currier & Leather Merchant, South Street
Luke, James, Corn & Flour Miller, Muircambus Mill
McIntosh, Mrs, Straw Bonnet Maker, East End
Oliphant, William, Flesher, Toll Wynd
Philp, John, Brewer & Maltster, West End
Pousty, Andrew, Coal Merchant, East End
Simpson, Peter, Harbour Master
Thomson, Charles, Chemist & Druggist, High Street
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