PARISH OF INVERKEITHING.

This PARISH, containing the town and Royal Burgh of its own name, is situated on the south-western district of the County, and comprises the ancient parishes of Inverkeithing and Rosyth, which were conjoined in 1636. It is bounded on the south by the Firth of Forth, by the parish of Dalgety on the east, and by Dunfermline on the west and north, and partly also on the south. The Parish consists of two main parts, the one extending northward in a gently rising slope, and terminating near to the village of Crossgates, and measuring four miles in length, by an average of one mile in breadth. The other portion stretches along the shore of the Forth, extending to about three and three-fourth miles in length, and varying from a quarter to a mile and a quarter in breadth. This belt is intercepted at its south-eastern extremity by the Ferry Hills peninsula, which intervenes between the main body of the Parish and the Firth of Forth. On the southern point of this peninsula stands the village of North Queensferry, which formerly belonged to Inverkeithing, but is now annexed to Dunfermline, though still connected, Quoad Sacra, with Inverkeithing. The rock of Bimar and the island of Inchgarvie, in the Forth, belong to this Parish, and a detached portion of it lies to the west of the town of Dunfermline, and is nearly surrounded by that parish. The surface along the coast is low or undulating, but to the north it gradually and uniformly rises to its northern boundary, which is considerably elevated above sea-level, with a fine southern exposure. The soil is, in many places, rich and fertile, capable of bearing excellent crops, and is in a high state of cultivation. A small portion consists of excellent pasture and fine woodland. Various kinds of stone abound, including limestone, which is pretty extensively wrought.

About a mile to the west of the burgh, on the shore, stands the ancient castle of Rosyth, which at one period belonged to a branch of the great family of Stuart, but is now the property of the Earl of Hopetoun. The rock on which it is situated is connected with the mainland by a causeway, which at high water is covered by the sea. The castle is now in a very dilapidated and ruinous condition, the only portion that has to any extent withstood the ravages of time, being the square tower, which formed the north-eastern angle of the building. Tradition asserts that the wife of Oliver Cromwell was born in this Castle, and also that Queen Mary at one time resided in it; which latter statement is so far confirmed by the discovery of her arms and initials over the gate leading into what had once been the court-yard. The only cluster of houses in the Parish, besides Inverkeithing, at all worthy of the designation of village or hamlet, is Hillend, only part of which is in the Parish.

The sea-port town and Royal Burgh of Inverkeithing is situated at the head of a small bay of its own name, on the great north road leading from North Queensferry to Perth, and is about fourteen miles from Edinburgh, four south-east of Dunfermline, and about twenty-five from Cupar. The Burgh is of great antiquity, the oldest existing charter, which was granted by William the Lion, being only confirmatory of one of a previous and unknown date. The charter of James VI., of date 1589, contains a grant of customs from a wide district of country, which in some places are still levied, but a few of the last erected burghs have bought up the burdens thus imposed on them. The Burgh is governed by a provost, two bailies, a dean of guild, a treasurer, nine councillors, and a town-clerk; and unites with Dunfermline, Culross, South Queensferry, and Stirling, in sending a Member to Parliament.

The town itself consists of one principal street, running through its entire length, with numerous lanes branching off on both sides. A considerable number of the houses have an old and rather antiquated appearance, others have been much improved and modernized within the last forty years, while, in the suburbs, are some fine, handsome villas of recent erection. The present Parish Church is a substantial structure, and replaced one of very ancient date. The only other Church is the U. P. Church, which, like the Parish Church, is situated on the main street, near the north end of the town. The Parish School is a handsome and commodious building; and, in addition to it, the educational wants of the Parish are amply supplied by a Seminary for Young Ladies, two Female Industrial Schools, and an Adventure School. The town contains a corn exchange on a small scale, a music hall, a town house, and jail, in front of which, surrounded by an iron railing, stands a curious stone pillar, on which are sculptured the armorial bearings of Queen Annabella Drummond, Robert III., and David I.

Inverkeithing is said to have been, at an early period of its history, the residence of many distinguished families, including even royalty itself. David I. is known to have had a temporary palace in the town; and an old building, still inhabited, and situated on the east side of the High Street, is pointed out as having been the residence of Queen Annabella Drummond, the mother of the illustrious James I. This building is evidently very old, and from the rounded tower or abutment connected with it, it seems to have been intended for defence as well as convenience.

There are in the town, or connected with it, a foundry and an iron shipbuilding establishment, fire brick and gas retort works, a distillery, a tan work, a rope and sail manufactory, and a shipbuilding yard, connected with which is a patent slip, which affords great facilities for repairing vessels.

The harbour, although capable of considerable improvement, is safe and commodious; and at spring tides vessels of 200 tons burden can enter or depart without difficulty. A considerable number of vessels, chiefly from 25 to 400 tons, belong to the port, and are employed to a great extent in exporting coal, which is brought from Halbeath, Cuttlehill, and Townhill collieries, by railways constructed for the purpose. There is no regular trade carried on in the Parish, but a considerable number of the inhabitants are employed at the harbour, and at the collieries and quarries in the neighbourhood; while a number more are occupied as carpenters in the shipbuilding yard, and at the foundry. A good number are also engaged at the fire brick and gas retort manufactory, and a few are connected with agricultural avocations.

The POST TOWN is Inverkeithing, Miss Mary Pringle, Post Mistress.- Letters from Edinburgh arrive at 9.30 A.M., 1.45 P.M., and 5.45 P.M., and are despatched at 8 A. M. and 4 P.M. Letters from Dunfermline arrive at 8.15 A.M. and 4.15 P.M , and are despatched at 9.30 A.M. and 5.45 P.M. There is a Sub-Post Office at Hillend, Jane Pye, Sub-Post Mistress.- Letters arrive at 11.30 A.M ., and are despatched at 2.45 P.M.

BAKERS.

Dewar, John, Hillend

Dick, Alexander, High Street

Henderson, Peter, Town Hall Street

Henderson, Thomas, do

Whyte, Robert, High Street

BANKS.

EASTERN BANK OF SCOTLAND, Bank Street, William Fraser, Agent

PENNY SAVINGS' BANK, open on Saturday from 7 to 8 P.M., John Hay, Treas.

BLACKSMITHS.

Binning, David, Hillend

Meiklejohn, William, Hope Street

Murrie, George, Brucehaven

Ross, R., & D., Patent Slip

Wilson, George, Harbour Place

BOOKSELLERS.

Barbieri, Matthew, (& Druggist) Town Hall Street

Campbell, Miss Isabella, High Street

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.

Alexander, James, High Street

Brown, James, King Street

Brown, Malcolm, do

Cation, Murdoch, High Street

Hampton, John, do

Henderson, Alex., do

Menzies, Walter, Heriot Street

Young, Andrew, Queen Street

BUILDERS.

Cook, Thomas, Hillend

Cunningham, John, Keith Place

CARRIERS.

Shoolbread, John, to Burntisland, Hillend, and Kirkcaldy, every Tuesday and Friday

Stott, Joseph, High Street, to Dunfermline, daily

CARTERS and LAND LABOURERS.

Allan, Peter, Queen Street

Dick, Thomas, Inverkeithing

Hogg, Andrew, King Street

Rintoul, Alexander, Backyards

Shoolbread, John, Hillend

Wilson, Ralph, do

CHINA MERCHANTS.

Hampton, John, High Street

Oswald, Mrs Jane, do

Robertson, Alex., do

Strachan, Mrs James, do

CLERGY.

Fleming, John D., A.M., U. P. Church, Chapel Place

Mackay, James A.M., Parish Church, Hope Street

COACHES.

To Dunfermline and Edinburgh, from J. Hogg's, High Street, three times every lawful day

DRAPERS.

McAllan, Mrs Isabella, Town Hall Street

Miller, W., & J., High Street

DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.

Anderson, Miss Helen R., Church Street

Angus, Misses M., & J., Town Hall Street

Campbell, Miss Helen, High Street

Laverock, Mrs C., do

Masterton, Miss Mary, do

Peat, Miss Christina, Queen Street

FARMERS.

Aitken, David, Annfield

Angus, Charles, Poplars, Inverkeithing

Chalmers, Thomas, North Urquhart

Crawford, Robert, Balbougie

Chaplain, James, North Duloch

Crichton, Alexander, Castlandhill

Cunningham, Mrs William, Spencerfield

Drysdale, William, Prathouse

Gibson, William, Esq., Home Farm, Duloch

Gray, Henry, Bellknowes

Henderson, Andrew, Hills, Inverkeithing

Law, Thomas, Boreland

Lawson, Peter, Hilton

Mitchell, James, Rosyth

Mitchell, Michael, Backmarch

Mitchell, Thomas, Orchardhead

Moyes, Edward, Inverkeithing

Pearson, Thomas, Mid-Duloch

Philp, David, Burnthill

Shearer, Mrs William, Cruicks

Tulloch, James, Sunnybanks

Tulloch, Robert, Dales

FLESHERS.

Auld, Jabez, (A Licensed Dealer in Game) Bank Street

Auld, Jas., Town Hall Street

Crichton, William, High Street

GARDENERS.

Bennet, Henry, (Market) Church Street

Drummond, James, (Market) do

Hutton, John, (Market) do

McCallum, James, (Market) Roodbank

Moffat, Richard, (Market) Heriot Street

Nicol, James, (Market) Queen Street

Sinclair, Thomas, Castlandhill House

Vair, William, Duloch House

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Anderson, Mrs, King Street

Arnott, Miss Mary, Cruickness

Drysdale, Mrs, do

Durie, John, High Street

Fraser, Mrs, Halbeath Cottage

Fraser, William, Esq., Bank Street

Gibson, William, Esq., Duloch

Hunt, James H., Esq., Logie House

Kirk, Mrs Isabella, High Street

Miller, Mrs, Shore Brae Cottage

Miller, William, Esq., High Street Moffat, Richard, Heriot Street

Newton, Robert P., Esq., Castlandhill

Pearson, George, Esq., High Street

Shireff, Charles, Esq., (Sheriff-Substitute for the Western District of the County) Old Duloch House

Thomson, Thomas, Esq., Bellevue

Tod, Miss Jane, King Street

Walls, Lawrence, Preston Crescent

GROCERS.

Those marked thus* are also Spirit Dealers.

*Arnot, Alex., (& Ironmonger) High Street

Ballingall, Mrs Jane, King Street

Bennet, David, Chapel Place

Birrell, William, Hillend

Campbell, Miss Isabella, High Street

* Clarkson, Mrs Christina, Church Street

Fulton, Miss Margaret, Church Street

* Hogg, John, High Street

Lawson, David, do

* Lessels, Joseph, do

* McAllan, J., & J., Heriot Street

* Miller, John, King Street

Newton, James, High Street

* Norrie, Mrs Margaret, Town Hall Street

* Rogers, Mrs Mary, Queen Street

Schoolbread, John, Hillend

* Spittal, John, High Street

* Walker, David, do

Whyte, Robert, High Street

INNKEEPERS.

Bell, Mrs Catherine, New Inn, High Street

Rennie, James, OM Inn, High Street

Schoolbread, John, Hillend

INSURANCE AGENTS.

Arnot, Alexander, Merchant, North British, fire and life

Fraser, William, Banker, Scottish Union, fire and life, Standard, life, Colonial, life, and Scottish Marine

Grant, J., Accountant, Scottish Equitable, life, Marine, and Casuality

Lessells, Joseph, Merchant, Royal Insurance Company, fire and life

Scott, Thos., Life Association of Scotland

Walker, David, Merchant, Insurance Company of Scotland, fire

IRON FOUNDERS & ENGINEERS.

Angus, Henry, Rosyth Foundry

Scott, John, Sen., (& Iron Shipbuilder) Inverkeithing Foundry

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Adamson, David, Hillend

Hutton, George, Bank Street

Kilgour, James, Church Street

LIME MERCHANTS.

Adamson, David, Rosyth Lime Quarry

Adamson, W., &.J., (&, Lime Burners) Duloch

MILLERS.

Bisset, John, (Corn) Scotsmill

Mentiplay, Peter, (Flour) Inverkeithing

SHIPBUILDERS.

Ross, Robert, & David, Inverkeithing

Scott, John, Sen., (Iron) do

Whitehead, James, Brucehaven

SHIPMASTERS.

Ainslie, James, Preston Crescent

Burns, John, High Street

Dawson, Alexander, Preston Crescent

Finlayson, James, do

Louden, Robert, Queen Street

McAllan, Thomas, Hope Street

McCulloch, John, Preston Crescent

McCulloch, William, do

McIntyre, John, Shorebrae Cottage

Murray, James, Port Street

Phillips, John, Harbour Place

Philp, Henry, Preston Crescent

Robertson, Andrew, Chapel Place

Scotland, William, Preston Crescent

Simpson, William, Alma Street

Thomson, Joseph, High Street

White, Robert, Queen Street

Wilson, James, High Street

SHIPOWNERS.

Fraser, William, Bank Street

Grant, John, Sea-Bank Cottage

McAllan, J., & J., Heriot Street

Ramsay, Archibald, Harbour Place

Ross, David, Preston Crescent

Ross, James, do

Ross, Robert, do

Scott, John, King Street

Sharp, James, Preston Crescent

Simpson, Alexander, Port Street

Spittal, John, High Street

White, Mrs Agnes, Queen Street

SLATERS.

Young, George, Jun., Church Street

Young, Thomas, Port Street

SOCIETIES & CLUBS.

Inverkeithing Chess Club, R. Bartholomew, M. D., President, Wm. Robertson, Sec.

Inverkeithing Choral Union, T. Bourhill, Conductor, James Auld, Sec.

Inverkeithing Horticultural Society, Wm. Elder, President, R. N. Wardrop, Sec.

Inverkeithing Mutual Improvement Association, R. N. Wardrop, President, Thos. Bourhill, Sec.

St John's Lodge, (Masonic) Wm. Miller, G. M., George Pearson, Sec.

St Margaret's Curling Club, Elias Cathcart, LL.D., Esq., of Auchindrane, Patron, Geo. Hutton, President, J. Grant, Sec.

TAILORS.

Blackie, John, (& Clothier) High Street

Brown, Adam, Keith Place

Brown, Robert, Queen Street

Horn, Alexander, Church Street

Malcolm, George, Chapel Place

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Brown, David D., Adventure School, High Street

Drummond, Miss, Infant School, High Street

Mitchell, Miss Isabella, Female Industrial School, Church Street

Ross, Miss, Seminary for Young Ladies, High Street

Wardrop, Robert N., Parish School, Church Street

TIMBER MERCHANTS.

Ross, R,, &, D., Preston Crescent

Scott, J., Steam Saw-Mills, King Street

VINTNERS.

Macbeth, Alexander, Hill Street

McQueen, Catherine, High Street

Moodie, Thomas, Hillend

Morris, Mrs James, Miles Mark

Phillips, John, Harbour Place

Ramsay, Archibald, Harbour Place

Tait, John, King Street

MISCELLANEOUS.

Alexander, James, Principal Coast Officer, High Street

Bartholomew, Robert, M.D., Medical Practitioner, King Street

Beveridge, Janet, Broker, Inverkeithing

Craig, J., Town and Sheriff Officer, Keeper of Town Hall, Valuator and Assessor for the Burgh, Gas Surveyor, &c., Town Hall Street

Danks, Francis, Overseer, Elgin Colliery, Miles Mark

Donald, John, Painter & Gilder, Hill Street

Fowlis, R., Gardener, Fordel House Gardens

Fraser, William, Writer & Notary, Danish Vice-Consul, and Russian Consular Agent, Town Clerk, &c., Bank Street

Gowie, Robert, Burgh Fiscal, Bank Street

Grant, John, Treasurer for the Burgh, and Secretary & Treasurer to Gas Company, Sea-Bank Cottage

Hay, John, Tanner, Church Street

Henderson, Alex., Inspector of Poor, and Collector of Poors' Rates, Church Street

Hughson, James, Scottish Coast Missionary, Preston Crescent

Hutton, George, & William, Proprietors of Music Hall, Bank Street

McIntyre, J., Harbour-Master & Collector of Shore Dues, Preston Crescent

Montgomery, James T., Clock & Watchmaker, Church Street

Pringle, Miss Mary, Sub-Distributor of Stamps, Church Street

Ross, James, Rope & Sail Maker, Preston Crescent

Wardrop, Robert N., Librarian, Public Library, and Registrar for the Burgh and Parish, Church Street

Wilson, Alexander, Esq., Proprietor of Cruicks Whinstone Quarry (Alexander Penny, Manager)

ADD

Brown, Miss Margaret, Dressmaker, Keith Place

Brown, Mrs Mary, Vintner, Volunteer Tavern

Carlisle, Mrs, Dressmaker, High Street

Hogg, John, Merchant, President of St Margaret's Curling Club

Lockhart, David, Blacksmith, High Street

Philp, Charles, Baker, Town Hall Street

Walker, David, Ironmonger, High Street

DELETE

Henderson, Peter, Baker

Hutton, Geo., President of St Margaret's Curling Club

Wilson, James, Shipmaster

ERRATUM.

For St John's Lodge, (Masonic) William Miller, G. M., read R. W. M.

Home | Search | Contact | Print version | Help