PARISH OF KINGHORN.

THIS PARISH, the mainland of which lies to the south-west of Abbotshall, has a sea coast of rather more than four miles, which commences near Burntisland Links, and runs eastward to Kinghorn Point, and then northward to the Tiel Burn, including within its bounds the village of Invertiel, a suburb of Kirkcaldy. Its greatest length is about four and three-fourths miles from the south-east to the north-west, and its breadth, which is above three miles at the southern boundary, contracts to one mile towards the north-west. It is bounded on the south and east by the Firth of Forth, on the north by the parishes of Abbotshall and Auchtertool, and on the west by Burntisland and Aberdour. It contains the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn, the harbour of Pettycur, the village of Invertiel, and the island of Inchkeith, in the Firth of Forth. The general surface exhibits a pleasing diversity of character, with many features to gratify the taste, both of the geologist, and the lover of the picturesque. The interior in some places rises abruptly, and in others gradually, from the shore ; and presents beautiful alternations of height and hollow- of cultivated fields and narrow vales- and continues to ascend until, at Glassmont, two and a half miles from the shore, it reaches a height of 600 feet above the level of the sea. Thence to the inland boundary it presents less diversity of character, but still exhibits beautiful knolls and gentle swells. With the exception of about 300 acres, which are chiefly in wood and natural pasture, the whole is in a high state of cultivation. The soil along the shore, and for a considerable extent inland, is a dark deep loam, and very fertile. In the north-east the rocks belong to the coal formation ; and lime and sandstone are there worked. In other parts the rocks are chiefly trap. To the north-west of the town of Kinghorn there is a small sheet of water, extending to about twenty acres in area, called Kinghorn Loch. Its greatest depth is thirty feet, and it lies beautifully embosomed among rising grounds. It is well stocked with pike, several thousand pounds being taken from its bosom every year. A few years ago the fine mansion-houses of Kilrie and Glassmount were erected ; the other mansions are old buildings. A combination Poors' House for the parishes of Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, and Abbotshall, stands near the shore, a little to the east of Kinghorn. Contiguous to the town once stood a castle, which was a royal residence, but of which not a vestige now remains. It was in riding from Inverkeithing to Kinghorn Castle, that Alexander III. was killed in 1285-6, an accident which occasioned the greatest calamity to Scotland. At that time highways were mere bridle paths of the roughest description; and the road in question wound along the top of the rocks which overhang the sea. The night was dark, and, owing to the stumbling of the horse, the King was thrown over a precipice and killed. The spot where this dire event happened, and which is still known by the name of "the King's wud end," is near a small ravine, half-way between Kinghorn and Burntisland, in which the handsome villa of Kingswood has been recently erected by Adam Johnston, Esq. To the eastward of Kinghorn is Seafield Tower, once the residence of a family of the name of Moutrie. It is a striking object in the landscape as seen from the Forth. The estate of Grange, which for centuries belonged to the ancient family of Kirkcaldy of Grange, lies about a mile north-east of the town, but is now the property of Colonel Ferguson, of Raith. The old castle of Pitteadie stands upon a hill of the same name, within the property of the Earl of Rosslyn. It is now much dilapidated, not having been inhabited for more than a century.

The Royal Burgh of Kinghorn lies directly opposite Leith, two and a half miles east north-east of Burntisland, and three miles south by west of Kirkcaldy. Formerly, it was one of the meanest and most irregular of towns, with streets almost impassible; but it now enjoys the benefits of many improvements, and its streets are level and well paved. For these improvements the town was chiefly indebted to Mr Thomas Barclay, its active and energetic town-clerk. It consists chiefly of one main street, intersected by others of less importance. Its former public buildings, which were all mean, have been replaced by others of a more respectable appearance. The Town-House and Jail, which arc of Gothic architecture, were erected at a cost of £2500. Its conjoined Burgh and Parish School, situated at the west end of the town, was built in 1829, and has an external elegance and internal equipments of a high order. There are two spinning mills and an extensive bleachfield near Tyrie, about a mile to the east-ward of Kinghorn, at which great numbers of the inhabitants are employed. There is also a large corn and flour mill, a brewery, and an extensive glue manufactory in the town. There is an apology for a harbour at the town, which is of little use except for fishing boats; but the harbour of Pettycur affords good accommodation for vessels, and was the regular ferry-station from Fife to Newhaven and Leith, previous to the opening of the E. P. &, D. Railway, and the transference of the ferry station to Burntisland. The railway traverses the whole extent of the Parish, from east to west, and passes through a tunnel, 240 yards in length, under the Witch Hill, on which the reputed witches in the olden time were executed. Kinghorn was erected into a Burgh in the twelfth century, and its latest charter dates from 1611; but as a Municipal Burgh it was disfranchised in 1841, owing to local squabbling, and the existing magistracy, or a section of them, allowing the statutory period to elapse without proceeding to hold an election, according to the sett of the burgh, when the court of session placed the affairs of the Burgh in the hands of managers. As a Royal Burgh it unites with Kirkcaldy, Dysart, and Burntisland, in returning a Member to Parliament. The Island of Inchkeith, in the Firth of Forth- three miles south-west of Pettycur belongs to this Parish. Its whole surface is very irregular and rocky, but in many places it affords rich pasture for horses and cattle. Near the middle it rises gradually to a height of 180 feet; and here a light-house with a revolving light has been erected. The light revolves at a height of 235 feet above the level of the Forth, and may be seen at a distance of eighteen nautical miles. The island possesses abundant springs of the most excellent water, which is collected into a cistern near the harbour, from which the shipping in Leith Roads can be supplied.

In addition to the Parish Church, there is a Free Church, and a U. P. Church, in the town of Kinghorn, and a Chapel of Ease, in connection with the Established Church, at Invertiel. Besides the Burgh and Parish School, already referred to, there is a Free Church School, and an Infant School at Kinghorn, and a Subscription School at Invertiel.

The POST OFFICE for the chief portion of the Parish is Kinghorn, Edward Taylor, Post Master. The Post Office for the eastern and north-eastern districts is Kirkcaldy (see Kirkcaldy). There are two daily deliveries in Kinghorn, commencing about 7 A. M. and 4 P.M. Letters for Edinburgh and the south are despatched at 8 A. M. and 4.25 P.M., and for Kirkcaldy about 7 A.M.

BAKERS.

Myles, James, Kinghorn

Smith, William, do

BLACKSMITHS.

Anderson, Thomas, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Kinlay, James, Baidlin, by Auchtertool

Lochtie, Thomas, Kinghorn

BOOT & SHOEMAKER'S.

Begg, Joseph, Kinghorn

Cowan, Henry, do

Hay, James, Kinghorn

Hay, William, do

Heigh, Thomas, do

Innes, John, do

BREWERS & MALTSTERS.

Robertson, William, Kinghorn

Stocks, John, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

CARRIERS.

E. P. & D. Railway, Station at Kinghorn Thomas Dick, Agent

Christie, William, from Kinghorn to Kirkcaldy, every Tuesday and Friday

Shoolbread, John, from Kinghorn to Kirkcaldy, every Tuesday and Friday

Skinner, James, from Kinghorn to Edinburgh, every Tuesday and Friday

CARTERS & LAND LABOURERS.

Black, Peter, Kinghorn

Burgess, William, do

Condie, George, do

Hillock, Thomas, do

Kellock, John, do

Lawrie, Thomas, do

Marr, Michael, do

Minorgan, Robert, do

Robertson, James do

CHINA MERCHANTS.

Burgess, William, Kinghorn

Wright, Mrs James, do

CLERGY.

Ballingall, J. H., Free Church, Kinghorn

Bowie, Matthew, D. D., Parish Church, Kinghorn

Macaulay, George, Free Church, Invertiel, Kirkcaldy (Chapel in Abbotshall Parish)

Robertson, James, A.M., Assistant to Dr. Bowie, Kinghorn

Smeaton, James, Chapel of Ease, Invertiel, Kirkcaldy

--------- ------ U. P. Church, Kinghorn

DRAPERS.

Henderson, Thomas, Kinghorn

Loutfoot, James, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Malcolm, Alexander, Kinghorn

DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.

Fraser, Miss Elizabeth, Kinghorn

Ireland, Miss Magdeline, do

Miller, Miss, do

Thomson, Miss Margaret, do

FARMERS.

Adamson, James, & Alexander, Linhead, by Auchtertool

Aitken, George, Tyrie, by Kirkcaldy

Beveridge, Thomas, Stocks, Grangehill, by Kinghorn

Currie, Mrs Andrew, of Glassmount, by Kinghorn

Drysdale, J., Esq., of Kilrie, by Kinghorn

Duff, A., Pitkinnie, by Auchtertool

Kinninmonth, J., & P., Invertiel, by Kirkcaldy

Leslie, Alex., Drinkbetween, by Kinghorn

Lewis, Mrs George, Boglillie, by Kirkcaldy

Prentice, George, Pitteadie, by do

Robertson, A., & Sons, Banchory, by Kinghorn

Stocks, James, Broadleys, by Kirkcaldy

Stocks, John, West Bridge, do

Veitch, Walter, Grange, by Kinghorn

Watt, James, Balbarton, by Kirkcaldy

FLESHERS.

Auld, Jabez, (&, Licensed Dealer in Game; (Shop open on Saturday and Wednesday) Kinghorn

Black, John, Kinghorn

FURNISHED LODGINGS. [Proprietors of, for Summer Visitors.]

Clark, Thomas, Rossness, Kinghorn

Darney, Mr Henry, do

Dawson, William, do

Fairholm, Miss Jane, do

Forbes, John, West End, do

Greig, Misses, High Street, do

Henderson, Mrs John, do

Hepburn, Thomas, do

Hunter, Mrs J. L., do

Ireland, Mrs, do

Keyden, James, do

Morrison, Alexander, do

Muir, Francis, do

Napier, Mrs, do

Patterson, Mrs John, do

Skinner, Robert, do

Smith, Mrs Alexander, do

Smith, Arthur, do

Smith, Robert, Sea-Side, do

Thomson, David, do

Thomson, Mrs, Pettycur, do

Walls, Mrs, do

Wright, Mrs, do

Westwater, John, do

GARDENERS.

Black, Peter, (Market) Kinghorn

Dewar, James, (Market) Kinghorn

Gourlay, John, (Market) Townhead, Kinghorn

Hillock, Thos., (Market) Kinghorn

Simpson, John, (Market) do

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Aitken, David, Esq., Kinghorn

Baretto, Mrs, do

Black, Mr George, do

Bushby, Mr Charles, do

Craig, Miss Mary, do

Currie, Mrs Andrew, of Glass-mount

Darney, Mrs John, Kinghorn

Duncan, Misses, do

Drysdale, John, Esq., of Kilrie

Greig, Misses, Kinghorn

Hardie, Rev. James, do

Henderson, Mrs John, do

Johnston, Adam, Esq., Kingswood Cottage

Orrok, Misses, Kinghorn

Ovenston, Mr John, do

Salmond, Mrs James, do

Sibbald, Mrs, Bow Butts, do

Thomson, Mr David, do

Urquhart, Mr John, Seafield, by Kinghorn

Walls, Mrs Henry, Kinghorn

GROCERS.

Those marked thus* are also Spirit Dealers.

* Anderson, T., West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Gulland, Frank, do do

*Hepburn, A., & .J., Kinghorn

* Hutton, James, do

Kinnell, John, do

* Morton, A., West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

*Nicol, Thomas, Kinghorn

Philp, James, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Simpson, John, Kinghorn

* Salmond, Mrs John, do

* Seath, Mrs John, do

* Stark, John, do

White, Thomas, Overgate, do

INSURANCE AGENTS.

Hepburn, Andrew, Grocer, Scottish Provincial, fire and life

Robertson, William, Brewer, Alliance, and Insurance Co. of Scotland, fire and life

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Anderson, Wm., West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Bennet, Charles, Pirniss, by Auchtertool

Clephane, David, Baidlin, by do

Dempster, Walter, Kinghorn

Oswald, David, do

Tawse, Samuel, do

TAILORS.

Henderson, John, Kinghorn

Malcolm, Alex., (A Clothier) Kinghorn

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS

Fairholm, Miss M., Infant School, Kinghorn

Forbes, John, ------------ School, Kinghorn

Fraser, Miss Elizabeth, Female Industrial Department, Free Church School, Kinghorn

Haig, James, Subscription School, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Lennox, Miss J., Female Industrial Department, ----------------- School, Kinghorn

Robertson, Alex., Free Church School, Kinghorn

Williamson, Miss Jessie, Kirkcaldy Combination Poors' House by Kinghorn

Wilson, Miss, Adventure School, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

VINTNERS.

Duncan, Betsy, Kinghorn

Smith, Arthur, do

Venters, John, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Westwater, John, Kinghorn

MISCELLANEOUS.

Barclay, Thomas, Town-Clerk, Kinghorn

Brown, George, Engineer & Millwright, West Bridge, by Kirkcaldy

Burns, James, Manager, Marlowhill Coke Co., Pettycur, by Kinghorn

Crombie, John, Land Stewart, Balmutto

Darney, John, & Sons, Glue Manufacturers, Kinghorn

Dewar, James, Land Surveyor, Kinghorn

Elder, William, Governor, Treas., and Sec. of Kirkcaldy Union Poors' House, by Kinghorn

Henderson, Robert, & Son, Yarn Millers & Calenderers, West Bridge, Kirkcaldy

Henderson, Thos., Letter Carrier, Kinghorn

Hepburn, Thos. ,Skinner & Wool Merchant, Registrar & Session Clerk, Kinghorn

Keyden, James, Merchant, Kinghorn

Robertson, William, Burgh Treasurer & Assessor, Clerk to Philp's Trust, Inspector of Poor, Collector of Poors' Rates, and Clerk & Assessor to Parochial Board, Kinghorn

Rolland, William, Rope & Twine Maker, West Bridge, by Kirkcaldy

Smith, Arthur, Cooper, Kinghorn

Swan, Brothers, Flax Spinners, Flour & Corn Millers, and Corn Merchants, Kinghorn

Taylor, Edward, Hecklemaker, Kinghorn

Williamson, Margaret, Matron, Kirkcaldy Union Poors' House, by Kinghorn

Wood & Rodgers, Plumbers, Tin-Plate & Zinc Workers, Kinghorn

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