Local records and maps

EXCERPTS FROM THE 1861 PAROCHIAL DIRECTORY FOR FIFE AND KINROSS

 

PARISH OF KINGSBARNS.

THIS PARISH, containing the village of its own name, lies on the east coast of the County. It is bounded by the parish of Crail on the south, by the German Ocean on the east, by St Andrews on the north, and by St Leonards and Crail on the west. Its length south-eastward is three and a quarter miles, and its greatest breadth two and a half miles. A short distance from the south boundary, and surrounded by the parish of Crail, lies a small disjoined portion, which measures one and a quarter mile in length, by about half a mile in breadth. The farm of Randerstone and part of Grassmiston are in the disjoined portion. The coast is low and rocky, with no bold projection except at Randerstone. The prevailing rocks are freestone, iron-stone, and limestone; the latter yielding serviceable blocks of a fine dark marble. It contains no hill, but slopes gradually from the inland boundary to the sea. The surface of the Parish amounts to about 4370 acres, nearly all which are in a state of cultivation, only about 150 acres being under wood, and about 8 or 10 of waste land. The soil towards the shore is light and sanely, but very fertile; westward it is generally a deep black loam, in some parts tending to clay. In the western and upper districts the soil is rather inferior, in many places strong and heavy, and partly a thin clay and moorish, lying generally upon a wet bottom. On the whole, however, the land is exceedingly fertile, and the amount of grain and green crop produced are, in some seasons, almost fabulous; and the enterprise of the farmers, and the mode of farming carried on, are second to no parish in the County. About half a mile to the eastward of the village of Kingsbarns, a sort of harbour or pier has long existed, which could only be used during the summer months, for the import of coal and other goods required for local consumption; and some time ago an agitation was get up by the leading men of the district, for the construction of a new and safe harbour, where farm produce could be shipped at all seasons of the year; and at present the construction of such a harbour is in actual progress. At present the amount of potatoes, grain, &c., carted to the harbours of St Andrews and Crail is very great; and those who have advocated the formation of a harbour for the Parish, maintain that the present annual cost of cartage to Crail and St Andrews would, in a few years, suffice for the cost of a suitable harbour.

The Parish is traversed by the road from St Andrews to Crail, and other good cross roads. There are two mansion-houses, viz. :-Cambo, the seat of Sir Thomas Erskine, Bart., and Pitmilly, the residence of W. Tankerville Monypenny, Esq. The latter is near the western boundary, contiguous to St Andrews parish.

The village of Kingsbarns stands on the road leading from St Andrews to Crail, nearly seven miles from the former, and above three from the latter town. It contains the Church and Manse, the Parish School and School-House, two farm houses with their steadings, and a number of other houses, which are chiefly inhabited by agricultural labourers and village tradesmen. It is purely a rural village, entirely dependent upon agriculture for any prosperity it may possess. There is no regular fishing, but a few of the villagers engage in the crab and lobster fishing during the season. At an early period when there was a royal residence at Crail, there were barns in the Parish, where the grain paid to the crown as the rent of the lands was stored; and it is alleged that, from that circumstance, the name of the Parish and village is derived.

The POST OFFICES for the Parish are St Andrews and Crail, with a Sub-Office at Kingsbarns, Thomas Anderson, Sub-Post Master.- Letters arrive from St Andrews daily, about 11.10 A.M., and are despatched at 7.10 P.m. Letters from Crail arrive at 7 P.M., and are despatched at 11.15 A.M.

 

BLACKSMITHS.

Anderaon, George, (& Farrier) Kingsbarns

Yoole, George, Kingsbarns

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS

Beatt, David, Kingsbarns

Doeg, Alexander, Kingsbarns

Johnstone, George, do

Lothian, Robert, do

Spence, Alexander, do

CARRIERS.

Brown, Alexander, to St Andrews, on Monday and Wednesday

Duncan, Thomas, to St Andrews and Crail, (by Coach) daily

CARTERS.

Brown, Alexander, Kingsbarns

Carmichael, James, do

COACH.

The Perseverance, from Crail to St Andrews, Thos. Duncan, Proprietor, leaves Kingsbarns for St Andrews about 8.30 A.M., and leaves for Crail about 5.30 P.M.

DRESSMAKERS.

Anderson, Miss Euphemia, Kingsbarns

Crawford, Miss Margaret, do

Farmer, Miss Ann, do

Forrester, Miss Jean, Cambo Gate

Kay, Mrs Mary, Kingsbarns

Lyall, Miss Isabella, do

Monroe, Miss Jessie, do

FARMERS.

Barclay, John, Randerstone

Brown, George, Grassmiston

Brown, George, South Quarter, Kingsbarns

Clark, John, Hillhead

Duncan, David, Kilduncan

Duncan, Thomas, Boghall

Fleming, James, Kippo

Fleming, Robert, Falside

Galloway, John, Lochton

Husband, Wm., North Quarter of Kippo

McFarlane, Thomas, Carhurly, by Crail

Monypenny, W. T., Esq., Home Farm, Pitmilly

Reekie, James, Hillary

Rodger, William, Kingsbarns

GARDENERS.

Falconer, James, Cambo Garden

Melville, Robert, Pitmilly Garden

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Corstorphine, Alexander, Esq., of Pittowie, Kingsbarns

Erskine, Sir Thomas, Bart., Cambo House

Monypenny, W. Tankerville, Esq., of Pitmilly

Russell, Mrs Alexander, Kenly Green

Wallace, Mrs D., Kingsbarns

Wright, Rev. George, Parish Minister, Kingsbarns

GROCERS.

Crichton, D., (& Spirit Dealer) Kingsbarns

Janice, Mrs Mary, do

Lawson, Mrs Christian, do

White, William, do

Wishart, Mrs Elizabeth, (& Temperance Refreshment Rooms) Kingsbarns

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Those marked thus * are also Cabinet Makers.

Gillespie, James, Kingsbarns

* Scott, James, do

*Scott, Laurance, Little Kilduncan

Turpie, David, Kingsbarns

TAILORS.

Corstorphine, William, Kingsbarns

Spence, David, (& Clothier) do

Thomson, Alexander, do

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Gillespie, Mrs Barbara, Infant School, Kingsbarns

Maughan, Mrs Christina, Industrial Department, Parish School, (& Music) Kingsbarns

Maughan, Robert, Parish School, Kingsbarns

VINTNERS.

Brown, Miss Margaret, Cambo Arms Inn, Kingsbarns

Spence, David, Kingsbarns

MISCELLANEOUS.

Anderson, Thomas, Saddler, Kingsbarns

Bayne, David, Land Steward, Pitmilly

Cant, Wm., Inspector of Poor, Kingsbarns

Clark, John, Corn Miller and Corn Merchant, Hillhead

Gillespie, J., & J., Engineers, Millwrights, & Reaping Machine Makers, Kingsbarns

Harley, Alex., Parish Beadle, Kingsbarns

Mitchell, F , Saw-Miller, Milton of Pitmilly

McIntosh. James. Molecatcher Kingsbarns

Monroe, Angus, Tea Dealer, do

 

 

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