PARISH OF PITTENWEEM.
THIS SMALL PARISH, containing the Royal Burgh of its own name, is on the south-east coast of the County. It is bounded on the south by the Firth of Forth, on the west by Abercrombie, on the east by Anstruther Wester, and on the north by that parish and Abercrombie. Its length eastward is one and a half mile, and its breadth a half mile. Its surface is flat, and its soil generally a very fertile black loam. Its rocks belong to the coal formation, and at one period that mineral was extensively worked, but the works have long been abandoned. Abundance of excellent coal, however, still exists in the Parish; and capital and enterprise are only awanting to re-commence this very valuable branch of industry.
The town of Pittenweem is a seaport and a Royal Burgh. It stands on the sea-shore of the Parish, on the road from Elie to Crail -one mile west south-west of Anstruther, ten and a half south south-east of St Andrews, and five east from the Kilconquhar station of the East of Fife Railway, which is as yet the nearest rail-way station. The town consists of a street running eastward, with the Parish Church standing near the cast end, a street fronting the harbour, a newer street running parallel to these, on a line with the turnpike road, and several intersecting lanes running north and south. A cave about 86 feet long, and divided into two compartments, gives name to one of the lanes leading from the High Street to the Shore. Many of the houses are substantial and neat; some of the shops are excellent, and the whole place looks cleanly, comfortable, and respectable. The harbour has a south-west entrance, and consists of an outer harbour and an inner basin. It has been much improved of late; and at present the town council contemplates such additional improvements and new works, as will make it accessible to small vessels at all hours of the tide. A number of sloops and schooners belong to the harbour, and the shore dues amount to upwards of £200 per annum. Much business is done in the export of potatoes and grain. The imports are also considerable, the principal items being coal, wood, and salt, the latter for fishcuring purposes. Pittenweem is also an extensive fishcuring station, the number of crans brought into the harbour in 1860 being 14,730, the value of which amounted to about £13,000.
Pittenweem owed its origin and ancient prosperity, partly to its position on the coast, and partly to the presence of a Priory of canons regular. The foundation of the Priory is alleged to date from the 12th century, and it belonged to the Priory of St Andrews. It possessed much land and several Churches, and exercised considerable influence previous to the Reformation. Some portions of the buildings still stand and are in use, part as the Parish Church, part as the Episcopalian Parsonage; and the walls of the precincts are still standing. The town was at one time a Burgh of Barony, holding of its Priors; but in 1542 it was constituted a Royal Burgh, and it afterwards received several charters, all of which were con-firmed by Act of Parliament in 1633. It is governed by a provost, two bailies, a treasurer, and eight councillors. The corporation revenue amounts to about £977 annually. Pittenweem unites with St Andrews, Cupar, Crail, Kilrenny, and Anstruther Easter and Wester, in returning a Member to Parliament.
The majority of the working section of the community are engaged in employments connected with the sea, such as sailors, fishermen, fishcurers, coopers, &c.; the rest are generally employed as shopkeepers, or in such trades as are common to all towns of a similar size.
The Parish Church is an ancient building, and, as we have already stated, is supposed to have formed a part of the old Priory. There are also in the town, an Episcopalian Church, a U. P. Church, and a Preaching Station, in connection with the Free Church. Besides the Parish School, there are a Burgh School, an Adventure School, a Female Industrial School, and an Infant School.
POST OFFICE, Pittenweem, John Bayne, Post Master.-Letters from all parts arrive, per East of Fife Railway and Coach, about 9.45 A.M. and 6.30 P.M., and are despatched at 5.40 A.M and 2.10 P.M. Letters from Anstruther arrive at 5.40 A.M. and 2.10 P.M., and are despatched at 9.45 A.M. and 6.30 P.M.
BAKERS.
Galloway, George, High Street
Grubb, John, Shore
Henderson, John, Jun., High Street
Nicholson, Charles, Shore
Tod, David, High Street
Tod, Mrs Helen, James Street
BANKS.
CLYDESDALE BANK, Charles Street. David Cook, Agent
NATIONAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, High Street. John Bowman, Agent
BLACKSMITHS.
Adamson, James, High Street
Peebles, Thomas, James Street
Redpath, Alexander, South Loan
BOAT OWNERS & SKIPPERS.
Anderson, Andrew, West Shore
Anderson, James, Jun., do
Anderson, John, do
Anderson, Thomas, do
Bowman, Fergus, do
Butter, James, do
Butter, Joseph, Jun., do
Butter, William, do
Duncan, John, do
Easson, John, Kiln Hough, East Shore
Heughes, Andrew, West Shore
Heughes, James, (Thomson) West Shore
Heughes, James, School Wynd
Heughes, John, West Shore
Heughes, Mitchell, East Shore
Heughes, William, do
Horsburgh, Lockhart, Water Wynd
Peat, Walter, East Shore
About 30 additional are Skippers during the Lammas Herring fishing.
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Bayne, John, High Street Brand, John, Shore
Brown, Robert, High Street
Gilchrist, Thomas, Charles Street
Heughes, John, High Street
Oswald, David, James Street
Tullis, Anstruther P., Marygate
Wilson, David, do
BUILDERS.
Gavine, David, Charles Street
Nicholson, Alexander, Cove Wynd
Wilson, Alexander, High Street
CARRIERS,
King, Andrew, from Crail, by Pittenweem, to Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh, &c., on Monday and Thursday, returning on Wednesday and Saturday
Lindsay, David, from Largo to Pittenweem, on Wednesday and Saturday
Taylor, Robert, from Crail to Pittenweem, on Tuesday and Friday
CARTERS & LAND LABOURERS.
Affleck, David, Marygate
Black, Mrs Allison, High Street
Dewar, William, South Loan
Dewar, Mrs Janet, do
Duff, James, do
Gray, William, Marygate
Honeyman, Alexander, High Street
Kidd, Robert, Charles Street
Lumsden, John, High Street
Money, Richard, James Street
Motion, James, Back Dykes
Paterson, Robert, Milton Road
Peat, William, Rotten Row
Ringan, Andrew, South Loan
Robertson, William, High Street
Scott, John, South Loan
Simpson, James, Kiln Heugh
CHINA, STONEWARE, & RAG MERCHANTS.
Dawson, Andrew, High Street
Laing, John, do
McGregor, Michael, do
Stewart, Hugh, Charles Street
Trainer, Mrs John, South Loan
CLERGY.
Crabb, James, A.M., Episcopal Church, Priory
Kerr, James Ralston, U. P. Church, Viewforth Place
Macfarlane, Patrick, Parish Church, Manse
Scott, John, Missionary, Scottish Coast Mission, East Shore
Stewart, Hugh, (Anstruther Independent Church) Charles Street
COACHES.
Marshall, Mrs, to Elie and Kilconquhar Railway Station, morning and afternoon, hours to suit the Railway Trains
Smith, Thomas, to St Andrews, daily in Summer, and three times a week in Winter. To Elie and Kilconquhar Station, forenoon and evening, hours to suit the Railway Trains
COAL MERCHANTS.
Anderson, Andrew, East Shore
Gay, William, Water Wynd
Innes, James, do
Jack, William, Marygate
Lumsden, John, High Street
Nimmo, Adam, Toll
DRAPERS.
Balsillie, John, High Street
Gilchrist, Thomas, do
DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.
Balfour, Miss Agnes, High Street
Briggs, Miss Catherine, (Milliner only) East Shore
Gordon, Miss Euphemia, (Milliner only) High Street
Oswald, Mrs James, James Street
Scott, Misses, Rotten Row
Tullis, Misses M., & E., Marygate
Turnbull, Miss Cecilia, High Street
FARMERS.
Balfour, David, James Street
Bayne, John, High Street
Jack, Alexander, James Street
Peat, James, High Street
White, Frederick, Coal Farm
FISHCURERS.
Brown, Robert, West Shore
Heughes, James, High Street
Honeyman, Alexander, do
Leckie, James D., Marygate
Leishman, Mrs, James Street
Purves, Thomas, East Shore
Swinton, James, James Street
Todd, John, West Shore
Welch, Brothers, Welch Row
Welch, David, Corseyheugh
Welch, James, East Shore
FLESHERS.
Anderson, Mitchell, High Street
Robertson, John, do
Tod & Gunn, do
GARDENERS.
Easson, William, (Jobbing) South Loan
Paterson, William, (Jobbing) Milton Villa
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Carstairs, Miss Isabella, Viewforth Place
Craig, Mrs Elspith, High Street
Cruickshank, Miss, High Street
Douglas, Misses, James Street
Fowler, Mrs David, Charles Street
Gosman, Mrs Alexander, do
Gosman, Mrs David, Viewforth Place
Horsburgh, Andrew, Esq., Prior's Gate
Hunter, Mr John M., (Retired ExcisOfficer) East Shore
Keay, Captain Thomas, James Street
Latto, Mrs, Maygate
Lees, William, Kirklatch
Lilburne, James, Esq., R.N., East Shore
Lyall, Mrs Catherine, James Street
Martin, Miss Ann, Milton Villa
Roger, Mrs Alexander, Viewforth Place
Rodger, Mr John, Charles Street
Simpson, Mrs James, James Street
Simpson, Robert, Esq., do
Swinton, Mr John, do
Taylor, Mrs, do
Taylor, Mr William, High Street
Tennant, Mr David, (Retired Teacher) James Street
Tosh, Joseph, Esq., Pittenweem Lodge
Wallace, Mrs David, Hermitage Cottage
White, Mrs, Viewforth Cottage
GROCERS.
Those marked thus* are also Spirit Dealers.
* Corstorphine, Mrs Joseph, West Shore
* Davidson, Mrs Thomas, High Street
Dingwall, Mrs Andrew, Marygate
*Duncan, Thomas, High Street
* Grubb, Robert, James Street
Hogg, Mrs Andrew, do
* Lees, Miss Agnes, Marygate
* Monteith, Mrs H. B., James Street
Taylor, Miss Margaret, Water Wynd
* Tosh, James, (&, Wines) High Street
*Wilkie, Alexander, do
INSURANCE AGENTS.
Bowman, John, Writer, Scottish National, fire and life
Gilchrist, Thomas, Draper, Caledonian, fire and life
Henderson, John, Tailor & Clothier, Royal, fire and life
Tosh, James, Merchant, Northern, fire and life
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
Those marked thus * are also Cabinet Makers.
*Adamson, James, Charles Street
Brown, William, do
Dawson, Andrew, High Street
*King, George, do
SHERIFF OFFICERS.
Begbie, James, Marygate
Tullis, Anstruther, P., (& Town Officer & Keeper of Town-Hall) Marygate
SHIPMASTERS.
Those marked thus * are also Owners. ,
* Anderson, Andrew, East Shore
Fowler, James, do
* Garvie, John, West Shore
Gay, William, Water Wynd
* Heughes, George, Cove Wynd
* Peebles, Philip, East Shore
Taylor, John, High Street
* Watson, James, Viewforth Place
* Watson, Robert, High Street
SHIPOWNERS.
Aitken, John, East Shore
Heughes, Andrew, West Shore
Smith, Robert, East Shore
Welsh, Brothers, Welch Row
Watson, Ebenezer, Viewforth Place
SHIP CHANDLERS.
Tosh, James, High Street
Wilkie, Alexander, do
SLATERS.
Williamson & Son, (& Plasterers) West Croft
Wilson, Thomas, High Street
SPIRIT DEALERS.
Doeg, George, West Shore
Gay, Mrs Philip, East Shore
TAILORS.
Brown, David, Water Wynd
Christie, James, Toll
Henderson, John, (& Clothier) High Street
Oswald, James, Charles Street
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Bayne, Miss Jane, Infant School, James Street
Fleming, Miss, Female Industrial School, James Street
Forgan, James, Adventure School, South Loan
Murray, Alexander, Parish School, James Street
Robertson, William, Burgh School, Charles Street
VINTNERS.
Balfour, Thomas, East Shore
Brown, Robert, James Street
Heughes, William, East Shore
Lumsden, John, High Street
Money, Richard, James Street
Morris, Mrs Margaret, West Shore
Peebles, George, High Street
Tullis, Mrs Alison, West Shore
WRITERS.
Bowman, John, (& Notary Public, and Town-Clerk, High Street
Cook, David, Charles Street
MISCELLANEOUS.
Bowman, George, Ropemaker, South Loan
Constable, William, Medical Practitioner, East Shore
Harris, Richard, Excise Officer, Marygate
Henderson, John, Gas Manager, High Street [
Lumsden, George, Clock & Watch-Maker, High Street
Marshall, Francis, Custom House Officer, Kiln Heugh
Murray, Alexander, Inspector of Poor, & Registrar, James Street
Paterson, Alexander, Teacher of Drawing, High Street
Pearson, John, Corn Proofer, James Street
Smith, William, Painter & Paper-Hanger, High Street
Sprunt, William, Tinsmith & Gasfitter, High Street
Tod, Mrs Janet, Stationer & Toy Dealer, South Loan
Turpie, James, Potato Merchant, and Agent for Hutchison, Brothers, & Co., Corn Merchants, High Street
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Bayne, Miss Jane, Infant School, James Street
Fleming, Miss, Female Industrial School, James Street
Forgan, James, Adventure School, South Loan
Murray, Alexander, Parish School, James Street
Robertson, William, Burgh School, Charles Street
VINTNERS.
Balfour, Thomas, East Shore
Brown, Robert, James Street
Heughes, William, East Shore
Lumsden, John, High Street
ADD
Anderson, John, Sailmaker, Tailors' Court
McGregor, Michael, China Merchant,
Smith, William, Baker, High Street
DELETE
Tod, David, Baker, High Street
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