History of Kirkcaldy

Kirkcaldy (Scottish Gaelic: Cathair Chaladinn is a former royal burgh cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = Kirkcaldy Remembered, 2nd edition
publisher = Nonsuch Publishing Ltd
year = 2007
isbn = 9781845883867 ] and apparently one of Scotland's oldest burgh of baronys which was granted during the mid-13th century. cite book
author = Torrie and Coleman
title = Historic Kirkcaldy, the Scottish burgh survey
publisher = Historic Scotland
year = 1995
isbn = 1898218382] The area surrounding the modern townmay have been used as a funerary landscape with discovery of eleven Bronze Age cist burials, overlooking the leaning sandy bay as early as 2,500 BC and 500 BC. cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration
publisher = The Francis Firth Collection
year = 2005
isbn = 101845677498] Nonetheless, the town's history begins as a villa in the 12th century with the modern name being adopted in the 14th century. Textiles, nail making, and salt panning were among the town's early industries, before linen production became established.cite book
last = Lamont-Brown
first = Raymond
title = Fife in History and Legend
publisher = John Donald Publishing
year = 2002
isbn = 0859765679 ] cite book
edited = Donald Omand
title = The Fife Book
publisher = Birlinn Publishing Ltd
year = 2000
isbn = 1841582743 ] Although Kirkcaldy benefitted greatly from the Industrial Revolution such as coal, iron and malt it was the production of linoleum - developed from floorcloth but inspired by flax - which made the town famous from the early 20th century.

Early history

One of the earliest records of the town's history is the Battle of Raith in 596 AD, which saw the Angles fighting an alliance under King Áedán mac Gabráin of Dál Riata. The meaning of the name "Kirkcaldy" is unknown but many claim in relation to previous spellings of the town as "Kirkaladunt" and Kirkaladin" as well as the names of the once nearby settlements of "Dunnikier" and "Raith" it may be relating to a "fort on a hard hill". Nevertheless, the name may have also come from the gaelic to mean "Church of the Culdees" or "Sons of God" in relation to the small Culdeen church which existed on or the near the site of the modern Old Parish Church.

However, the roots of the town can be traced back to the end of the 11th century, when Malcolm II made a purchase for "the shire of Kirkaladunt" - the name believed to come from "Caer Calledonii" to mean "castle of the caledonians" - from the crowns to be gifted to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey as a means for aid to help maintain the funding of the church.cite book
author = Wemyss Environmental Educational Centre
title = Kirkcaldy Town House
year = 1990
isbn = 1870275284 ] The residents paid annual revenues to the abbey on a regular basis until this ceased in the mid-15th century. Kirkcaldy became independent from the abbey, when feu-ferme status was granted, with the burgh now able to deal with administration and fiscal policies.cite book
last = Lamont-Brown
first = Raymond
title = Fife in History and Legend
publisher = John Donald Publishing
year = 2002
isbn = 0859765679] cite book
last = Eunson
first = Eric
title = Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West
publisher = The Stenlake Publishing
year = 1998
isbn = 184033052X] cite book
last = Pearson
first = John M.
title = Around Kirkcaldy, 1st edition
publisher = Levenmouth Printers
year = 1993
isbn = 0951913433 ] cite book
last = MacBean
first = L.
title = Kirkcaldy Burgh Records
publisher = The Fifeshire Herald
year = 1905]

Two charters for what became known as the "schyre of Kircalethin" and "schire of Kirkcaladinit" were devised in 1128 and 1130 by David II on behalf of his father, but the location of the town and shire was not indicated.Kirkcaldy was acknowledged as a "villa", according to records, during the 12th century. However, the first mention of the modern town name was not made until 1304, when the abbot and covenant of Dunfermline was in a discussion with King Edward I, to advise him to bring a market, along with a fair—the basis of the modern Links Market—to the area. Burgh of barony status was granted by Robert I between 1315 and 1328, under the control of the abbey.Kirkcaldy therefore now had the right to trade with the Low Countries, the Baltic states, England, and Northern France for the first time, alongside fellow east coast settlements such as St Andrews, Crail, Inverkeithing and Kinghorn, whilst playing a part to boost Scotland’s economy. The late 14th century saw David II request a regality charter for Kirkcaldy and nearby hinterland from Dunfermline Abbey for trading purposes within the boundary.

Growth and development

Kirkcaldy, unlike most Scottish towns, had no stone wall. The town, instead relied on the sea acting as a shelter, which still could have left the town vulnerable to attack. The construction of Ravenscraig Castle lowered the risk, with the process of small walls or "heid dykes" built on rigs to the west of the High Street. The majority of the dykes contained small gates for the benefit of the town crofts and burgesses, who were responsible for their protection and maintenance. Three main gates became the focus point of the burgh, which were situated in East Port, West Port and near the Old Kirk on Kirk Wynd.Kirkcaldy harbour was acknowledged for having "a sheltered cove round the East Burn"—thus giving easy accessibility for boats.cite book
last = Pride
first = Glen L.
title = The Kingdom of Fife
publisher = The Rutland Press
page = Pages 51-53
year = 1999
isbn = 1873190492 ] By the early 16th century, the vessels of the harbour had began to do Baltic trade—later dealing with the import of grain in 1618 and continental beer in 1625. A shipbuilding trade also existed on the site until this was phased out temporarily in 1645.The success led to the growth of the burgh, surrounding the harbour, Main Street and Tiel (West) burn, commented on by Thomas Carlyle. During his stay he described the town as being:

Royal burgh status was dodged by the loss of the charter, noted in the conventions of royal burghs in 1582, although it is known the ceremony did take place in 1450.cite book
title = Encyclopedia Britannia, 15th edition
publisher = Encyclopedia Britannia
page = Page 889 ] However, it is noteworthy that Charles II granted Kirkcaldy royal burgh status in 1644, leaving 9 acres of land to the town - the remains of which now form Volunteers Green.

Although difficult times ahead threatened to beset the development of the town, local support for the Covenanting War (1644–65) led to the death of 200 men.cite book
first = Eunson
last = Eric
title = Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy
publisher = Stenlake Publishing
year = 1998
isbn = 1840330511] Later in the civil wars, during the mid–17th century, Oliver Cromwell’s troops came to the town to seek riches and nearly destroyed the town. The burgh wasalso deeply affected by the Highland Jacobite rebellion invading the town on two occasions during the 18th century on 1715 and again in 1745–46.

Afterwards, Kirkcaldy steadily grew again, providing a home for leather making; a brick and tile works; a spinning cotton mill and the first power spinning mill and linen factories in Fife. The shipbuilding industry was also resurrected which, by the end of the century, had built 26 square riggers in total, one sloop and two ferries. Construction of a turnpike road from the Pettycur ferry to Cupar and beyond was submitted in 1790 which, while only being a piece to improve Fife’s isolated road system, also helped to strength Kirkcaldy’s position in Fife.

Industrial Revolution

As Kirkcaldy bowed into the 19th century, the arrival of the railway saw the town develop into an industrial powerhouse - reviving the use of Kirkcaldy port, which had a severe setback during the mid–17th century. The harbour was catering for the growing trade of imports of flax, timber and hemp and exports of coal, salt and linen cloth, when a decision was made to build a new wet dock and pier from 1843–46. The subsequent demands for linoleum and coal led to a further extension from 1906–08 in the form of an inner dock.

Kirkcaldy became a centre for both iron founding and linen manufacturing - specialising in coarser material (i.e sail cloth) Although when the market for sail cloth started to dip, Michael Nairn for instance began to focus more towards floorcloth, which he started to produce in his new purpose built Scottish floorboard factory at Pathhead Sands, famously nicknamed "Nairn’s folly" for what would become universally known as linoleum.cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = Kirkcaldy's famous folk: Volume 3
year = 2000
isbn = 0946294240]

Linoleum was first introduced by the Scottish Linoleum Company (later Barry, Ostlere and Shepherd), thanks to the expired patent of Frederick Walton in 1877. Nevertheless, Nairn's quickly got involved by 1881. The cloth made from cork, wood flour and linseed oil, saw production conicide with the jute mills of Dundee - with some already present in the town, particularly the West Bridges Mill in Sinclairtown. However, the popularity of the cloth did not occur until the 20th century, which became Kirkcaldy's most famous industry. Other industries such as coal, pottery, flour, malt, printing, light electrical engineering and even furniture manufacturing flourished. Carpets were also made here in the town for a brief time by the firm Victoria Carpets until they moved their production to Kidderminster in 1901. cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = Back O' The Toon
year = 1999
isbn = 0946294143] Approaching the climax of the 19th century saw the burghs of Pathhead, Linktown, Gallatown and Sinclairtown officially merge into the royal burgh of Kirkcaldy in 1876. The conjured population now stood at 20,000, which by the 1891 census, grew to nearly 30,000, making this now the largest place in Fife, in terms of population.Many of the industrial figures later became philanthropists, particularly Michael Beveridge and Michael Nairn’s two sons, Michael Barker and John, bequeathing land for public and commercial use, over the course of several decades, as a good deed to the citizens of Kirkcaldy.

During the 20th century, the town saw many changes, with the production of both pottery and salt panning drawing to a close ; the development of the esplanade cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = High Street: Port Brae to Nicol Street
year = 2007
isbn = 0946294240] ; the first council houses and most significant was the merging of the town’s fellow neighbour, Dysart in 1930 Two further expansions followed in 1939–50 to include Boreland and the latter being Chapel Village to the West and Begg Moss Plantation to the north.cite book
author = Royal Burgh of Kirkcaldy County Council
title = Royal Burgh of Kirkcaldy: Development Plan
year = 1952]

Post-War development

A housing crisis arose in the town at the end of the Second World War. New residential estates (Templehall and Sauchenbush) and private housing (Raith, Muttonhall, re-development of town centre areas) were conceived on B class farm land to the north west of the town, a result of the Kirkcaldy development plan in 1952. New primary schools sites were sought after, along with the re-location of Kirkcaldy High School; a new roman catholic high school and a junior secondary, which was to become known as Balwearie.

During the decade, Kirkcaldy also saw the construction of a new hospital on the site of the Fever hospital, and a sanatorium to replace the cramped facilities of the cottage hospital.cite web |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17700 |title=Kirkcaldy's history, Fife Free Press Retrieved on 22 June 2008 ] cite web |url=http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/wastemin/initiatives/east/reap/case_studies/fife_acute_hospitals.pdf |title=Fife Acute Hospital Trust Retrieved on 23 June 2008 ]

The population of the town, was now close to 50,000. There was an indication that this may increase to between 55,000 and 60,000 by 1970—however this never materialised. The town's once proud industries began to decline, with the closure of the linoleum firm, Barry, Ostlere and Shepherd, shocking the town in particular. To try to combat this, deep mining was commissioned at Seafield in 1954 by the National Coal Board to help reduce the impact of job losses, it later closed in 1988, after a tug of war between the National Union of Mineworkers and the Conservative Government. Kirkcaldy harbour, which had once been vital to the town’s well being, suffered its own fate when it was closed permanently in 1992 to main traffic. The harbour is still in use, but only small boats are permitted nowadays.

Today

There are still links to distinguish Kirkcaldy's former past. For example, a reference to the aura of the linseed oil—which produced a "queer–like smell"—used to make linoleum, is acknowledged in the poem, "boy on a train" by MC Smith.cite book
author = Kirkcaldy Civic Society
title = Kirkcaldy Town Centre Walkabout
year = 2000
isbn = 0946294232] The two most-famous lines are:

quote|for I ken mysel' by the queer-like smell,
that the next stop’s KirkcaddyLamont-Brown "Fife in History and Legend" 2002, p.145.] Civic Society "Kirkcaldy: A History and Legend 2005, p.80.]

This can be seen on a sheet of linoleum in the waiting room of the south platform of Kirkcaldy Railway Station, which was donated by Forbo Nairn.

Kirkcaldy continues to function as a busy town with many bus and road routes, modernised secondary schools; with two campuses of the Adam Smith College and prime shopping facilities in the town centre and Sinclairtown. The long running tradition of the links market—commonly known as "Europe's longest street fair"*mdash;remains popular, despite being locally known as a week of wild and windy weather, when it comes around every Easter. The construction of a retail and business park, to the north–west of the town centre has also opened in the last decade, as well as the town being a site for recent housing developments in Seafield, Chapel and the harbour.cite web |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_TownCentreFootfallFinalReportOct2006.doc |title=Fife Town Centre footfall report Retrieved on 9 August 2008] ">cite web |url=http://www.learningkingdom.org.uk/kirkcaldy/Kirkcaldy%20CLD%20Plan.doc |title=Kirkcaldy and Cardenden Area (2005-2007) Retrieved on 9 August 2008 ] More housing developments are being anticipated over the course of the next 20 years, which will see 1700 homes to the east, in use as open cast mines at present, and another 1200 homes to the south–east, overlooking the former A92, known locally as the Quarry Road. [ Scoon, Tayne (2007) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Plan-forecasts-good-things-for.894904.jp] "PLAN FORECASTS GOOD THINGS", "Fife Free Press" Retrieved on June 19 2008] [ (2005) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/The-train-now-departing-Kirkcaldy.980210.jp] "THE TRAIN NOW DEPARTING" "Fife Free Press" Retrieved on June 19 2008] [ [http://www.kingsbarnslinks.com/info/planning/draftstructureplan.pdf] "Kingsbarnslinks, p11" Retrieved on June 19 2008 ]

Fife Council, has recently pledged to invest financial support for the town, citing the “top eight priorities” which will include: starting up the delayed hovercraft service to Portobello; replacing the 89-year-old sea wall and building a new secondary school for the east of Kirkcaldy.cite news
year = 2008
title= Council delivers election pledge
publisher = Fife Free Press
pages = 1
date = 19th June 2008]

References

External Links

* [http://www.kirkcaldycivicsociety.co.uk Kirkcaldy Civic Society]
* [http://www.thefifepost.com The Fife Post]