​

The conclusion to the 50 Objects project should have been reached this month but circumstances have dictated that this final story should be produced in two sections. It proved impossible, even with the best will in the world, to compress the amount of available material into one story. Over a year ago it was planned that the final object would be based around books which we often referred to and which we believe are worthy of inclusion as an object in their own right – after all each volume contributes to Kirkcaldy's story which has, from the very start, been the over-riding purpose of the project.  What we did not anticipate then was that the final object would have to be split into two parts. While creating more work it is only right that the project ends on as full a narrative as possible. Therefore the following is part one of The Final Story.

 

Throughout the project we have made use in particular of two books which have been invaluable for reference purposes. The first “Kirkcaldy Burgh Records” by Lachlan MacBean was published in 1909. The second “A Century of Progress – 1838-1938” was written by John Y. Lockhart and published in 1939. These have been invaluable in checking dates and names.

 

We have long championed Lachlan MacBean, the long-time Editor of the Fifeshire Advertiser as an outstanding contributor in researching and documenting Kirkcaldy's history. John Y. Lockhart followed with his research  into the century which saw a modest town, prior to the advent of  floorcloth, linoleum and the arrival of the railway, transform itself into an industrial powerhouse spreading its fame to the four corners of the globe. This Object sees the town through their eyes and is also intended as a tribute to their efforts and exertions in recording Kirkcaldy's history

 

MacBean was the first to publish a book on the town's history, although a  former Town Clerk, Alexander Gibson, had researched the Burgh records and published snippets in The Fifeshire Advertiser during 1872 – but they never  found their way into book form - with one exception. Gibson was the senior figure in the legal firm of Gibson, Spears and eventually Dow. Alexander Gibson and Roy Spears were for many years joint Town Clerks. In Gibson's 1880 obituary we learn that the proofs of his research had in fact been gathered together and bound into a book. It was presented to the town's Subscription Library for private reference. Unfortunately, a borrower  failed to return the volume and it was lost to posterity.  So, it was  MacBean and Lockhart who paved the way for those local historians who followed – notably William Beaton M.B.E., P.K. Livingstone and Duncan Glen. Each made a valuable written contribution which deserves to be highlighted.

 

MacBean's publication is  testimony to his  determination, devotion and love, for Kirkcaldy. It is impossible to gauge how many months or possibly years he devoted to research in order to produce his description of the ancient burgh, plus provide a historical timeline, and finally, extracts from original Council minutes. Given the sheer volume of material our subjective task was in selecting items which would  give a flavour of the content. We firmly believe that MacBean's – Kirkcaldy Burgh Records - remains the definitive record of Kirkcaldy's history! Lachlan MacBean  gave so much to Kirkcaldy apart from this book. His 1911, Caer Caledon, which was the subject of Object 25 remains an extraordinary work – a Pageant written by himself covering the history of the town from 500AD through to the beginning of the 19th century. The Pageant was performed in ten segments in Ravenscraig Park by 450 children and was the highlight of St. Peter's Episcopal Church centenary celebrations. MacBean was also the author of a definitive work on Kirkcaldy's tragic child poet – Pet Marjorie. It would appear without question if anyone had the ability to undertake this research it was Lachlan MacBean.

 

The intention of this object is to take the material and attempt to condense it into sufficient information to give a flavour of the writings without overwhelming the reader. The way forward was seen as summarising  the work into four sections with the opening section headed, Kirkcaldy – An Ancient Scottish Burgh, taking the reader from the Genesis of the town to the arrival of the tramcars. Well researched, well written, it covers every aspect of the town's life, the successes, the disasters and the mundane. The section is a masterful essay covering every element in some detail. We have remained true to MacBean's layout and his wording but for brevity abbreviation has been used which we hope has been achieved without detracting from the original.  

 

The second section which carries the heading, Annals of Kirkcaldy, is a timeline offering bullet points commencing in 1075 and ending in 1906. These provide a fascinating insight into Kirkcaldy's progress featuring the lumps and bumps along the way. Once again it would be impossible to mention every point made – they cover 30 pages with an average of around 20 items to each page. The beauty is that they are short, very easy to read and digest and, like Pringles, once you start it is not easy to stop. They are simply a potted history and to give context a random sample are shown below. They are simply picked at random to whet the appetite and each is no more or less important than others:-

 

1650 -  Scottish Reformation. Kirkcaldy Parish Church get a minister in place of the vicar.

 

1645 – Covenanting Army routed by Montrose at Kilsyth, the slaughter making over 200 widows in Kirkcaldy.

​

1651 – Charles II. Passed through Kirkcaldy on his way from Burntisland to Wemyss.

​

1664 – The Provost fined for brewing at home and thus escaping the tax on ale imposed to help the town.

​

1735 -  The Council appoints a guard of eight men to watch against burglars.

​

1897 – Victoria Viaduct to connect Kirkcaldy and Pathhead begun.

 

The full narrative gives many more examples but even then they are but a fraction of the original. The next section is an interesting one in that it gives statistics on the town's growth in population stretching back to  1614 when the Burgh and Parish including Abbotshall came to 4,000 souls. When the book was published the figure of 30,000 was quoted for the KirkcaldyMunicipal Burgh.

 

The section also contained a list of the Provosts from the first appointment in 1658 of Robert Whyte to the Laird of Raith – Ronald Crauford Munro Ferguson's appointment in 1906.

 

The section is rounded off  by another list – this time of Kirkcaldy's Representatives in Parliaments and Conventions. The list is headed by those who attended the Convention of Scottish Royal Burghs in 1574 – William Lamb and John Halkett. The list ends with the election of J.H. Dalziel as the Member of Parliament in 1892. Dalziel went on to serve for 29 years until ill-health led to his retiral. In 1917 to celebrate his 25 years in office he was granted the Freedom of the Burgh (Object 11 – The Freedom of the Burgh). When he was first elected he was only 23 years of age and in his time in Parliament he saw 7 Prime Ministers come and go. In 1923 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dalziel of Kirkcaldy. As he had no children the title died with him.

 

The final section contains extracts from the Council's minutes providing greater detail  on the  events which shaped the town. Not surprisingly the title is Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Kirkcaldy and they commence in the 1560s. Much of the early material tries and tests the patience as it is written in old Scots and considerable time was spent in checking the meaning and understanding of the various words. In fairness, as time passes the language becomes far easier to read and understand. Coming directly from the Burgh Records the material can be taken as being accurate. Once again reading the various entries is fascinating but the full narrative only carries sufficient to try and give a flavour. To whet the appetite again a number of entries are shown below:-

 

1669 – Appoynts the solemnitie  of the 29 Maii to be keiped at the croce that day, and bonfyres according to the accustomed manner, and intimatione thereof to be maid to the inhabitants. The King is having a birthday and a celebration will be had at the Cross where a bonfire will be lit in the accustomed manner. The Town Crier is to notify the inhabitants.

 

1679 – Resolved that there shall be ane gaird keiped this night and heirefter, ay, and quhill the present commossion be quieted, by the insurrection of some rebels in the western shires;and to that effect ordaines threttie men to be nytlie, and to enter at aught hours at nyt, and to com off at four in the morning – The Covenanters are causing problems and a guard is to be mounted until the troubles end. Thirty men are to be on duty from 8 o'clock until 4 in the morning.
 

1734 – It being proposed to pull down the Cross and have a public well there, the Council recommends that John Brymer to enquire anent the expenses of bringing a lead pipe from the School well and Manse well to the Cross. It is intended to pull down the old Market Cross in the High Street and replace it with a well. John Bremner is to enquire about the cost of a lead pipe to carry water from the school and manse wells to the High Street. Not a great distance and all down hill via Kirk Wynd.

 

The book itself was not written in an academic style, rather being an uncomplicated read  tracing the town's history in a compact and enjoyable manner. The Kirkcaldy Burgh Records is not a stuffy tome – it was/is a light read and beyond shadow of doubt it can be used to very quickly become conversant with the town's history no matter how superficially or deeply you wish to enquire. It has a broader reach than the writers who followed – they tended to cover a far narrower period.

 

The full narrative covers the essentials of Kirkcaldy's past, quickly becoming compelling reading - a tribute to MacBean's journalistic skills. Little has been added, with the majority of the abbreviated content  being in MacBean's own words. The final segment, featuring the works of the authors mentioned previously will follow in October but meantime you can test your skills in deciphering old Scots while reading of; harbours, burgesses, plagues, turmoil, civil wars, Covenanters, middens, muck, the  church, and all else which contributed to Kirkcaldy's rich history.

 

We hope that readers will take the opportunity of moving to the full story which contains some visuals which can be reached from the icon on this page.