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In what is effectively Object 54, we examine an Order, once a major force in the Kirkcaldy area, but now almost forgotten. Tangible evidence of its existence and achievements are found in armorials displayed on tenement blocks in Anderson Street and Balfour Street. As the story unfolds, it becomes hardly credible to accept that there is nothing tangible written on the history of the Order in Kirkcaldy.

 

Although thoroughly enjoyable, almost every word researched and written came as a result of painstaking fact finding by trawling through old newspapers. However, one vital piece of luck came our way. That was via, Mrs Irene Gilbert, whose husband's great grandfather had been heavily involved in the Order. Irene provided us with some historic material but, more importantly, photographs of some of the movement's important local figures. Without question, that material had added some gloss to narrative and, consequently, the team are very appreciative.

 

The Free Gardeners were founded in Scotland, as a friendly society, initially amongst gardeners and horticulturalists, sharing trade knowledge and offering mutual support. Lodges were active in Haddington in 1676 and Dunfermline by 1715. There were three additional lodges formed in 1796, which brought the Scottish strength up to 5, as the dawn of the 19th century approached. There is absolutely no doubt that this Society's roots were firmly planted in Scotland before gradually spreading both nationally and internationally.

 

While this broader Order existed for nearly two centuries it was the 1849 formal establishment of the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Order of Gardeners in Scotland which launched the consolidation and expansion of its mutual aid and insurance functions into other industries. While this 1849 event took place in Alloa, at a time when there were 20 branches in Scotland – without question, Edinburgh soon became the movement's centre. In 1851, a grand ball was held in the Music Rooms in George Street. It can be safely assumed that the attendees would be gentlemen and their ladies if the description of the flowing elegant dresses and Brethren's attire is accepted.

 

As the years passed, the movement advanced from the province of primarily landowners and gardeners, metamorphosing into a mutual help society, aimed essentially at the working classes. That said, in Kirkcaldy, Major John T. Oswald was a member as well as James H. Dalziel – the erstwhile M.P. for Kirkcaldy Burghs from 1892 until 1921. Neither would have any need of the benefits the Order had on offer but certainly John Oswald was a major figure during the embryonic stages. What must never be lost is that the organisation was, first and foremost, intended for membership by the working classes but, more importantly, being run by the elected members.

 

Some very able men, in the days prior to working people having a platform, showed their mettle during the years the movement was active in Kirkcaldy. There appears to have been no silver-spooned guiding hands.

 

The setting up of the Order in 1676 meant that it was not urban based and so could not form itself into a Guild. Instead, to a large extent, it was based on the workings of the Masonic Orders. It is fair to say that the goals of both organisations were similar – brotherhood, self-improvement and mutual aid.

 

The Order came to Kirkcaldy in 1877 with the formation of two lodges in the same year - the Blooming Heather was first, closely followed, in Gallatown, by the Lily Lodge. The names of each lodge were normally loosely connected to the names of flowers, shrubs and trees.

 

The Dundee Courier of the 26th June 1877 gave some coverage of the formation meeting of the Blooming Heather with the names of the office-bearers being mentioned. The full story discloses these names and readers may well spot some they recognise. The report made no mention of the venue but we soon learned that the meeting place used most frequently was the Burleigh Street Hall – long gone.

 

Less than 4 months later, the same newspaper reported on the formation of the Lily Lodge where Gallatown Public School was both the initial venue and the meeting place of choice. The first Master was John McKinnon who went on to give exceptional service to the Order at every level. 

 

In the following year, Pathhead formed the Scotch Thistle Lodge with the initiation ceremony taking place in Pathhead Public School. The Fifeshire Advertiser, being a local paper, carried a comprehensive report on the event and once again the office-bearers are listed in the full narrative. One of these was Robert Chrystal who may well be considered one of the outstanding servants to the Order. He gave over a quarter of a century's service in many senior positions. His son followed him, but, sadly, his life was cut short before he could firmly establish himself on the national stage. 

 

In the space of two years, Kirkcaldy had gone from having no connection to a position where three lodges existed in the town. While each operated independently of one other, the following year, 1879, saw the formation of an over-arching Kirkcaldy District Lodge which offered guidance and support to the three lodges. As well as holding their own meetings, the individual lodges elected representatives to sit on the District Lodge Board. In essence, the District was the sum of the parts and while three lodges seems manageable what eventually happened took that a stage further.

 

Firstly, in 1880, Dysart formed a lodge which was christened – the Tree of Dysart, where meetings seem to have alternated between the North and South Public Schools. Keep in mind that although The Tree of Dysart was part of the Kirkcaldy District – Dysart itself only merged with Kirkcaldy in 1930.

 

So, what was the primary function of these lodges? Their over-riding objective was mutual self-protection against the potential consequences which could stem from periods of sickness or accident and death.

 

Once membership was paid, there followed a modest weekly contribution, determined by age, which typically offered, as benefits:-

 

•  The payment of a weekly sum whilst ill or incapacitated.

 

•  The cost of medical assistance and medicines.

 

•  A funeral allowance covering the member, their spouse and children. The death of a member saw £10 being paid. A member's wife dying saw £5 being paid. A child dying prior to the age of 18 saw £1.10/- as the level of benefit.

 

•  Whilst the member was incapacitated, his weekly contribution was met by the lodge.

 

It has to be kept in mind that these were not benefits which would normally be provided by the State or the employer. There was no national insurance – there was no welfare state – all that existed were the Poor Laws and charity. These societies offered a way, albeit at a cost, of protecting members from the effects of draconian consequences if they fell on hard times.

 

One of the highlights of those early years was an annual procession/picnic with Lodge members marching through the streets of Kirkcaldy, bands playing and banners waving. The destination always being Dunnikier Park where games, sports and dancing were enjoyed. The venue probably explains why J.T. Oswald was an honorary member. The full narrative brings a number of these events to light using the newspaper reports of the time. It also demonstrates just how far people were prepared to walk prior to the introduction of public transport. One year, the procession started in Gallatown – marched to the West Bridge in the Links and then to Dunnikier Park – astonishing.

 

The Order of Free Gardeners was only one of a number of fraternal societies which came into being locally but, certainly, Kirkcaldy District quickly became a numeric and financial stronghold. The district was geographically diverse covering areas including Alloa, Perth, Cowdenbeath and Burntisland. In 1900, there were 23 lodges contained in the Kirkcaldy District and as a random small sample included:-

 

•         Rossend Castle – Burntisland

•         Rothes Oak – Leslie

•         Pine Apple –  Dundee

•         Devon Lily – Alva

•         St. Leonards –Kinghorn

•         Honeysuckle – Perth

 

As previously mentioned the work of the Kirkcaldy District must have multiplied as more lodges came into being. It also testifies, via the number of lodges and individual member numbers, just how significant a player Kirkcaldy was within the organisation. Again at the risk of repetition, its size, and apparent importance, offered many of its office bearers opportunities at a national level.

 

It was a feather in the town's cap that, between 1884 and 1975, six National Conferences were hosted by Kirkcaldy. The full story covers each of these events in some detail. Once more, they are evidence to supplement Kirkcaldy's position in the pecking order of the organisation. In 1884, the year of the first conference there were 60 lodges and 10,000 members in Scotland. In 1904 there were 1,500 members in Kirkcaldy burgh alone.

 

Not only providing working people with insurance, the Order built over 100 homes in Kirkcaldy. The Scotch Thistle Lodge built properties in Anderson Street and the Tree of Dysart in Berwick Place. Sadly, the Berwick Place properties were demolished in the 1970s to make way for new council homes. As far as can be ascertained – all the other properties still stand. On top of two individual lodges investing their surplus funds in property – the District was no slouch in these ventures. 

 

The District collated surplus funds from contributing Lodges and then constructed properties in Balfour Street, Meldrum Road and Balsusney Road. Part of the cumulative rental income provided a significant dividend payment to the subscribing Lodges. Plans of many of the tenement blocks were unearthed, thanks to the On-Fife Archives in Glenrothes, and some are included in the full story.

 

This remarkable Order was eventually hindered and handicapped by the passing of the National Insurance Act of 1911 and the foundation of the Welfare State in 1947 – which all but removed the very reason for their existence – almost at a stroke. Over time as the houses became vacant they were sold and ultimately the Order was disbanded in Kirkcaldy in 1981.

 

Gone or not, make no mistake, this was an extraordinary self-help organisation, organised by the working classes for the working classes which kept many from the abyss during difficult times.

 

There has not been an Object which cries out more for the reader to venture into the full story than this one. It can be reached from the icon on this page. It is simply not possible to condense this story without losing much of the Order's impact.  It is packed with details, numbers, statistics and most importantly names – some of whom well deserve their moment in the light. The narrative is augmented by newspaper snippets, housing plans and above all, thanks to Irene Nisbet, photographs of some of the major players.

 

This is the story of working people banding together to give themselves the opportunity of a better and financially safer tomorrow. This town needs working class heroes to cement its industrial past and they are here in abundance. Whilst not an exclusive list, a Roll of Honour should certainly include the following: - Robert Chrystal, John McKinnon, Roger Henderson, John Leslie, George Wright and William Clark.

 

How can this narrative finish other than by questioning how the British Order of Ancient Free Gardeners in Kirkcaldy has simply fallen off a cliff? It vanished despite its history, its importance and its achievements, almost without leaving a trace. How can we be left with only two armorials to show it ever existed?

 

Please read their exceptional story - you will not be disappointed.