HERITAGE GROUP August 2011

News from the Past Storm uncovers Historic Walk Balbirnie Coal Seam A reminder of Markinch’s coal mining past was uncovered recently Opened when a fallen tree revealed a seam of coal beside the Burn that runs through Balbirnie Park (see photo below). There were once many pits dotted across the Balbirnie estate and some of their lost names were recently preserved in the street names granted to a new housing estate. Coal mining using bell pits and open cast methods has a long history in Markinch . Some recent discoveries are examined more closely on page 10.

Some magnificent views have the proposed Core Paths been opened up with the clearing Network. It includes the long of an ancient cattle track east of overgrown Braes Loan with the Markinch beyond the railway Brunton Mill lands shown above. track. It can be accessed via the A potted history of the walk is set Cuinan Hill path and is part of out on page 8.

EARL’S LETTER GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO BUILDERS REPLACING CHURCH TOWER A letter dated 1806 from Alexander secure a naval post for her brother Leslie-Melville, Earl of Leven, has recently Charles. Lord Leven’s son, Lord Balgonie been uncovered that may help to explain at that time commanded a naval warship, why Markinch Parish Church tower has the Endymion. such an unusual shape. Described by Jane A few months after the Jane Austin Austin as a “tall gentlemanlike man with meeting, Lord Leven was sent drawings spectacles and rather deaf”, the Earl was a proposing a complete renovation of Whig Peer representing in the Markinch Kirk. He writes to the Kirk’s House of Lords. Jane Austin met him and Heritors as follows (continued on page 6) Lady Leven in in an attempt to

PAGE 1 QUIZ HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR PARISH? How many of these places are in Markinch Parish? The pictures are of Cameron House, East Football Ground, Thornton Clock, Fife House, and Bandon Castle. How many other parishes does Markinch Parish border? How many passenger rail stations does it now have? Is Markinch in Glenrothes or is Glenrothes in Markinch?

(answers on back page)

PAGE 2 MARKINCH VOLUNTEER MILITIA 1799 - 1802

(A WORK IN PROGRESS)

THE UNIFORM

Although in existence for such a short time, the Markinch Volunteer Militia has very deep roots within Scot- tish history of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Research is ongoing and the most complete part of the project, at this stage, is the uniform. The uniform is currently in freezer storage at museums be- cause of a moth infestation and should be available for viewing during the summer of 2012 when the Mark- inch Heritage Group hope to visit. The regiment was raised in 1799, under the command of John Balfour (1738- 1813), the 5th Laird of Balbirnie.

THE COATEE: The scarlet curved coatee shows four groups of two non fastening buttons on either side on the front. The faded blue/green collar and cuffs shows the cuffs being decorated with four buttons with one functioning button, the neck of the garment with two buttons and a central metallic braid. The button detail- ing continues around the back of the coatee, with the tails also having two groups of two buttons which end at the hem of the garment, outlining decorative stitch- ing. At the waist line above the central division of the back vent are two buttons divided by a stitched trian- gle. The coatee shows white short tails at thigh level with applied heart detail.

WAISTCOAT: It is made of cream coloured wool and has a short collar. The front has two pockets and ten button fastenings, marked Markinch Loyal Volunteers and crowned GR II. The back of the waistcoat is made from a natural coloured material with two ties mid to lower back which would ensure a good fit to the wearer.

3 THE PANTALOONS: These are narrow legged green trousers, have red edgings and two waist pockets, with three decorative metal buttons at the edge of each cuff. There are three further buttons at each side of the waist and two buttons either side of the front panel holding it in place. To the back of the trousers are central lac- ing holes. The pantaloons are partially lined in natural cotton.

THE SASH: This is described as being crocheted in red wool, with tas- selled ends. All members who heard the talk given by Major Proctor, MBE of the Museum in Perth, will remember that all sashes were coloured red because they doubled as bandages on the battlefield.

Other items of the uniform appearing on the Glasgow Museums Property List are, a tunic, a pair of black cot- ton spats and a helmet, for which no photographs are available at this time. A further helmet also survives in a private collection for which permission to print a photograph was not given.

Following more research, further articles on Markinch Volunteer Militia will appear in future newsletters. These articles will include The Acts of Parliament permitting Scotland to raise Militia Regiments, Muster and Oath of Allegiance Rolls, duties of Volunteer Militiamen and The Riots.

My thanks must go to Glasgow Museums for their kind permission to use their photographs and text, to Tracey Hawkins, Collections Research Assistant at Glasgow Museums for her help. I am also indebted to Richard from Fife Militia, Bruce Manson for sharing information, and to Neil Sutherland for his computing help and advice.

Maureen Brand

4 MORE FROM MARKINCH POET ROBERT TAYLOR For upon this said Water of Leven, There is not the like to be seen, For all kinds of work is carried on, The Last Newsletter contained a few extracts from By strong and great machines. Robert Taylor’s epic poem and we promised to bring you more There are seven spinning mills on it, from Markinch’s version of And Bleachfields there are six, William McGonagal. The There are two paper mills and a extracts are from the fifth snuff mill, edition of his poetry which gives Cameron Bridge and some idea of how widespread his betwixt. works were in the early part of the 19th century. There is also on the said Water, They were pulled together Lint-mills and corn-mills too, by four unnamed Markinch And flour mills upon the same, “savants” who included a satyrical Which I cannot number now Taylor’s journey then takes him to foreword on the Markinch baker the and then (via a description of Hattenburn Distill- turned poet. Taylor, however, had There is also an Iron Work, ery) to the evils of drink...... the last laugh because only his Carried on upon the same, name has come down to us in the And other things too tedious, The Whisky is as bad a thing, 21st century. Those who mocked This present time to name. him are long forgotten. As to this world e’er came; For it has proved the sad ruin, Robert Taylor was born And of this Water of Leven, Of many an honest man. around 1790 and died in 1838. As I now no more will say; the poem featured in the last But every one that comes this way, It is as bad a thing I think, Newsletter showed, he worked as Will see it as they pass by, a baker “close to Markinch As ever one did take; steeple”, probably in Bailie’s It ruins their bodies and their souls, And now I turn to another place, Wynd. And doth them beggars make. Which you will also see, His epic poem turns from And that is the Steeple of Markinch, bad times in Markinch to It is the worst thing I say, Which standeth very high. morality and then meanders into And every one doth hurt; a description of the local traders It bringeth them to misery, But I have heard some people say, before wandering off across And makes them sell their shirt. country to the banks of the At the bottom it is not sound, But it will never fall, I think, Leven...... The poem takes a detour to describe And now I turn to another thing, As long as Markinch is a town. all the birds and animals that Taylor Your attention to uptake; can think of before he arrives finally And that is about the Water of But the year eighteen hundred and at Perth. Leven, seven, It to some people much money do Was the year it was repaired, It finishes off with vivid description make And for it to fall, I hear people say, of the bridge over the Tay, not the They think there is no fear of it. ill-fated railway bridge of which McGonagal wrote, but the nine Betwixt Cameron Bridge and the arched bridge at Perth. Gullet Bridge, Of this steeple I’ll say no more, Not passing six miles in length, But it stands very high, Perhaps, many years later, McGona- And, indeed, it is a very great won- And there was never a place like gal picked up a copy of Taylor’s work der it, and thought “Fifth edition eh? I It is carried on by such strength. To strangers that pass by. could make money from that!”

5 EARL’S COMMENTS ON [.....] PLANS FOR KIRK The above (continued from page 1) remarks I Letter from Earl of Leven and have thought Melville to the heritors meet- it my duty to ing 1806 state. I am well sat- “The elevation is I believe isfied with the same as it now is with a what is in- new blue roof. Nothing can tended for the look more frightful but by a accommoda- few trifling alterations (if tion of my family within youʼre able) to the elevations project. They did, however, lock the church - but think that the it might be corrected. horns with the Pastons who turning into the vault is con- 1st by making a correspond- owned Brunton (later Barnslee) fined and awkward and I ing door (.....) may be very and this may be why the parish really do not know but is useful as I observe but 2 boundary was redrawn splitting there any reason for the door doors for the use of 1000 Brunton estate between Ken- of the entrance not being to persons noway and Markinch. The the left? 2nd By making a painted boundary stones can still be Hoping to hear from you af- oval or circular window over seen today and were featured in ter the meeting. the door between the two a previous newsletter. windows The heritors also contributed Your obedient Lord 3rd By making a cornish (sic) pro-rata to the minister’s sti- Leven & Melville” under the eaving of a proper pend and to his accommodation. dimension so as to give a full Other letters in the Leslie- HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE effect Melville Papers show that he The heritors decided upon a And last - let me add- how was dissatisfied with both. The spire plus a set of pinnacles (see much will the whole edifice manse roof leaked and neigh- illustration also showing circu- be improved by raising a bouring ministers were seem- lar window over door) but these spire on the tower or ingly paid more. The Scriptures were removed later in the cen- crowning it with pinnacles called upon him to show hospi- tury, perhaps as a result of pub- at the four corners tality but how could he do so lic disapproval of the overall Indeed it has long struck with such cramped accommoda- design. The resulting spire me as one of the most tion? And then there was the looks slightly undersized but loathed and disgraceful price of wine. “Was the com- does give Markinch Kirk a specimens of art, that ever mittee not aware that it has risen unique appearance. was sanctioned by the to £10 in 1807?” With the plans finally ap- gentlemen of taste com- We must presume that this was posing the Heritors of the proved, the battle began for per annum rather than per bot- Parish. space within the church. This tle, and that the supply was I have no objection to the was allocated to the tenants of wholly for communion pur- plan for the seating of the local heritors based upon the poses. church - it is perhaps as rental value of the landholding. commodious as the extent As principal heritors, the Leslie- Bruce Manson admits of,. Melvilles had a major say in the 6 19TH CENTURY PEWS ALLOCATED ACCORDING TO RENTAL AND RANK for by a group of tradesmen and merchants. The early 19th century plan indicates that there were two doors at that time at either side of the north facing wall. The minister probably These two plans how how entered through a door in the the layout of Markinch Parish south wall to the right of the Church changed during the 19th pulpit. century. Unfortunately there is There is an excellent no plan of the mid 18th century pamphlet available from the but we know from contemporary Above lef Plan dated around 1806 church session and the book by documents that there was once a Right A plan om later in the cen- Ian Gourlay and Ken Wilkie loft at the east end. It was paid tury showing extensive building tackles the subject in more works to the rear. depth.

HERITAGE GROUP EXHIBITION PANELS As part of the preparations for the Glenrothes Museum, Markinch Heritage Group prepared a set of four panels depicting the history of the parish. The panels were produced with the help of Celebrating Fife.

7 HISTORIC BRAES LOAN the cemetery mound at its story on the rivalry be- PATH OPENED Northhall, passes up the Cu- tween MacBeth and (continued from page1) inan path before cutting MacDuff, both real historical down between the old farms characters despite the fic- tional nature of Shakespeareʼs ac- count. MacDuff may well have had a cas- tle further down the stream where it joins the burn and another MacDuff stronghold may lie unexcavated close to the now demol- ished Brunton House.

The old Celtic church held lands in the area. Charters refer to Pittenhag- gles, a place mean- ing “share of the Church,” that is likely A cattle track and once popu- of Braes and Bowhouse to to have been close to lar walk near Markinch (see the old Brunton Mill at the Northhall. Church revenue above), overgrown for years foot of the hill. The mill land measured in cheese was re- has been cleared and re- is now covered in conifers corded from the farm of Breis opened. Mark Gibson took but once had a water lead (Braes) as early as the 12th the MHG committee round that ran parallel to the burn, century. A part of the old recently having helped clear two mill ponds, a drying kiln Braes farm as it existed in the path of fallen trees. The and some bleaching greens. the 17th century still exists historic Braes Loan runs It got its water supply from a and can be visited with a through the ancient estate of spring known as Samsonʼs short detour from the walk. “Brunton and Dalginch” and well that still produces water would once have served as a today. It returns to Markinch Dalginch (Northhall) was route for cattle being herded along the burn and across at the centre of a large early between the marshes around the Myres, once an exten- medieval estate that the burn and the estate sive loch. stretched along the north byres known as “Bowhouse” bank of the Leven from Cad- higher up the hill close to Dalginch was one of the ham in the west almost as where Dalginch Farm now most important places in far as Kennoway in the east. stands. Fife. People came from all It included the Loch of Bal- parts to receive judgement farg, now known as Star The route passes Fifeʼs probably from the Earl, chief Moss. It is most likely that it ancient assembly spot of of the Clan MacDuff. Shake- was owned originally by the Dalginch, now thought to be speareʼs play Macbeth bases MacDuff Earls of Fife and we have indications from a 12th

8 century charter that the Earl and the Wardlaws fell on re-establish a lost family of Fife was on a hawking ex- hard times and their land of pedigree. He renamed it pedition with the Earl of Hun- Brunton, Dalginch and Mark- Dalginch, conscious possibly tingdon, brother of King Wil- inch was bought by James that the name had an ancient liam the Lion. It was feued to Law, the Episcopalian and noble resonance. Sadly, knights of Norman stock, Bishop of Glasgow. His son the line of Arnot of Dalginch Ness of Dalginch and later must have found favour with lasted but a single genera- Sir William de Valoniis, (Val- Charles II because that tion. When his son died lance) probably in return for monarch formally granted without issue the land was military support to the Earl. him the barony of Dalginch split between close relatives along with the Burgh of William Glass and Thomas When the male line of the Markinch in 1673. The Law Arnot. East and West Dalg- Valoniis dynasty came to an family tenure, however, did inch was sold on yet again to end, one of the daughters, not last long as William of a Dr Towers and a Dr Pres- Christina married Andrew Orange, a new monarch with cott before being bought by Wardlaw. Their son went on a new religion swept away the Balfour family. They built to found Univer- the old order. The appointed a house close to the old sity. Christina later occupied Secretary of State for Scot- steading of Braes, using Brunton House with her sec- land was George Leslie- Bowhouse as outbuildings. ond husband James Cock- Melville and the land was al- They called the house Dalg- burn, a great favourite of the located to his second son inch after the landholding, King. Cockburnʼs son moved David. The Leslie-Melvilles, unaware that the original to nearby Treaton and the Earls of Leven chopped Dalginch lay, in all probabil- Wardlaw family took up resi- Markinch up into small strips ity, much closer to Markinch dence at Brunton. that were rented out to the beside the burn at Northhall. townsfolk but the fertile At this time Markinch was slopes of Brunton and Dalg- It is ironic that in the mod- a sub-Barony of Dalginch inch were cut into much ern era, a housing developer and was feued out to a line larger north-south landhold- has borrowed the name yet of knights who styled them- ings before being sold off on again, transporting it this selves Moultray, Lords of the national market. time to the far side of Mark- Markinch. The Moultrays inch where it has become a seem to have developed The strip including Brunton marketing name for a hous- coal mines as early as the which had once been a small ing estate at Balbirnie 15th century but may have piece of land surrounding the Bridge. been carrying on a tradition house, inside the much Bruce Manson of surface coal exploitation larger barony of that went back to the monks Dalginch was sold of the 12th century or even off and later came earlier. Northhall was ex- to be known as ploited for both coal and Barnslee. The strip sandstone and may once to the east of it was have been the source of the sold as Bowhouse. ashlar blocks used to con- It was bought up by struct St Drostanʼs church in an ambitious mem- the 12th century. ber of the Arnot family, a military After the Reformation, man who seems to both the Catholic Moultrays have been keen to

9 Evidence Surfaces of Medieval Coal Mining Park. On the east it was bounded by the The recent landslide that revealed a coal Markinch Burn with Brunton and Dalginch seam beside the Burn in Balbirnie Park re- barony on the other side. It is no surprise minds us the estate was once peppered with that the early Moultray charters mention small scale coal mines. These were all pro- ductive mines in the 19th century but do we have any evidence of even earlier activity? One early charter referring specifically to local coal is in Latin and dates from 1504 when Thomas Dickson, the Vicar of Mark- inch was involved in a dispute with Andrew Lundy of Balgonie, son of Isabel Sibbald over £17 11s 6d representing tithe revenue from the mines of Balgonie and Sythrum. By this time, coal production in Fife was in full swing and a few years later the historian Hector Boece writes about “the great quan- tity of black stone suitable for burning” be- ing mined. Limestone was also extracted at Sythrum. The Lundies had been granted the lands of Shythrum (Sythrum) and Cad- ham by the King in 1471 with a feu duty of Easter Markinch and Nether Markinch. How- “firm white limestone”. ever, they are also careful to mention what There is no early charter evidence for must have been “penticles” or outlying Markinch itself but it is clear that the Moul- pieces of land also in Moultray ownership. tray family, Lords of Markinch were, like their The location of Bichty is well known. Inchu- neighbours the Lundies, very much involved nie (mentioned in the Burgh Charter) has in mining activity. They had shares in both been identified with the land on which the Sythrum and and modern geologi- caravan park now stands. It would have cal maps show that an outcrop of surface been just over the Easter Markinch border coal ran through the core of their barony and worth a special mention. Coal has cer- centred on Easter or Kirk Markinch. The out- tainly been mined here and there was an In- crop stretched in a straight line from Bighty chunie Pit in the 19th century. The “six acres to Balbirnie caravan park, through old Mark- of Dalginch” seems to have been an old field inch and along Northhall Road to the ceme- unit on the left hand side of the Cuinan path, tery where it turned and continued to Newton slightly detached from Easter Markinch and returning in a loop through the Balbirnie es- in line with the coal outcrop before it loops tate. north and west. Pittenhaggles has long been In a charter of 1512, the King confirms that lost as a place name but may well have the barony comprised the lands of Easter been between the six acre field and Easter and Nether Markinch along with Bichty, In- Markinch, making all pieces of land contigu- chunie, Pittenhaggles, and six acres of Dalg- ous. This would locate it at what is now inch. Easter Markinch seems to have been called the “Green Wood” at Northhall on the bounded on the west by what is now the wall east side of the Burn but further evidence is of Balbirnie estate north of the Dixon Park required before we can be sure. gates, running south to the Leven along a Northhall was certainly a surface mining burn that once flowed along the edge of the area as well as a stone quarry. Waste coal

10 Evidence of Medieval Coal Mining in Markinch Parish (continued) was picked up here in living memory but the across the wall beside the tunnel. The pres- bulk of the accessible coal was probably ence of horses tail ferns is further evidence worked out long ago. This caused the occu- that coal mining waste once covered the pier of the land David Dewar to come up with land close to this spot. an imaginative plan in 1715. He set out, Itʼs worth a visit. along with his neighbour John Landel of Balbirnie Burns to channel Markinch Burn across the north side of the Playfields, giving it enough force to drive a pump that was designed to extract water from a pit located beside the stream (a similar engine from the estate is shown opposite, courtesy of Bill Fiet). The stream now passes under the railway line. The likely re- mains of this pit can still be seen at the far end of Northhall cemetery, just

IS COAL MINING MORE ANCIENT THAN WE THINK? ests of the Earl of Fife. Per- that the castle (which must haps part of its cain or reve- be built close to the original nue was in the form of coal. farmstead) is located directly There is a record of Simon on top of several outcrops of witnessing a charter on surface coal. It is also signifi- lands in distant Livingston cant that, apart from Dalg- belonging to Soutra Hospital inch, the only Gaelic names south of . Medie- in Markinch to survive into val monks and their technol- the later medieval period are ogy were highly mobile. Pittenhaggles, Schethum 13th Century Vicars Some years later, there is and Inchunie, all with signs haggle over Pittenhaggles charter evidence that the of early mining activity. The monks of the hospital held a presumably English- Early records suggest that share of coal revenue from speaking monks of the 13th Pittenhaggles in Markinch both Balgonie and Schethum century would have inherited was important to the church, (Sythrum). St Andrews Priory the land from their Gaelic being contested in the 1290s even owned a brewery in speaking predecessors, per- between Simon, Vicar of Markinch at that time! haps indicating an even ear- Markinch and the Vicar of lier use of coal in Markinch Kilgour near Falkland who Balgonie means “the farm of than had previously been was representing the inter- the Smiths” in Gaelic and it is assumed. clear from geological maps BM

11 MISS MAIDIE COOK

In August 2009 Markinch Heritage Group was contacted by a woman from Canada requesting in- formation about an artist from Markinch called Maidie Cook. She enclosed a copy of a recently dis- covered charcoal drawing of her grandmother done by Maidie Cook in about 1914. The sitter was Elizabeth Hay, a domestic servant whose parents worked on South Parks Farm. She married James Jack in 1914 and emigrated in 1926. She returned for a visit in 1959 and visited Maidie Cook. The connection between Miss Cook and Mrs Jack is not known. No other work by this artist has been found so if anyone knows of other works by her please let us know.

Following extensive enquiries I established that the artist was Miss Cook of Brunton, born Mary Emma Maidie in 1894. She was the daughter of Lt Col. Wal- ter Cook of the Indian Army (died 1947) and his wife Mary Cun- cliffe Simpson of Brunton (died 1935). She had a brother Cpt John Cook of the Nigerian Politi- cal Service (died 1937). The Simpsons had lived at Brunton for a number of generations. In its heyday Brunton house boasted some fine paintings and artefacts collected from world travel, espe- cially in India. There was a large walled garden, orchard and cro- quet lawn. They also are reputed to have had a town house in Lon- don. The Cooks were a very pleasant family. Maidie was an extremely intelligent and well educated woman, having been educated abroad, especially in France. Passenger Lists show the family travelled extensively. Her manner of dress was rather eccen- tric, with a long flowing cloak and a hat or scarf wound round her head. She always carried a bag or basket. As children we were rather afraid of her as she walked around the streets, believing her to be a witch. She was obviously an accomplished artist, as the drawing shows, because she would have just been about 20 when she drew the portrait. This may have explained her manner of dress. She was an early member of Glen-

12 rothes Art Club. She was also interested in music and was a Patron of Markinch Operatic Society having encouraged it from its early beginnings. She was a friend of Miss Graema Guthrie, the well known Markinch music teacher. She went to church every Sunday, sitting upstairs in the Brunton pew in St Drostans Church. She enjoyed her garden and grew both flowers and vegetables. In her

younger days she was a friendly person, and the lads from the Northhall area went to her for apples. She made friends with some of the women in Northhall and when she visited she would take along a bunch of flowers or a bag of apples. John Gourlay, one of our more senior residents, remembers being given sixpence when he made the weekly delivery of 5 gallons of paraffin on his bike from Ritchie’s Plumbers and Ironmongers. He believes that all cooking, heating and lighting was by par- affin at that time (1940’s). As she grew older she became more withdrawn and eventually was a vir- tual recluse. A local woman, Mrs Westwater, did what she could for her, but the property fell into decline and on her death was quite dilapidated. Brunton House had to be demolished. Maidie Cook died in 1972 aged 78 years. Her ashes are buried in the family grave in the Old Cemetery (Northhall).

I acknowledge the information gained from informal chats with the following residents of Mark- inch: Mr John Gourlay, Mrs Jean Welsh, Mr Jim Westwater, Mr Ian Thomson, Mrs Jean Rigden. The photograph of Brunton House is reproduced with the permission of Bill Fiet.

Mima Magna 16th July 2011

13 Last Minute News 2011/12 Calendar 252 Memorial Hall Betson Station Talks Underway St. 7.0pm (except June) Talks are underway with Network Rail and other potential fun- ders aimed at refurbishing the historic Markinch Railway Sta- updated details on tion. MHG, MEAG and the Community Council are working www.markinchheritage.org.uk together to rescue the station for community use. If you have any ideas, please get in touch.

Markinch Included in Successful Lomonds 22nd September 2011 Funding Bid Archaeology Evening Local organisations working in partnership have been awarded 6th October 2011 a significant boost to their campaign to protect, promote and Markinch Operatic Society enhance some of Fife’s most iconic landscapes. Ian Thomson A recent announcement by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) 27th October 2011 could see The Living Lomonds Landscape Partnership deliver Members Interests Evening (+AGM) lasting benefits to communities’ wildlife and conservation. HLF 3rd November 2011 has given a first-round pass to The Living Lomonds Landscape Alison Sheridan, Head of Prehistory Partnership which could result in a £1.8 million grant. The Partner- National Museums of Scotland ship has been given funding to help with the submission of a fully- 1st December 2011 developed application along with a Landscape Conservation Action The Work of the Stonemason Colin Sweeney Plan. Markinch Heritage Group will be working to collect historical information that will, it is to be hoped, ensure a successful final bid. 12th January 2012 Quiz Night

Actual projects that link the town to the Lomonds will follow. 2nd February 2012 The Tay Rail Bridge Disaster Stuart Morris of Balgonie Answers to Quiz : Q. 1 - all of them - except East Fife football stadium. However, had the team played 1st March 2012 there in 1890, it would have been within the Parish boundaries (although perhaps The Fife and Forfarshire Yeomanry on the beach). Innerleven or Dubbieside was a detached part of Markinch Parish Sir John Gilmour that was allocated to Wemyss Parish in 1891. In fact, an earlier team from the area 5th April 2012 (Cameron Bridge Football Team) played in the grounds of Cameron House in the late 1870s. (Speaker to be confirmed) Q. 2. The parish has eight other parishes surrounding it - Falkland, Kettle, Ken- 10th May 2012 noway, , Wemyss, and Dysart, Kinglassie and finally Leslie. Polish Evening, Q. 3 The parish has two passenger railway stations - Markinch and Thornton. Helena Szulakowska Q. 4 This is a slightly tongue-in-cheek question. Although there is now a Glen- 7th June 2012 rothes Parliamentary Constituency which includes Markinch town, it is also true Castle Talk that much of Glenrothes is in Markinch Parish. as the new town is now split be- tween Leslie, Markinch and Kinglassie Parishes. The Council debates take place Simon Taylor, Place-name Expert within Markinch Parish just as legal debates must have taken place at Dalginch, at Committee Dates (members the heart of what is now Markinch Parish, eight hundred years ago at least. welcome) 29/9/11, 24/11/11, 26/1/12, The parish boundaries are still used by the Registrar General for Scotland for 31/5/12, 28/6/12 statistical purposes as they provide a unique record of population change over the centuries. The same can not be said for the boundaries of Markinch Burgh or even Glenrothes which no longer have any legal or statistical Contributions to next significance. The modern parish linked to the kirk is reduced in size from the Newsletter official statistical unit. [email protected]

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