1 "A WEE KEEK BACK" BY JIM CAMPBELL "CENTRAL AND WEST FIFE LOCAL HISTORY PRESERVATION" ("The Present Preserving the Past for the Future") --------------- 24 St Ronan’s Gardens – Crosshill – KY5 8BL – 01592-860051 [email protected] --------------- (Articles that appeared in local newspapers) TABLE OF CONTENTS WEAVER AND WEAVING IN FIFE. .........................................................................4 LIGHTING OF THE CROSSGATES...........................................................................8 STREETS.......................................................................................................................8 THE SCOTCH MINER. ..............................................................................................10 DEATH OF MR G.W.M. HENDERSON, ..................................................................12 OF FORDELL. ............................................................................................................12 TERRIBLE DISASTER AT ABERDOUR.................................................................14 Navvies’ Hut Destroyed by Fire – Three Men Burned to Death .................................14 BURNTISLAND RAILWAY. ....................................................................................21 THE “KINGDOM”OF FIFE........................................................................................24 ITS ENTERPRISE AND ITS NATURAL..................................................................24 RESOURCES ..............................................................................................................24 THE PROFITS OF HILL OF BEATH ........................................................................33 PUBLIC-HOUSE.........................................................................................................33 The Village Lit Up.......................................................................................................33 THE PARISH OF BEATH ..........................................................................................36 The Villages of Kelty, Oakfield,..................................................................................36 And Neighbourhood.....................................................................................................36 “A Wee Keek Back” 2 THE GREAT DUNFERMLINE FIRE ........................................................................42 OF 1624. ......................................................................................................................42 The City Completely Wrecked. ...................................................................................42 KELTY AND HILL OF BEATH ................................................................................45 PUBLIC-HOUSE EXPERIMENTS. ...........................................................................45 THE “MODEL VILLAGE” OF...................................................................................49 WEST FIFE. ................................................................................................................49 HALBEATH AND KINGSEAT .................................................................................51 COLLIERIES...............................................................................................................51 The Stoppage of Work.................................................................................................51 THE CLOSING OF KINGSEAT ................................................................................54 COLLIERY..................................................................................................................54 About 300 Workers Affected.......................................................................................54 THE PARISH OF BEATH. .........................................................................................56 How Football Was Once Played..................................................................................56 Interesting Old Church Document...............................................................................56 THE PARISH OF AUCHTERDERRAN. ...................................................................65 Its Rise And Progress...................................................................................................65 Glimpses Of The Mineral Development......................................................................65 THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK ....................................................................................77 AT LOCHORE. ...........................................................................................................77 Official Report By The Medical ..................................................................................77 Officer..........................................................................................................................77 THE TYPHIOD OUTBREAK ....................................................................................79 AT LOCHORE. ...........................................................................................................79 THE WAY AND WORK OF REFORM.....................................................................82 Cowdenbeath – No.1....................................................................................................82 VISIT TO THE AITKEN PIT .....................................................................................85 SATURDAY NIGHT IN COWDENBEATH. ............................................................89 “A Wee Keek Back” 3 PRESENTATION. It is gratifying to be able to state, as showing the respect and esteem in which he is held, that Alexander Westwater, letter-carrier between Lochgelly and Shawsmill, was lately presented by residents on the above postal route with a sum of money amounting to close upon £15 for the purpose of purchasing a pony and machine to enable him to discharge his duties more efficiently. The following statement appears on the subscription sheet – “We, the undersigned residents of the postal route, from Lochgelly to Shawsmill, by way of Ballingry, Auchterderran, Cardenden, and Dundonald, having taken into consideration the amount of travel thereby given to Alexander Westwater, the runner on this route, who has to go over this amount of ground measuring 18 miles or thereby on his going and returning to the head office at Lochgelly within almost an unreasonable space of time; hereby resolve to present the said Alexander Westwater, collectively with an amount large enough to put him in funds, wherewith to purchase a pony by which he will be enabled to distribute the correspondence coming to the above districts with more regularity – which will be a great boon to all, and without unduly pressing upon the faithful runner now on the journey.” The success with which the matter has been carried out is in a great measure due to Mr Stevenson, banker; Mr Kippen, schoolmaster, Ballingry; and Mr Terris, Manager, Westfield, these gentlemen having exerted themselves in the collection of subscriptions. February, 1874 “A Wee Keek Back” 4 WEAVER AND WEAVING IN FIFE. The handloom weaving at one time found a staple branch of industry in and around the village of Milnathort, and only as far back as 1873 about ninety hands were steadily employed at the shawl and wincey weaving, and good prices at that date were obtained. The trade being exceedingly brisk all hands received constant employment, and the average wage earned by the shawl weavers amounted to about 3s 10d a day. Previous to this time, however, the wages were much lower, but a rise of from 20 to 30 percent. took place when a table of prices was agreed to by the manufacturers and weavers delegates at Alva on the 6th March 1873. For some time this table of prices worked very well, but in November of last year trade became exceedingly dull, and a slashing deduction in the price took place, which brought the earnings back to their old level. The average wage at the present time amounts to 3s a day of 10 hours, but on account of the great dullness, which unfortunately prevails, the women are little more than half of the time employed. At present only sixty-two weavers are engaged in all the whole handloom weaving departments; of these fifty belong to the shawl trade, and the remaining twelve to the wincey and shirting branch. In the beginning of 1873 a union was formed in connection with the weaving trade in the district, which was styled “The Milnathort Weavers Branch Union.” But it is now, so far as membership is concerned, in very low water. The principal employers in the village are the firm of Messrs. Willet, Chapman, and Company, and Mr William Henderson. The handloom weaving trade is annually diminishing, and houses which were more made for shops about ten years ago are now being turned into dwelling-houses, which are principally occupied by the operatives engaged at the spinning mill and factory in the town. Strathmiglo. The handloom trade is generally dull at present and twenty-five hands are idle. There are signs, however, of a slight improvement which may cause some activity ere long. In 1873 about 200 weavers were employed, but at present the number is only 125. The average wages made in 1873 were from 15s to 18s a week, now the wages may correctly estimated at 10s to 12s per week. The principal manufacturer in the town is Mr Troup who also owns a large powerloom factory. Auchtermuchty. About ten years ago Auchtermuchty may have