Kirkcaldy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kirkcaldy | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | NT275915 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 46,912 |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | Fife |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Fife Constabulary |
| Lieutenancy area: | Fife |
| Former county: | Fife |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | KIRKCALDY |
| Postal district: | KY1, KY2 |
| Dialling code: | 01592 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | Kirkcaldy Mid Scotland and Fife |
| UK Parliament: | Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
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Kirkcaldy (pronounced kir-kawdy) is the largest town in Fife, Scotland. Its population as of the 2001 Census is 46,912[1]. Kirkcaldy is known as The Lang Toun (Long Town) in Scots. The name 'The Lang Toun' derives from the proximity of these burghs and villages to Kirkcaldy and the subsequent spread of the town along the shores of the River Forth. Not to be confused with Auchterarder - known as "The Lang Toon".
The town lies on the north bank of the Firth of Forth. The former burghs of Dysart, Linktown and Pathhead, and the villages of Sinclairtown and Gallatown are now incorporated into Kirkcaldy.
Kirkcaldy's size reflects its historical importance as the largest East Coast settlement between Edinburgh and Dundee, on a sheltered Firth of Forth, giving it for many years a very large fishing fleet, with a hinterland of some of Scotland's richest farmland and mineral wealth in coal.
Kirkcaldy was famous throughout much of the 19th and 20th Centuries for linoleum manufacturing, notably Nairns, linked with Dundee jute imports; linen produced from local flax; and for its annual week-long Links Market - one of Europe's longest street markets - that celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2004. The town still has one of the longest developed sea-fronts in Europe, overlooking the Firth of Forth. In the 17th century it boasted one of the earliest Latvian consulates, reflecting centuries of trade with Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Holland.
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[edit] History
It was gifted to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey in 1364, on condition of a mutual protection pact against sea-raiders, who had already ravaged the East Neuk. The town's status as a royal burgh was confirmed by Charles I (1625-49) in 1644. Kirkcaldy grew up around its harbour near the mouth of the East Burn and expanded rapidly in the 19th century with the development of textile, linoleum and coal industries.
It was the administrative centre of Kirkcaldy District from 1975 to 1996.
Today Kirkcaldy encompasses the former burghs of Dysart, Linktown and Pathhead as well as the villages of Sinclairtown and Gallatown and part of the Raith Estate. Its town centre was designated a conservation area in 1980 and amongst many interesting buildings are the Old Parish Church with its late medieval, 15th-century Ravenscraig Castle, 17th-century Sailor's Walk, Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery (1925), the Adam Smith Centre (1894-99), the Nordic style Town House designed in 1937 by David Carr, Dunnikier House (built in the 1790s and now a hotel), Balwearie Community School dating from the 1960s, and St Brycedale Church (1877-81) which rises to 60m (200 feet) and takes its name from Kirkcaldy's patron saint.
[edit] Famous people
In addition to the "Father of Modern Economics" Adam Smith (1723-90), the "Demarcator of Standard Time" (Universal Standard Time) Sandford Fleming (1827-1915), and one of Scotland's most famous architects, Robert Adam (1728-92), Kirkcaldy has been the birthplace of a great many famous sons and daughters.
Reformation figures Henry Balnaves and George Gillespie both hailed from the town as did, in more recent times, Frederick Coutts, 8th General of the Salvation Army. John Philip, a missionary to South Africa was born in Kirkcaldy in 1775. In politics, Kirkcaldy counts sixth Governor-General of Australia, Ronald Munro-Ferguson and Sir David Steel (1938-) among its sons. The current British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown (1951-), although born in Glasgow, moved to Kirkcaldy when he was three years old[2], and is the present UK Parliamentary Constituency's MP. In sport, twice World darts champion Jocky Wilson was born in the town and lives in the Lauder Road area. From popular culture, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman comes from Kirkcaldy.
Val McDermid, journalist and author (titles include: Wire in the Blood and Distant Echo) was born and raised in Kirkcaldy, though her books' liner notes refer only to a 'small Scottish mining town'. Child author Marjorie Fleming ('Pet Marjorie') (1803-1811) was born, lived and died in Kirkcaldy.
Amateur phenologist David Grisenthwaite lives in the area.
Colin Cameron, a professional footballer and Scottish internationalist was also born in the Linktown area of Kirkcaldy, starting his career with Raith Rovers F.C..
[edit] Sport
The local football team in the town is Raith Rovers F.C. who play at Stark's Park. The oldest existing ice hockey team in the United Kingdom - Fife Flyers - are based in the town, playing at Fife Ice Arena. There is also a local Rugby Club, Kirkcaldy RFC, who play at Beveridge Park. Rugby player Matthew Harvey (1986-) was born and raised in the Smeaton area of Kirkcaldy. He has played for the Kirkcaldy rugby team for a number of years and has had several appearances for Scotland's under 21s.
[edit] Education
Adam Smith College has several campuses throughout the town, the main one being the St Brycedale Campus. They provide training and education for over 15,000 people. Actors Ewan McGregor, Dougray Scott and the artist Jack Vettriano are some of the famous people that have attended the College.
Kirkcaldy is home to four high schools and twelve primary schools, they are as follows:
[edit] High Schools
- Balwearie High School
- Kirkcaldy High School
- St Andrews R C
- Viewforth High School
[edit] Primary Schools
- Capshard
- Dunearn
- Dunnikier
- Dysart
- Fair Isle
- Kirkcaldy North
- Kirkcaldy West
- Pathhead
- Sinclairtown
- St Maries R C
- Torbain
- Valley
[edit] Media
The local paper, the Fife Free Press is published every Thursday containing all the latest news from the town. The Courier, published by DC Thomson, also provides local news in its Fife edition. Since February 2002, the local hospital radio station Classic VRN began broadcasting 24 hours a day on 1287 Medium Wave; however, "Kingdom FM" is the nearest major radio station.
[edit] Politics & Regional Information
[edit] Political subdivisions
From 1975 Kirkcaldy gave its name to a local government district in the Fife region of Scotland. Since 1996 it has been included in the Fife unitary area. (See: Subdivisions of Scotland)
[edit] Constituencies
There is a Kirkcaldy constituency of the Scottish Parliament and a former Kirkcaldy constituency of the House of Commons.
[edit] Fife Constabulary
The police station in Kirkcaldy, built in the same style as the nearby Adam Smith Theatre and older buildings of the Adam Smith College, is near the centre of town situated on St. Brycedale Avenue.
[edit] Twin towns
Kirkcaldy is twinned with Ingolstadt, Germany.
[edit] Religion
Kirkcaldy has a large number of churches, the oldest, the Old Parish Church, dating back to the late 16th Century. The larger church next door (on the other side of Kirk Wynd), St. Brycedale Church, was opened in 1881. St. Bryce himself was at one time Bishop of Tours, in france, and it is thought that the town of Falkirk owes its name to him, being derived by way of Gaelic and Anglo-saxon from Eglwys Brioc (church of Bryce), Bryce having travelled to Central Scotland in the early 5th Century. [3]
[edit] Churches
| Name | Address | Postcode |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotshall Church | Abbotshall Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5PH |
| Christian Centre Ministries Ltd | 131 Links Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1QL |
| Kirkcaldy Old Parish Church | 2 Townsend Place Kirkcaldy | KY1 1HB |
| Linktown Church | Nicol Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1NY |
| Newcraigs Evangelical Church | Forres Drive Kirkcaldy | KY2 6YL |
| Pathhead Baptist | Anderson Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 2AQ |
| Pathhead Parish Church | Church Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 2AJ |
| Rhema Church | 131 Links Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1QL |
| St Brycedale Church | St Brycedale Avenue Kirkcaldy | KY1 1ET |
| St John's Church Of Scotland | Meldrum Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5LE |
| St Maries Church | 101 Dunnikier Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5AP |
| Templehall Parish Church | Beauly Place Kirkcaldy | KY2 6EX |
| The Church of Christ | Hayfield Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5DG |
| The Coptic Orthodox Church Of Scotland | Links Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1QE |
| Whytecauseway Baptist Church | 94 Barry Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 6JL |
[edit] Church associations
At one time the 4th Kirkcaldy Company of the Boys Brigade was the largest company in this organisation.
[edit] Areas
Areas of Kirkcaldy include:
- Balsusney
- Bennochy
- Boreland
- Chapel
- Dunnikier
- Dysart
- Gallatown
- Hayfield
- Linktown
- Longbraes
- Newliston
- Overton
- Pathhead
- Raith
- Sauchenbush
- Sinclairtown
- Smeaton
- Templehall
- Valley
- Weymssfield
