| Pittencrieff Park | |
|---|---|
Louise Carnegie Gates (the main entrance to Pittencrieff Park) |
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| Type | Parkland, woodland, gardens |
| Location | Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland |
| Created | 1903 |
| Operated by | Fife Council |
| Status | Open all year |
Pittencrieff Park (known locally as "The Glen") is a public park in Dunfermline. It was purchased in 1902 by the town's most famous son, Andrew Carnegie, and gifted to the people of Dunfermline in a ceremony the following year. Its lands include the historically significant and topologically rugged glen which interrupts the centre of Dunfermline and, accordingly, part of the intention of the purchase was to carry out civic development of the area in a way which also respected its heritage. The project notably attracted the attention of the urban planner and educationalist, Patrick Geddes.
The glen is an area of topographical and historical significance to Dunfermline as the original site of Malcolm's Tower, the probable remains of which can be identified today on a strongly defendable outcrop of rock.
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The lands of the modern park were previously known as Pittencrieff Estate.[1] In 1902, Andrew Carnegie purchased both Pittencrieff House and Estate from its then owner, Colonel James Maitland Hunt, ultimately with the intention to gift these to the people of Dunfermline. The official ceremony for the gifting of the park occurred the following year, and a trust fund in honour of the benefactory, known as Dunfermline Carnegie Trust, was founded for the general maintenance of the glen.[2]
As part of the gifting of the estate, the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust invited proposals for the development of the area as a civic space. Two entries were submitted in 1903-04, one of which was by the world-renowned urban planner, naturalist and educationalist Patrick Geddes (1854–1932). His thinking about the commission, as he saw it, to balance preservation of heritage with regeneration, was an important influence in the formation of his ideas in town planning and civic renaissance.[3] The second entry was by the landscape designer, Thomas Mawson.[4] Although neither scheme was adopted, both influenced subsequent work on the establishment of the park as it exists today.
In the subsequent development of the modern park, Pittencrieff House was designed as a centre piece.[1][5] The house was built by Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff as a simple laird's house with two stories and an attic around 1635. [6] Two of the bedrooms were converted to create two long galleries for museum and art exhibition space in a restoration programme undertaken by Sir Robert Lorimar between 1911 and 1913.[1][5] The house itself now serves as the Pittencrieff House Museum, with exhibits about the formation of the park and its natural history, including dinosaurs, fossils and wildlife.
On the northern boundary of the park lies the prominent statue of Andrew Carnegie which was built in 1914 and a dovecot, in the style of a round tower from around 1700. [6] The main gates to the park known as the Louise Carnegie Gates which opened in 1928 are located to the north-east. [6]
The park also holds a former petting zoo, a large greenhouse and three playgrounds.
Pittencrieff Park provides large events throughout the year which include:
Guy Fawkes Night: Every year on the 5th of November Pittencrieff Park has a large display of fireworks, themed and the fair is open for one night at the top of the "Glen"
Charity Beer Festival: Held in early October, global beers are served to raise money for charity
Arts and Crafts fair are held regularly
Bruce Festival: The latter part of August sees a celebration of another piece of Scottish heritage, the era of King Robert the Bruce, whose remains are interred in nearby Dunfermline Abbey. This three day event includes a recreated medieval village within the park with demonstrations of period arts and crafts and spectacular displays from some of the country's leading battle re-enactment societies.