Guardbridge
Coordinates: 56°21′34″N 2°51′57″W / 56.35940°N 2.86583°W
| Guardbridge | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Geàrd Drochaid[citation needed] | |
| Scots: Gaire Brig | |
 Guardbridge
Guardbridge shown within Fife |
|
| Population | 627 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NO466189 |
| Council area | Fife |
| Lieutenancy area | Fife |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Kirkcaldy |
| Postcode district | KY16 |
| Dialling code | 01334 |
| Police | Fife |
| Fire | Fife |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | North East Fife |
| Scottish Parliament | Fife North East |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Guardbridge is a village in north-east Fife, Scotland.
It is approximately 3 miles (5 kilometres) north-west of St. Andrews, and is situated on the estuary of the River Eden. It stands at the junction of the A91 St. Andrews - Stirling road and the A919/A914 Leuchars - Tay Road Bridge road.
The village takes its name from a 15th century six-arched bridge built by Bishop Henry Wardlaw[2] who founded St. Andrews University. 'Gaire', although Anglicised as 'guard', actually means a triangular piece of ground in Scots and probably describes the course of the Eden where it is crossed by the bridge. (Alternatively, "Gare", the french word for "station" or the older latin version of "Statio" referred to the Statio located on the low escarpment on the rise to Seggie. The Statio was the last overnighting stop used by caravans of pilgrims on their way to the Holy City of St Andrews, which was one of the two most important sites of mediaeval pilgrimage in Europe.) - see following reference to this statio, but referred to using the word "Hostel" which isn't entiely accurate. Guardbridge was the site of the last hostel for pilgrims travelling to St. Andrews. From there, the Augustinians regulated the number of pilgrims visiting the cathedral.[3]
In 1852 the north-east Fife railway line was extended to St. Andrews, and a viaduct was built over the Eden. However after the line was dismantled as part of the Beeching cuts the viaduct was demolished, and all that can be seen now are the bridge piers in the river.
In 1873, William Haig and two of his sons formed the Guardbridge Paper Company to find a more profitable use for their Seggie whisky distillery which had been established there since 1810. The mill went into production in 1874. As the mill developed the village grew around it, with new housing and roads to attract and accommodate workers. Before the First World War the labour force reached over 400, reaching a peak of 620 in the late 1950s.
The paper mill was previously the main local industry and was operated by Curtis Fine Papers. On July 24, 2008, the mill went into receivership and 180 workers were made redundant.[4][5] Many locals were employed elsewhere in Fife, Dundee, Edinburgh or even further afield.
The village has become a very popular dormitory settlement due to its close proximity to St Andrews and Dundee.
Guardbridge has a number of local amenities including a school, general store, garages, hotel, takeaway food shop, hairdresser, furniture maker, and bowling and fishing clubs.
[edit] References
- ^ "Guardbridge". Scotland Census 2001. http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=guardbridge&mainLevel=Locality. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (New Edition, Vol III
- ^ http://www.visit-standrews.co.uk/facts.cfm?ID=11
- ^ http://www.printweek.com/news/834346/180-jobs-lost-Curtis-Fine-Papers-goes-administration/
- ^ "Jobs lost as paper maker closes". BBC News. July 24, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7524107.stm. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
