Burntisland: Difference between revisions
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Early evidence of human activity in this area has been found in rock carvings on The Binn, thought to be about 4000 years old. The [[Roman Empire|Roman]] commander [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]] used the natural harbour and set up camp at the nearby Dunearn Hill in 83 AD. |
Early evidence of human activity in this area has been found in rock carvings on The Binn, thought to be about 4000 years old. The [[Roman Empire|Roman]] commander [[Gnaeus Julius Agricola|Agricola]] used the natural harbour and set up camp at the nearby Dunearn Hill in 83 AD. |
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The earliest historical record of the town was in the 12th century, when the monks of [[Dunfermline Abbey]] owned the harbour and neighbouring lands.<ref name="Lamont-Brown p71">Lamont-Brown ''Fife in History and Legend'' p.71.</ref> The settlement was known as ''Wester Kinghorn'' and developed as a fishing hamlet to provide food for the inhabinants of [[Rossend Castle |
The earliest historical record of the town was in the 12th century, when the monks of [[Dunfermline Abbey]] owned the harbour and neighbouring lands.<ref name="Lamont-Brown p71">Lamont-Brown ''Fife in History and Legend'' p.71.</ref> The settlement was known as ''Wester Kinghorn'' and developed as a fishing hamlet to provide food for the inhabinants of [[Castle|Rossend Castle]].<ref name="Burntisland Fishing Port p5">Burntisland Fishing Port p5 </ref> Ownership of the harbour was then sold to [[King James V of Scotland|James V]] by the abbots of [[Dunfermline Abbey]] in exchange for a parcel of land.<ref name="Burntisland Fishing Port p5" /> The land was granted [[royal burgh]] status by [[King James V of Scotland|James V]] in 1541.<ref name="Lamont-Brown p71" /> When the status was confirmed in 1586, the settlement gained independence from the barony of [[Kinghorn]] and was renamed "Burntisland".<ref name="Burntisland Fishing Port p5" /> The town became so well established, that a new church known as St Columba's was built in 1592.<ref name="Wilson p3">Wilson ''Old Burntisland'' p.3.</ref> |
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Burntisland developed as a seaport, being second only to [[Leith]] in the Firth of Forth, and [[shipbuilding]] became an important industry in the town. In 1633 one of the barges, the 'Blessing of Burntisland', carrying [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and his entourage from Burntisland to Leith sank with the loss of Charles' treasure. In 1601, the King [[James VI]] chose the town as an alternative site for the General Assembly of the [[Church of Scotland]]. This was where the first translation of the [[Bible]] was discussed.<ref name="Wilson p3" /> |
Burntisland developed as a seaport, being second only to [[Leith]] in the Firth of Forth, and [[shipbuilding]] became an important industry in the town. In 1633 one of the barges, the 'Blessing of Burntisland', carrying [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and his entourage from Burntisland to Leith sank with the loss of Charles' treasure. In 1601, the King [[James VI]] chose the town as an alternative site for the General Assembly of the [[Church of Scotland]]. This was where the first translation of the [[Bible]] was discussed.<ref name="Wilson p3" /> |
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Revision as of 14:22, 27 November 2009
| Burntisland | |
|---|---|
 A View across Burntisland | |
| Population | 5,667 [1] (2001 census) est. 5,700[2] (2006) |
| OS grid reference | NT233859 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BURNTISLAND |
| Postcode district | KY3 |
| Dialling code | 01592 87 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Burntisland is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland on the Firth of Forth. It is known locally for its sandy blue flag beach, the 15th century Rossend Castle, and its traditional summer fair and Highland games day. To the north of the town a hill called The Binn is a landmark of the Fife coastline; a volcanic plug from the same volcano as the Edinburgh Castle Rock, it rises 193m (632ft) above sea level. Burntisland is Fife's first Fairtrade Town.
The town is served by Burntisland railway station.
History
Early evidence of human activity in this area has been found in rock carvings on The Binn, thought to be about 4000 years old. The Roman commander Agricola used the natural harbour and set up camp at the nearby Dunearn Hill in 83 AD.
The earliest historical record of the town was in the 12th century, when the monks of Dunfermline Abbey owned the harbour and neighbouring lands.[3] The settlement was known as Wester Kinghorn and developed as a fishing hamlet to provide food for the inhabinants of Rossend Castle.[4] Ownership of the harbour was then sold to James V by the abbots of Dunfermline Abbey in exchange for a parcel of land.[4] The land was granted royal burgh status by James V in 1541.[3] When the status was confirmed in 1586, the settlement gained independence from the barony of Kinghorn and was renamed "Burntisland".[4] The town became so well established, that a new church known as St Columba's was built in 1592.[5]
Burntisland developed as a seaport, being second only to Leith in the Firth of Forth, and shipbuilding became an important industry in the town. In 1633 one of the barges, the 'Blessing of Burntisland', carrying Charles I and his entourage from Burntisland to Leith sank with the loss of Charles' treasure. In 1601, the King James VI chose the town as an alternative site for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This was where the first translation of the Bible was discussed.[5]
Burntisland became an important port for the local herring and coal industries, and in 1847 the Edinburgh and Northern Railway opened from Burntisland north to Lindores and Cupar. By 1850 the world's first roll-on/roll-off rail ferry service was crossing the Firth of Forth between Burntisland and Granton, enabling goods wagons to travel between Edinburgh and Dundee without the need for unloading and re-loading at the ferries. (Passengers had to get off the train and use separate passenger ferries). This operated until 1890 when the Forth Bridge opened. In the late 19th century, the area experienced a short-lived boom in oil shale mining and processing at the Binnend Works.
Shipbuilding was a major 20th century industry until the shipyard closed in 1969. A plant for the refining of alumina was also opened in the early 20th century, closing in 2002. Industries related to the North Sea oil industry remain important for the town. A vessel called ALVA was built at Burntisland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Owner Glen & Co. Ltd Glasgow. ALVA was a steam merchantship of 1584 tons. The vessel was attacked on 19 August 1941 and sunk by U-boat U-559 Cpt.Hans Heidtmann, 48.48N 17.46W, complement 25 (1 dead, Cpt. Cyril Spencer Palmer, and 24 survivors.).
The town is also home to the eleventh oldest golf club in the world, Burntisland Golf Club (The 'Old Club', as it is known among its members). Although it is not a course owning club, its competitions are held over the local course now run by Burntisland Golf House Club.
Town twinning
Burntisland is twinned with the Norwegian town Flekkefjord.
Education
The town currently has only one school, Burntisland Primary School. The school first opened in 1876 and is spread across five separate buildings on Ferguson Place. The school role is around 570 pupils with 20 pupils in the adjacent nursery.[6] A plan for a new Burntisland Primary School to be built on an alternative site within the town is being considered by Fife Council instead of £3 million to improve the facilities of the existing properties.[7] The majority of Secondary school pupils attend Balwearie High School in nearby Kirkcaldy.
Attractions
In the summer months the annual fair comes to town.
There is a leisure centre called The Beacon. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool with a wave machine and flumes.
There is also the Burntisland & District Pipe band. They have achieved well in the 2007 Competition Season, and the drummers of the band have achieved the status of British Drumming Champions 2007, European Drumming Champions 2007 and the Drummers Champions of Drummers 2007.
Retailing
A major part of Burntisland's economy is retailing. There are a number of stores and supermarkets in the town with many being privately operated businesses owned by residents. In recent years the town's High Street has seen significant redevelopment to attract retailers to properties and encourage visitors through convenient car parking. Burntisland also benefits from having a lower than average crime rate.
A regular bus service is operated by Stagecoach in Fife which covers most areas of the town. The small bus offered by the company serves as a meeting point for many residents as they make their way from residential areas to the town centre.
References
- ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Burntisland Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- ^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data
- ^ a b Lamont-Brown Fife in History and Legend p.71.
- ^ a b c Burntisland Fishing Port p5
- ^ a b Wilson Old Burntisland p.3.
- ^ "Burntisland Primary School". Fife Council. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- ^ Bews, Lynsey. "Burntisland could get new school". The Fife Free Press. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
- Collinswell Land Ltd History of closure and redevelopment of Alcan site
External links
- Burntisland Online
- Burntisland on FifeDirect
- Burntisland Highland Games
- The Burntisland Pages
- Burntisland history
- Burntisland fairground