Kinglassie

Kinglassie (Gaelic: Cille MoGhlasaidh) is a small village in central Fife, Scotland.It is located 0.5 miles to the southwest of Glenrothes. The population of the village was recorded as 1,320 in the 2001 census.

History

Formerly known as Goatmilk, the village of Kinglassie lies to the north of the Lochty Burn 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Glenrothes in Fife and 3 miles southeast of Perth and Kinross district. It was given to the monks of Dunfermline by Alexander I, but little of antiquity remains except for the Dogton Stone with its Celtic Cross situated in a field a mile (1.5 km) to the south. For many years Kinglassie was a weaving village but in the 19th and 20th centuries it developed as a mining town.

From a very early period down to the Reformation, Scotland was dotted over with certain divisions of lands known as "Schyres." Thus in the immediate neighbourhood of Kinross were "Kynros-Schyre," "Portmocke-Schyre,"* "Kinglassy-Schyre," "Muchard-Schyre," "Doloure-Schyre," &c. These Schyres must not be confounded with the Shire of the present day; they were simply divisions of land, similar in extent to an average modern Parish.

1650. Part of the lands of Kinglassie annexed to the parish of Portmoak.

It has a primary school, Mitchell Hall (1896), library and Miners' Welfare Institute (1931). Fife Airport lies a mile (1.5 km) to the north and on a hill overlooking the farm of Redwells stands Blythe's Folly, a 15.6m (52 feet) high tower built in 1812 by an eccentric Leith shipowner. Kinglassie's development during the late 19th and early 20th Century was marked by its rapid expansion to house mine workers,many mine workers perished and were injured during the mines lifetime and the mine was plaqued by water flooding problems. The Kinglassie Pit started in 1908 and closed in 1967. The Westfield open cast coal mine lies to the west of the village and is still regarded as the biggest man-made hole in Europe by local people.

Glastian of Kinglassie B (AC) (also known as Glastian of MacGlastian) Born in County Fife, Scotland; died at Kinglassie (Kinglace), Scotland, in 830. As bishop of Fife, Saint Glastian mediated in the bloody civil war between the Picts and the Scots. When the Picts were subjugated, Glastian did much to alleviate their lot. He is the patron saint of Kinglassie in Fife, and venerated in Kyntire (Benedictines, Husenbeth).

Currently

A housing development of nearly 80 houses has been in place for a number of years in Kinglassie. At the present time (June 2010) the project should have been finished however due to the economic crisis Britain has faced over the past year the development has taken a much slower pace.

Schools

Kinglassie primary school is a small school housing approx 150 pupils,it was built in 1913 and is a category B listed building.

Pupils are represented in the school by the pupil Council, and the eco-committee which consists of pupils, staff, parents and members of the wider community and is proactive in promoting conservation initiatives throughout the school.

A parent council represents the parent body and raises funds for various initiatives. In addition, children are supported in class by a growing number of parent helpers and the school is well supported by parents generally.

Local landmarks

Blythe's Tower, built 1812, is a four storey square tower, 15.8 m (54 ft) high, built of random rubble with ashlar string courses and a crenellated parapet. It is currently a category B listed building. The tower interior was formerly floored to afford access to an observation platform. The tower was built by a linen merchant in order to view ships as they entered the Forth, affording the merchant the opportunity to procure the best goods at port. During World War Two, the tower was used as a look out tower by the home guard.

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  Blythe's Folly, atop Redwells Hill to the North of Kinglassie.
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  Kinglassie from the South with Blythe's Tower atop Redwells hill to the North.

The Dogton Stone, dating from around 800AD, is believed to commemorate a major battle between the Picts and the Scots. The Mitchell Hall, built 1896, was donated to the community by a local farmer. It is used by local community groups, and is an asset to the wider Fife community.

Culture

The Kinglassie & District Pipe Band was reformed in 1982. It is currently in Grade 4a and its members are mostly of school age.

Fife mining museum formed 1992 is located in Kinglassie at the back of the Kinglassie Miners Welfare Institute, also a frequent drinking establishment for kinglassies story swapping sweety wifes with nothing better to do than gossip, forgeting themselves they have more skeletons in the closet than the local graveyard.

Laurenece park - kinglassies most famous street where the drunks and drug users of fife are housed intentionly by the council, presumably to cause mayhem in the once quiet town, quoted from kinglassie resident about the problems - david digan ' the fuckin junkies (stan riddle) are raking ma buckets and theifing my clathes aff the washing line, get the bastards oot here, i had mare piece when dick peacock was on the lash constant with sui'

Notable people

Sir William Reid (b. April 25, 1791, Kinglassie - d. October 31, 1858, London, England), governor of Bermuda (1839–46), Barbados (1846–48), and Malta (1851–58); knighted 1851.

Jimmy Bonthrone, footballer and manager: born Kinglassie, Fife 16 June 1929; played for East Fife 1947-58, Dundee 1958-60; manager, East Fife 1963-69, Aberdeen 1971-75; general manager, East Fife 1980-94; married (two sons); died Kirkcaldy, Fife 7 June 2008.

William "Willie" Fernie (born 22 November 1928 in Kinglassie, Fife) is a former Scottish footballer who played for the Scotland national football team in both the 1954 and 1958 FIFA World Cups.He also played for Celtic 1948-1958,Middlesbrough 1958-1960,St. Mirren 1961-1963,Partick Thistle 1963,Alloa 1963,Fraserburgh 1963-1964,Coleraine 1964 and Bangor 1964-1965 before becoming manager of Kilmarnock FC 1973-1977

Alan Murray, founder of Alan Murray Architects lauded Edinburgh Architectural firm

Ian 'Pud' Miller, Born on 20 January 1986 till present, leader of the kinglassie young team, winning many local pub battles though the years, currently doing the hardman reputation of kinglassie proud.