Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 2

WE MY
WEMY
till 1839 was a place of worship for some members of
the United Secession, who at that time were received
into connexion with the Established Church. In 1843
the building passed into the possession of the Free
Church body. A day and evening school in the village,
which affords instruction to about 200 pupils, is sup-
ported partly by endowment, and partly by the fees.
WELL-PARK, lately a quoad sacra parish, chiefly
in St. Mungo's parish, city of Glasgow, but partly in
the parish of Barony, suburbs of the city, county of
Lanark ; containing 2904 inhabitants. — See Glas-
gow.
WEMYSS, a parish, in the district of Kirkcaldy,
county of Fife; containing, with the burgh of West
Wemyss, and the villages of Buckhaven, East and West
Coaltown, Methill, Kirkland, and East Wemyss, 5403
inhabitants, of whom S59 are in the village of East
Wemyss, 3 miles (N. E.) from Dysart, and 947 in the
burgh of West Wemyss, 2 miles (N. E. by E.) from
Dysart, and 4 (N. E.) from Kirkcaldy. This place
appears to have derived its name, which in the Gaelic
language signifies "a cave," from the number of caverns
in the rocks that form its boundary towards the coast.
It extends about six miles in length, and about one and
a half in average breadth, comprehending an area of
nearly nine square miles ; it is washed on the south-
east by the Frith of Forth, and comprises 5000 acres, of
which 3556 are arable, 600 woodland and plantations,
and the remainder rough pasture and waste. The sur-
face is irregularly raised ; the seashore is strongly
defended by abrupt rocks stretching boldly into the
Frith, and the land rises gradually towards the northern
and western portions of the parish. The scenery is
richly ornamented with thriving plantations of modern
date, and with some natural woods in which are many
ancient trees of stately aud majestic growth. The soil,
also, is generally fertile, and the system of husbandry
improved ; but the parish is more of a manufacturing
than of an agricultural character. The substratum
forms part of the great coal formation of the district,
and consists also of sandstone, clay-slate, and argilla-
ceous ironstone, with boulders of green or whin stone.
Numerous fossils are found in the shale above the seams
of coal, including some very fine specimens of forest-
trees. The coal is extensively wrought ; four pits have
been opened, and are still in operation. The Wemyss
coal-works are on the principal seam, which is nine feet
in thickness, and has been wrought to a depth of 300
feet below the level of the sea ; the annual produce is
about 40,000 tons, and several powerful steam-engines
have been erected for draining the water, and expediting
the working of the mines, in which more than 200 per-
sons are employed. Some pits for the parrot or gas
coal are worked without the assistance of machinery,
and employ twenty men ; and the two other coal- works,
the produce of which is principally for the supply of the
neighbourhood, employ together about eighty persons.
The ironstone has also been wrought with success, and
affords occupation to about forty persons ; and a vein
of yellow ochre has recently been discovered, and brought
under operation. The rateable annual value of the
parish is £"S02.
The weaving of linen employs a great portion of the
population, and works have been established at Kirk-
land, Buckhaven, and other places, the particulars of
597
which are given under their respective heads in other
parts of the work. A very extensive salt-manufacture
was once carried on at Methill, and at West Wemyss,
which, since the removal of the duty, has been alto-
gether discontinued at the former place, and at the
latter very greatly diminished ; the whole quantity made
at both places was formerly 50,000 bushels annually.
The quantity now made at the latter is about 6000
bushels, of the average value of £500 ; the salt is of
excellent quality, and finds a ready sale in the neigh-
bouring markets. A fishery, also, is carried on at
Buckhaven, which has long been celebrated as one of
the most important fishing-stations on this coast; and
at West Wemyss, a very convenient harbour has been
constructed for the accommodation of the vessels
employed in the coal-trade. The sole proprietor of the
parish is Captain James Erskine Wemyss, R.N., whose
magnificent mansion, Castle Wemyss, is situated near
the burgh of West Wemyss, on the summit of a cliff
rising abruptly from the rocky shore of the Frith, and
commanding an interesting and extensive view of the
sea, and the adjacent country, which abounds with pic-
turesque and romantic scenery. Near it is the residence
of the agent for the estate, beautifully situated among
the woods and plantations on the demesne surrounding
the castle. The village of West Wemyss, which stands
pleasantly on the sea-shore, about a mile distant from
East Wemyss, is a burgh of barony under the govern-
ment of two bailies, a treasurer, and council ; it is chiefly
inhabited by persons employed in the coal-trade and
the manufacture of salt. A subscription library has been
established, which is well supported, and contains a
good collection of volumes ; and a savings' bank has
also been opened. The village of East IVemyss is likewise
situated on the coast, and is principally inhabited by
persons engaged in the weaving of linen, for which it
has been long distinguished. There are four extensive
factories established here, which, including one at Buck-
haven, consume nearly 250,000 spindles of yarn : the
chief articles at present manufactured are, ducks, dowlas,
and sheeting. The annual produce on the average is
more than 1,200,000 yards, which are partly used for
home consumption, and the remainder exported ; and
the amount of wages paid annually to weavers and
winders exceeds £10,000. The church and the paro-
chial school are situated in this village : the former, a
venerable and ancient structure, forms an interesting
feature in the scenery. A subscription library has been
established for more than thirty years ; it contains about
300 volumes, and is well supported. A savings' bank
has also been long established, in which the deposits
amount to above £2000. A post-office has been opened
in the parish ; and facility of intercourse with the neigh-
bouring towns is afforded by good roads kept in repair
by statute labour, and by a turnpike-road from Kirk-
caldy by Kennoway to Cupar, which passes through the
northern part of the parish.
Wemyss is in the presbytery of Kirkcaldy, synod of
Fife, and patronage of the Town-council of Edinburgh :
the minister's stipend is £253. 11.3., with a manse, and
the glebe is valued at £25 per annum. The church, a
cruciform structure, is in the early English style of
architecture, displaying some interesting details, and is
adapted for a congregation of 1000 persons. A church
was recently erected in the village of Methill ; it is a