Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

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KIRKCALDY, &c.
other branches include a large floor cloth manufactory,
biew'ug, ironfounding, machine making, and a con-
siderable coin and meal trade. There are several
power loom factories for linen goods, and two exten-
sive nursery grounds. Coal is extensively worked in
the vicinity' of the town; also fire brick, and tile clay
fields are in operation. The general commerce of the
place is assisted by resident branches of five banking
establishments, namely, the ' National Bank of Scot-
land/the 'Commercial" Bank of Scotland,' the 'Bank of
Scotland,' the ' Unioii Bank of Scotland.' and the 'Gif\
of Gla-gow Bank.' There is also a branch of the
'National Security Savings Bank.' There are now
many elegant shops, with extensive stocks of fashion-
able,' < mameiital, and useful goods ; and excellent inns
—amongst these • the Geortie' is the most prominent,
visitors and commercial gsntlemen will find every
accommodation, a posting establishment being attached
The civic government of the town is co tided to a
provost, two baillies, a dean of guild, and a treasure] ;
the council consists of twenty-one members. The
burgh is conjoined with Kinghorn, Dysart and Burnt-
island hi sending one member to parliament. The
chief magistrate is Provosi and admiral, and is assisted
by assessors of admiralty. There is also a board of
harbour commissioners, of which the Provost is chair-
man. The paving, watering and lighting is under the
management of burgh trustees; the Provost being chair-
man. In 1829 was completed, and has superseded the
old town-house, a handsome building of large dimen-
sions containing a hall for burgh and district meetings ;
a burgh court, and record rooms ; an office for the town
clerk, and other apartments. The sherriff holds a cir-
cuit courts here on the first Friday of every alternate
month, under the small debis' act ; and the justices of
the peace, likewise sit on the first Monday monthly for
adjudicating claims under 01 her pecuniaiy acts, The
foundation stone of a new corn exchange in Cowan
street was laid with masonic honours in May 1859,
The union poor house is a conspicuous building beau-
tifully situattd on the lands of Abdeu, in the parish of
Kinghorn, commanding an extrusive view of the
Firth of ihe Forth. It was erected in 1849, capable of
accommodating 150 paupers, and was opened for th>
reception of inmates in May, 1850. The original cost
of ihi- erection was £4,877, exclusive of furniture and
other furnishings, but in consequence of alterations and
additional buildings the total cost considerabL exceeded
£5,000. It is the joint property of the parishes of
Kirkcaldy, Abbo'shall, Burntisland, and Kinghorn,
nearly half being held by the parish of Kirkcaldy, a
fourth by the parish of Abbotshall, and the i est between
the parishes of Burntisland and Kinghor
but since that time the numbei has very ninth increased
aud may now be fairly set down at nearly 20,000. The
erection of this union poorhouse has had a beneficial
effect in checking the growth of pauperism in the dis-
trict. A list of the officials will be found under the
head, Public buildings.
The church, which is in the Gothic style, stands on
an eminence above and at the back of the town ; the
other piaces of worship are a free church, and chapels
for United Presbyterians, Baptists and Independents.
The principal educational establishments besides the
parochial or burgh school, (a handsome budding
erected in 1844), is Philp's Institution for instructing
children of both sexes, selected from among those of
the poorest inhabitants ; in connection with this charity
there are schools at Path-head, Abbotshall, and King-
horn. The properly bequeathed by Mr. Philp for
erecting and sustaining schools in these places is esti-
mated at nearly £70,000. In virtue of this munificent
endowment, a school-house was erected in Thistle
street, at an expence of £2.400, it is a neat building in
the Grecian style; and others have been erected in
different localities. The pupils are admitted between
the ages of six and fifteen, and are taught only the
plainest elementary branches ; thirty shillings per
annum is allowed for clothing each pupil. There is
also a charitable trust by John Thomson, for- educating
poor children, and for annuities for the support of poor
inhabitants. The inhabitants of this respectable town
support a working mens' reading room, a subscription
library, and mechanics' institution : a newspaper called
the 'Advertiser' is published here every Saturday.
There is a neatly laid out bowling green close to the
town. The marked, which i* a stockmarker. for the,
sale of grain, and is the most important in the county
is held on Saturday. Fairs on the thiid Fridays in
February, April, and July, and the first Friday in
October.
Abbotshall although a distinct parish, may be said
to form almost an integral part of Kirkcaldy, for its
principal stieef. called the Links, (nearly a mile long),
runs west in a direct line with the High stieet of the
town named. The tiade and manufactures are of the
same chatacteras those of Kirkcaldy; and more imme-
diately in Abbotshall are dye works, an earthenware
manufactory, and a large corn mill. The places of
worship aie Established and Free chinches; and the
the schools are parochial, ' Philp's institution ', and
subscription. The general appearance of the parish, the
extent of which Is about two miles either way, is very
agreeable,- rising gradually from tke coast northward
into tolerably high grounds. Raith House, before
noticed, is in this parish.
The popu
lation of the combined parishes in 1851 was 16,937^
POST OFFICE, 142 High street, Robert Bryson, Post Master.— Letters from Edinburgh and South,
arrive every morning at forty minutes past eight, and twenty minutes past eleven, aud in the afternoon at ten,
minutes past five, and are despatched every morning at half-past seven, and in the afternoon at four.
Letters from Cupar, Perth, Dundee, and the North arrive every morning at forty minutes past eight,
and in the afternoon at ten minutes past fise, and are despatched every moruing at forty-five minutes past six,
and in the afternoon at twenty-five minutes ptst three.
Iiocal Mails. — Letters arrive from Path-Head, Dysart, and Wemyss, every morning at forty minutes
past eight, and in the afternoon at ten minutes past five. From Kinglassie, Auchtertool, and Thornton
iu the afternoon at ten minutes past five, and are despatched to Path-Head, Dysart, aud Wemyss, every
morning at a quarter past eight, and in the afternoon at forty-five miuutes past four. To Kinglassie, Auch-
tertool, and Thornton, every morning at » quarter past eight.
Money Order Office open from nine a. m. till six p.m.
GENTRY fie CLERGY.
Alexander Rev. John, d.d. White's
Causeway
Anderson Henry, Esq. Chapel
Anderson William, Esq. (of Glen-
tarkie), Links
Anderson Wmjun. Esq. Links
Ayton James, Esq. Newtown
Beveridge Henry Esq, (provost),
191 High st
Beveridge Mrs. Jane, 220 High st
Beveridge Mr. James, 220 High st
Bevendge the Misses — , Wemyss pi
Biu-ell Mr. George, Hiah st
Black Rev. J;i nes, Townsend place
Brown Mrs. John, 32 Rose st
Bruce Miss Hannah, Kirk wynd
Bryden Rev. Mark J., Kirk wynd
674
Carraichael Mr.Malcolm, 46' High st
Chalmers Mrs. — , 100 High st
Cook Mrs. Jane, High st
Cowan Rev. David R., Links
D tvidson Robert, Fisq. Wester bogie
Dick Mrs. Margaret, Townsend pi
Duncan Rev. J no. Manse, Abbotshall
ElderGeorge, Esq. MelbourneHouse
Fergus John, Esq. White House
Ferguson Lieut. -Col. Robert, m.p.
Raith House
Ferrier Mrs. Janet, 44 High st
Fleming Miss Elizabeth, 130 High st
Fleming Rev. William, Townsend pi
Gibson Rev. William, Newtown
Gillan Rev. George G. Links
Grant the Misses — , East port
Heggie Mr. James, Links
VQ
Hutchison Robert, Esq. Brae head
Hutchison Thomas, Esq., Deuburn
House
Inglis Mr. Alexander, Belwood place
Isles Mr. Robert, Mitchell st
Johnston Rtv. Norman, b.a. Town-
send place
Kilgour Miss Margaret, Hill Cottage
Landale David, Esq. St. Mary's
Low Mr. David, 51 High st*
Macauley Rev. George, Westbridge
M'Glasban Mrs. Margt., 53 Highst
Malcolm Mr. George, Woodbine
Cottage
Mitchell Mr. James, High st
MorganMrs. Margaiet, Townsend pi
Muntiuch Mrs, Margaret, 44 Highst
Nairn the Misses — , Port brae