The people featured in the old postcard image greatly add to the atmosphere of the shot. Two well-dressed ladies walk away from the camera perhaps returning home from errands at the village shops. Two girls to the left may be carrying golf clubs or tennis racquets, given that they are so close to an opening at the roadside which would have led to the newly created tennis courts. The boy next to them may well have been making deliveries from the basket over his arm. All the youngsters seem very interested in the camera anyway!
Well done to this early 1900s photographer for taking a shot looking west towards Leven, rather than the more familiar view facing in the other direction towards the Lundin Links Hotel! It's great to see how this stretch of the street looked at this point in history. Development had progressed up to the wooded area where the Montrave Hall would be built in 1910. An old street name sign still remains today on the wall of the last house in the distance (next door to the hall) reminding us that this was once the outer limit of Leven Road on that side of the road (see photo below).
The people featured in the old postcard image greatly add to the atmosphere of the shot. Two well-dressed ladies walk away from the camera perhaps returning home from errands at the village shops. Two girls to the left may be carrying golf clubs or tennis racquets, given that they are so close to an opening at the roadside which would have led to the newly created tennis courts. The boy next to them may well have been making deliveries from the basket over his arm. All the youngsters seem very interested in the camera anyway!
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The previous post described Largo Reservoir, which lies north of Largo Law on the Gilston Burn and ceased to be used several decades ago. The photograph below shows the reservoir looking towards the north, with the dam (1) and overflow channel (2) in the foreground. There would have been an underground pipe at this point taking water to a nearby pump house. Creation of the reservoir was first discussed in 1892. A council sub-committee discussed the Largo water supply on 22 August that year, where a "plan for a supply of water from Gilston Burn was submitted" (as reported in the Courier). This scheme was deemed more worthy of further exploration than the costly laying and maintenance of pipes to connect Largo to the Leven supply (which extended only to Lundin Mill at that time). By January 1893 the Gilston Burn scheme had been costed and tenders had been drawn up for the work. In 1905 enlargement of Largo Reservoir was discussed and eventually carried out by removing a large part of the north embankment, thus increasing capacity by around a third. In 1932 the Edinburgh Evening News reported, on 30 September, that there was a "water famine at Largo" explaining that...
"The water supply in Largo Reservoir is so far down that, in order to conserve it, it has to be cut off each night. Further restrictions are expected every day. There is barely eight days full store on hand, the feeders being long since dry. An extension scheme was proposed in March, but owing to the cost it was turned down." By 1935, the supply problems has not improved and on 29 August the Courier ran a story under the headline "Largo Water Development". Fife County Water Authority called upon Leven to help augment the water supply with water from Leven Reservoir. The neighbouring town responded immediately to the request by joining up the Largo and Leven pipe systems at a point in Lundin Links. The story went on... "For some time the matter of additional supplies for Largo has caused concern, and during last year a bore was put down in the region of Largo Law, at a spot selected by a well-known English water diviner. Results from the bore were disappointing and only two courses were left to the authorities - either they had to enlarge the present storage at Largo, which owing to the configuration of the land would prove costly, or seek help from neighbouring authorities." Although under normal circumstances the Largo Reservoir should have had ample supply a prolonged dry spell combined with a high influx of summer visitors had necessitated the call for aid. It was thought at the time that this link up may be the first step in a larger scheme to pool supplies across Fife. Over time, small local water supply networks increasingly did join up and these days all of Fife's water supply comes from Glen Devon, near Auchterarder, Perthshire. The disused Largo Reservoir lies north of Largo Law approximately 3km from Upper Largo. It's one of many such small reservoirs scattered around rural Fife. Although it is probably around half a century since it supplied water to the surrounding villages and hamlets, the site is still visible and is marked on maps. The key features of the reservoir are marked on both the photograph and the map extract as follows: 1. An earthen dam, faced with concrete blocks 2. Remnant of reservoir 3. Steep valley sides, now wooded 4. Marshy valley floor 5. Gilston Burn 6. Original water level A sluice gate (2) with a spindle (3) to which a wheel could be attached (4) controlled the flow of water from the Gilston Burn (1) into the reservoir. When the sluice gate was closed, the water would be diverted away from the reservoir. The capacity of Largo Reservoir was small and over time it struggled to meet the needs of the growing local population. In the next post - details of a "water famine" at Largo and the solutions developed to ease supply problems. In 1892, Thomas Cooper of Kirkcaldy applied for a grocer's (porter and ale) license for premises in Lower Largo. He was unanimously granted a certificate and in 1897 the above advert was run to promote his business. However, much sadness was to come for this family business. In January 1898, Thomas Cooper died of meningitis and the grocery business was taken over by his wife Helen.
On 28 May 1903, a further tragedy occurred when Mrs Cooper was found drowned in her bath at home in Lower Largo. The Courier reported her death the next day, when it was assumed that she had been seized by a fit. The report noted that she would be greatly missed in the district and that she left a young family. She was survived by her 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter. The children went to live with an aunt and uncle in Leith who had seven children of their own, two of which shared forenames with their orphaned cousins. On the reverse of this 1975 postcard is the title "The Gardens, Lundin Links". This spot is also known as "Mrs Nisbet's Garden", more detail on which can be found in this previous post and also a post about Mrs Nisbet herself. Back in the early 70s, the garden seemed to be flourishing (I recall it being a great place for hide-and-seek as a child). The good condition of the garden was largely owing to the input of the Community Association at that time. The 4th May 1960 Leven Mail gave details of their meeting held at the Lundin Links Hotel were "arrangements for tending this valuable asset to the village" were discussed. The report goes on....
"The seats were to be repaired and repainted. A notice board forbidding picnics has been erected. It's the association's intention to have a plaque placed in the garden as a memorial to Mrs Nisbet as an appreciation of her personal interest in beautifying the ground." It's great that the care of this lovely spot continues to the present day (see below). The memorial plaque was replaced in 2000 with a substantial commemorative stone. You can still find a bench to sit on. However, perhaps these days the rules around picnics are more relaxed? In the last post the storm damage to Largo Pier in 1926 was covered. The situation had seemed quite bleak, with the Leven Mail of 10 February describing the pier as "a decaying piece of masonry, left weaker at every tide". A Pier Committee of 15 people (5 from each village) had been set up in the aftermath of the storm to fund-raise for the repairs and ongoing maintenance.
Moving forward a decade in the newspaper archives, the situation seems to have completely turned around. The Pier Committee was still going strong and, at their 1936 AGM, the chairman reported that "the pier, pavilion and seating accommodation...were in good condition and generally improved." Twelve months later and on 3 November 1937, the AGM of the Pier Committee drew a "large attendance" and some new members were appointed. A report was given on the year's activities and a sound financial balance was recorded. Far from discussing the survival of the pier, matters of discussion included the provision of new ladders on the pier and the "ways and means of removing decaying seaweed from the harbour bed". The following year's AGM was similarly upbeat, with accounts in a "healthy state". The main topic of discussion was a "proposal to provide a canvas shelter for the pierrot show". Also a "friend" of the committee had offered provision of 200 seats for free. The pierrot shows may be long gone but Lower Largo is still a popular seaside holiday destination with visitors enjoying a walk, a meal or a spot of fishing on the pier. Let's hope in the not too distant future we see positive post-restoration stories in the press. As storm damage to Lower Largo Pier once again hits the local headlines, some conciliation can perhaps be obtained from viewing the current challenge as a phase of a long-term cycle. In its history the pier has suffered destruction to varying degrees at regular intervals. The winter of 1925-26 seems to have been an especially harsh one. On 16 January 1926 a particularly bad storm was reported in the Courier, which spoke of Largo Pier being "completely cut in two" by raging seas. The report continued...
"The big boulders and stones that composed the pier have been washed into the Keil Burn. Fishing has been suspended, the boats being unable to put off. The tide has been so high that the Crusoe Hotel has been completely surrounded, but the water has caused little damage." The same paper provided an update on both 6th and 9th February (accompanied by the above image), under the headline "Largo's Crumbling Pier". The first article began... "Largo Pier, which is fast going to destruction by the heavy seas which have been raging in the Forth, has been the main topic in Largo and Lundin Links for some time, and it is felt an effort should be made to save it." A public meeting was held in La Scala Picture House, Lundin Links and a Pier Committee was appointed. Such were the concerns over the potential effect upon the summer tourist trade that the public wished to "take the matter in hand". The Committee was to "investigate every channel and get an engineer's report on the matter of cost". By June an invitation to tender for the repair of the pier was issued and presumably work was carried out before the next winter. Fund-raising for the repair and maintenance of the pier was, however, an ongoing long-term activity. For example, in November of 1926 a concert and dance was held in La Scala with over 200 couples in attendance. This seems to have become an annual event. Newspaper archives reveal a number of events in aid of the Pier Fund - another being a swimming gala and regatta at Largo Harbour in summer of 1928. In the next post - happier times for the Pier Committee post-repairs! In 1874, a son and heir was born to the Gilmours of Lundin and Montrave, not long after they had come into possession of the estates. The Fife Herald of 20 August 1874, tells of "great rejoicings" at the event, and describes a series of celebrations. At Montrave there was a supper with toasts and dancing, as well as a bonfire on Montrave Hill. While on the Lundin Estate a bonfire was lit on Back Knock (the highest point on the Lundin Estate), bagpipe music was played and around a 1000 tenants and feuers danced "with great animation till a late hour" by the brilliant light of the bonfire, while provided with a "liberal supply of ale". In addition, a ball was held at Lundin House, where a "numerous party of residenters and their friends" spent a "convivial evening". This party was probably one of the last events to be held in the old mansion. The Fife Herald went on to describe... "In one of the large and commodious rooms in that old and now decaying mansion a dancing ball was held. Excellent music was in attendance and was sustained with much spirit till one of the short hours in the morning. Much pleasure and the greatest harmony prevailed throughout the entire evening." In May of 1876 another son was born to the Gilmours and perhaps at that point it became clear that Montrave would ever remain their family home. During the same year Old Lundin House was taken down, save the tower which remains today. The above sketch shows the position of Lundin Tower (formerly Lundin House) in red between Lundin Wood and the Ladies Golf Course.
The main mansion house of the Lundin estate was demolished in 1876. The owner of the estate at that time, Sir John Gilmour, retained only the old stair tower (see yesterday's post) and an adjoining ground floor part which he kept as an occasional luncheon room. The above sketch is based upon a handful of early 19th century drawings/engravings that exist. I don't recall ever seeing an actual photograph of the house. Old Lundin House comprised four stories, including attic rooms, with a bay in the centre at the front. The remaining stair tower stood central but higher than the main building, to the rear. Additional sections lay to the side of the house but all were contiguous. Many alterations were made to the house over the years including the addition of gothic style features. In the vicinity of the main mansion house would have been many ancillary buildings, including a doocot (the ruins of which remain), storage for coal and salt, a bakehouse and a brew house. There were periods when the house was let out - the advert shown dates from the summer of 1817. The 1876 demolition of the main house came only three years after great excitement within the neighbourhood at the prospect of the estate having a resident proprietor again after many years without one. The Fife Herald on 20 November 1873 ominously recorded that "the old mansion not being quite habitable at present, Mr Gilmour has, in the meantime, taken up his abode on his adjoining property of Montrave." |
AboutThis blog is about the history of the villages of Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo in Fife, Scotland. Comments and contributions from readers are very welcome!
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