This image of the Lundin Links Hotel must have been taken really soon after its completion in 1900. Note that the old cottages are still standing at the corner of Emsdorf Street and Links Road.  These pre-dated the pharmacy and adjoining buildings which were constructed circa 1903. Note the protrusion at the corner of the old cottage, where the roof meets the frontage - suggesting this building may have originally been thatched.

Below are two magnified details from the image.  Firstly, the entrance gates (complete with dog) and the front door (with a figure lurking in the shadows). This person may have been sitting in the sun on the deck chair just to the right of the entrance.  Secondly, at the foot of the post, you can see the water tap that used to be located in the street outside the hotel (and previously the inn) as well as the buildings of Hillhead Lane on the left, in the distance. The garden in front of the hotel seems newly-planted and there is a separate gateway for people on foot to access the hotel.

Born in Largo Parish in 1847 to coal miner William Bethune and his wife Margaret (later to become local midwife), William Bethune would live through, and be heavily involved in, the great changes that would take place in Lundin Links during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  He and his sister Margaret lost their father to an accident at work, when William was just five. While the widowed Margaret trained as a midwife in Edinburgh, the children were looked after by their maternal grandmother in Lundin Mill. William attended the old school in Kirkton of Largo, his mother paying the fees.  By the age of 14, William was an apprentice grocer in the village and his 16-year-old sister was a linen weaver.

By the 1871 census, William was in Lochgelly, working as a grocer's assistant. He married Margaret Lamond in 1872 and during the 1870s he became an active member of the Lochgelly community.  He joined in the local masonic lodge (where he would eventually become Right Worshipful Master), the curling and bowling clubs and became a police commissioner. By 1881 he had been running a grocer and baker shop, at 16 Bank Street, for some years and was noted as 'employing 3 men and 3 apprentices'. However, he was sadly now a widower, having lost his first wife early in 1880. His mother came to Lochgelly temporarily to help support the family.  William married his second wife, Isabella Clark later in 1881 and they continued the business in Lochgelly, while growing as a family.

In the Spring of 1890, the the old inn at Lundin Links was purchased by William Bethune. The image below (from 'Largo: An Illustrated History' by Eunson and Band (2000)) shows the inn at the time that Bethune held the license, which was only for a short spell, as he sold it within a year. The 1891 census records the family back in Largo Parish and living at Hillhead Terrace.  William was described as a 'Grocer, Wine and Spirit Dealer' and he still retained the Lochgelly business. By 1901, the family were at 'Bellville' on Emsdorf Street, having had the house built circa 1895.

The turn of the century proved to be an interesting time, as that was when William became involved in the building of the new Lundin Links Hotel.  The old inn had been bought in 1897 by James McTavish, who had the vision of demolishing the old inn and building a modern, up-market hotel to cater for the golfers and summer visitors that flocked to Lundin Links at that time.  James McTavish had married Margaret Duncan in 1896.  Construction of the new hotel was well advanced when McTavish was declared bankrupt in March 1899.  The bankruptcy was not so much to do with the building of the new hotel but rather was connected to the infamous ‘Pattison crash’.  McTavish had previously worked as a clerk for the firm of Pattison, Elder & Co – a whisky distiller and wholesaler that was mismanaged and collapsed taking many other businesses and individuals with it (McTavish held many shares in the company and was liable for some of its debts). 
 
Three individuals step in to save the Lundin Links hotel build and to help out McTavish (who would now no longer own the hotel but would be retained as its manager).  The three new investors were Peter Henderson (the architect of the new hotel and probable contact of McTavish’s from his days at Pattison (Henderson designed breweries for the firm)), William Bethune and Samuel Duncan (McTavish’s father-in-law, a tailor from Edinburgh, also known to Peter Henderson through Masonic circles).  The hotel was completed and opened in summer 1900.

Duncan, Henderson and Bethune (shown below from left to right) were friends and golfing partners, who had seen Lundin Links take off as a destination for summer visitors and a draw for golfers.  As well as his interests in golf and the hotel in Lundin Links, Bethune was a member of the School Board and Largo Parish Council and was present at many notable local events over the years.

On 15th March 1915 the Dundee Evening Telegraph reported under the headline 'Death of a well known Fife man':

"A well known Gentleman in the person of Mr William Bethune, licensed grocer died at Lochgelly this morning. Deceased was at one time R.W.M. of masonic Lodge Minto 385 and one of the original members of the town council when Lochgelly was formed into a burgh.  Mr Bethune originally belonged to Largo and started business in Lochgelly when quite a young man. For some years back deceased was the oldest merchant in the town".

​William Bethune was 68 years old when he passed away at 16 Bank Street, Lochgelly on 15th March 1915, outliving his good friends Peter Henderson and David Stewart. 

With thanks to John Band for information.

The above novelty postcard (which has a flap that opens to reveal a string of miniature images of the area) is apt for marking Burns Night. Back in the 1920s and 1930s there was always a report in the local press about the Burns Nicht celebrations held in the Men's Social Club in Lundin Links. In 1924 for example, the Courier reported...

"The memory of the National Bard was appropriately celebrated by the members of the Men's Social Club, Lundin Links. Mr R.C. Paxton, Homelands, presiding over a large company. After tea, pies and haggis had been served Mr Munro Adamson, Drumpark, gave an interesting paper on "Burns", illustrated by several songs, which were greatly appreciated. The "haggis" was piped in by Piper Redpath, Leven, and carried around the room by Mr D. Wallace, who was dressed in the style of the Bard, and Mr J.Y. Hunter, headmaster Cellardyke, recited the address to the haggis in fine style. A musical programme comprising Burns' songs was also carried through."

In 1929, "after supper, a long and varied programme of the poet's songs" took place again at the Club. On that occasion, there were musical turns on the mandolin and piano, and a special presentation was made to the stationmaster Mr J.H. Young to mark his recent removal to Tillicoultry. He received "an oak-cased parlour clock from the members of the club". The men's social club was begun after the First World War and the clubroom, close to the junction of Emsdorf Crescent and Hillhead Street, was given by Robert Paxton   of Homelands. Originally it contained billiard tables, a small library, games, etc and each winter a programme of talks and discussions was arranged. The club room survived into the 1970s but was eventually demolished and a modern house now occupies the site.

The previous post covered 'Belville' on Emsdorf Street and noted that this house had a shop extending out from it for a few decades. It is unclear exactly when this shop was built and opened but it was likely soon after the sale of the house in 1928. I've been looking for evidence of who had the shop and what business they were running.  In 1940 both Bellville and the shop were owned and occupied by John and Mary Gillespie, according to the valuation roll of that year. John Gillespie was born in Leslie and was the son of James Gillespie, whose occupation was 'iron turner' (ie someone who makes items out of iron). Perhaps John followed in his father's footsteps and became an ironmonger and that is what the shop was in 1940.  This is backed up by another clue from four years earlier, when Mrs Gillespie attended a WRI demonstration evening at the Montrave Hall where she exhibited "kitchen requisites" (Fife Free Press 25 April 1936).

The shop continued as an ironmonger/hardware store and by 1947 it was in the hands of Isaac Cairns.  As the advert below from the Courier of 9 July 1947 shows, it was referred to as 'Cairns' Household Stores'. Mr Cairns was also the son of an ironmonger (his father James had a shop in Methil for many decades).  Isaac Cairns had served in the First World War, enlisting soon after his 19th birthday, and he ran the Emsdorf Street shop for many years.  If you recall Isaac Cairns and his Household Stores, please comment.

Isaac Cairns died in 1970, aged 72, and it was perhaps around that time that John McMillan took over the shop and moved into Bellville. A very fit man and a keen swimmer Mr McMillan (pictured below) was reported in 1986 in the East Fife Mail as having added five medals to his collection at a competition in Glasgow at the age of 73. The article noted that Mr McMillan had completed 42 swimming marathon courses and hoped to reach the 60 mark by 1988. 

Many people will remember the shop during the 1970s and 1980s, as I do.  I would love to hear your memories - what did you buy there?  what do you remember seeing in the window displays? what do you remember of Mr McMillan?
Also, if you know when the shop finally closed and when it was demolished, please comment.  Those newer to Lundin Links might find it hard to imagine there being a shop in the garden of Bellville now, as it has returned to its original state as a standalone house, albeit with slightly fresher looking stonework on the right hand side.

The above photograph shows the newly-completed 'Bellville', on Emsdorf Street and original owners William and Isabella Bethune, with two of their children. As the notice below (from the Fife Free Press of 24 November 1894) shows, the detached house was built to the specifications of Mr Bethune and the architect, John Murray of Kirkcaldy. Presumably the house was completed in 1895, at a time when the first of the new feus in Lundin Links were being built upon and the Post Office was under construction.

An advertisement for the house from 1928 described it as having two public rooms and six bedrooms, as well as a maid's room, kitchen, scullery, etc, bathroom and electric light.  Those of you familiar with the house will know that the house now has two bay windows at the front, rather than the one as pictured above.  Also some will recall the shop that was added to the right side of the house (possibly in the late 1920s/early 1930s after the sale mentioned above), that projected forward into the front garden.  The image at the foot of the post shows the shop, just to the left of the two chatting ladies in the doorway on the far right. At the time of the addition of the shop, the bay window was moved from the right side to the left side of the frontage.  Decades later, when the shop building was demolished, a new bay was added back on to the right side, making a symmetrical pair of bay windows for the first time - almost a century after the house was initially constructed.

Many thanks for John Band for both the photograph of Bellville and the information about the house.

The above postcard features a painting labelled 'Largo, Fife' but I am struggling to place exactly where in Largo this would be.  Some or all of these buildings may be long gone.  Artistic license may have resulted in the image being at odds with reality or perhaps it simply is mislabelled. The buildings seem fairly exposed to the sea compared with today and the spot seems to be a hub for fishing activity.  If you have any theories, please comment.

​The artist was Alexander Young (1865-1923) - a landscape painter and teacher, who specialised in Scottish harbour and coastal scenes. He lived in Fife, Edinburgh and Surrey and exhibited at both the Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy. Reportedly he live in Pittenweem in his later years but I can find little further information on him.

The above images date to the early years of the twentieth century, not long after the opening of the new Lundin Golf Club House.  This group of men regularly played together on the Lundin course.  They are Peter Henderson (architect of the Club House and the Lundin Links Hotel), William Bethune (grocer, former owner of the Lundin Links Hotel and son of Margaret Bethune), Samuel Duncan (one-time joint owner of Lundin Links Hotel), David Stewart (headteacher of Lundin Mill School) and Andrew Lindsay (headteacher at Cowdenbeath, born in Lundin Mill).

In the top left photograph, I believe that, from left to right, are Lindsay, Bethune, Henderson and Stewart.  Certainly in the lower left image, we can see Henderson (left) and Bethune, who are wearing the darker coloured jackets.  Samuel Duncan is holding the club in the lower right image. It is more difficult to tell Lindsay and Stewart apart.  If you can tell, please comment.  If you are aware of any other images of David Milne Stewart, the long-standing headmaster of Lundin Mill School, please do get in touch.

Back in the days before emails and phones, Edinburgh-based Peter Henderson would send a postcard to William Bethune saying he'd be off the train at Lundin Links at 3pm with his golf clubs. Bethune would get his son to pass the message onto his head teacher (Stewart) when he arrived at school. On such days, the school may have closed early so that the eager golfers could be on the course by 3.05!

With thanks to John Band for the images and information

However, Mr Stewart's years in charge at the school were not all plain sailing. In 1888, the School Board of Largo "expressed dissatisfaction" with the poor report of the H.M. Inspector regarding Lundin Mill School and requested a re-examination.  The Board felt that the inspector had been "on the warpath" and that his findings should be questioned. Three years later (and after 24 years in post) Stewart was threatened with dismissal following another less than glowing inspection.  The St Andrews Citizen of 19 November 1892 reported upon this under the headline "Indignation Meeting of Largo Rate Payers". The chair of the school board had moved to dismiss Mr Stewart, however, the rate payers overwhelmingly supported their school master and called a public meeting in the Temperance Hall. There was "a crowded attendance of upwards of 200, including a number of ladies". Members of the school board were specifically asked to attend but only two of the five did so.

The meeting questioned whether Mr Stewart was to blame for the bad report.  One of the causes had been non-attendance. Another had been the condition of the closets. Someone commented that "Mr Stewart was never meant to be a scavenger", prompting laughter. There were suggestions that reports regarding Lundin Mill were "exaggerated and made as black as possible".  Sentiments were expressed that a "good old faithful servant" should be given a "fair chance" and the school board (having been elected to represent the rate payers) take responsibility of some of the shortcomings.  It was agreed that the school board should be asked to withdraw their resolution to dismiss Mr Stewart and a deputation of fifteen men was selected to meet with the board within the week.  The meeting was followed by some drama, as the newspaper article concludes...

"At the close of proceedings, a large section of the youthful portion of the community paraded the village with a lay figure attired in a "surtout" coat and a satin hat covering a profusion of long hair. On the breast was a large placard bearing the words "Peacock Clipshear". The processionists carrying lighted torches attracted much attention, and, after promenading the principal thoroughfares, they burned the effigy at the east end of the village."

Another effigy was burned outside Kirkton School the following month, where the school board were supposed to be meeting to decide the fate of David Stewart. As it turned out, the meeting did not go ahead as all but one member of the board had resigned. This time the effigy was carried amid taunts of "Sudden death of the Clipshear", "through the streets of the Upper and Lower villages. Then it was taken to the sands and burned. A force of police was in the village but their services were not required."  Well, David Stewart survived this episode and by 17 December, the St Andrews Citizen reported that "a movement is on foot to give Mr Stewart, the much respected teacher of Lundin Mill School, a presentation." He continued in post for another 12 years, passing away in the school house on 26 September 1905 at the age of 60. The Edinburgh Evening News of 28 September noted that he had been "the most brilliant student of his year at Moray House Training College". He was also Secretary of Lundin Golf Club and Session Clerk at Largo Kirk.  The esteem in which he was held was demonstrated in 1906, when a "massive monument" was erected in Largo cemetery in the memory of the late head teacher. As the Fife Free Press on 23 June stated...

"It bears the following inscription:- "In loving memory of David Milne Stewart for 37 years headmaster of Lundin Mill Public School, who died 26 September 1905, aged 60 years, highly respected and deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends, and by the community in which he lived for so long". The stone is of Rubislaw granite, with an open book resting on a fern. There are four blocks of granite at the corners of the ground, joined by an enamelled chain. The sculptor was Mr Murdoch of Kirkcaldy, and the monument has been erected by Mr Stewart's family and many warm friends drawn from a wide area."

David Stewart's wife, all five children, and their spouses, now share his grave and headstone.

Something very exciting to share today!  Below are scans of an original artefact from the official opening of the Lundin Golf Club House on 4 April 1896. This folded card would have been given to all the attendees on the day and sets out the running order of the day.  This demonstrates what a special occasion it was and the thought and planning that must have gone into the day.  I wonder who did the artwork and which firm did the printing.

Anyway, we can now see the full programme, beginning with the presentation of a silver key to the club house, given to Mr Gilmour to represent the bond between the club and the owner of the Lundin estate. A series of speeches followed as detailed below, acknowledging the club, the laird, the captain, the architect, the neighbouring clubs and the secretary and committee. Some familiar names appear, including Lundin Mill School master, David Milne Stewart (more of whom to come on the blog imminently). Finally, the various golf matches that took place are listed, including the exhibition game between Ben Sayers and James Kinnell.  These two successful early Scottish professional golfers are pictured at the foot of the post (Sayers is on the left). Leven-born Kinnell was killed in action in World War One in France.

Many thanks to Fiona Wilson (great granddaughter of Robert Philp (named below)) for sharing this fantastic memento of an important historical event in Lundin Links.

I have long wondered what the interior of the Golf Club House at Lundin Links would have looked like when first completed back in 1896. Well, finally, an image - albeit a sketch rather than a photograph - has emerged from the mists of time.  The above drawing shows the 'dining room' in all its late Victorian grandeur.  Note the elegant hanging lamp and the fireplace with wall clock mounted above it. The St Andrews Citizen of 11 April (published one week after the official opening of the club house on 4 April) offers a description of the building...

"The main door, which is protected by a veranda, gives entrance to a spacious and well-lighted hall, with the dining room on the left, the clubroom on the right, and the bar in front.  Large bay windows project towards the front from the dining room and clubroom. The clubroom is a large apartment with an open timber roof. At one side is an alcove having communication with the smoking-room above and lavatories at the back. In the upper portion of the building there is accommodation for the care-taker. The club house is built from the designs of Mr P. L. Henderson, himself an enthusiastic member of the club."

The official opening of the club house was photographed by both John Patrick (formerly of Leven but by then based in Edinburgh) and by Dr Stuart Palm (local doctor and club member).  If you know of more images of the club house when new - either interior or exterior - please get in touch.