The top photograph shows four members of the Paxton family of Homelands having tea on the lawn with young relatives in the 1930s.  The ivy-clad house is just visible in the background and is shown again in the smaller image.  

The ladies in the photo are from left to right, Misses Isabel Paxton, Margaret Paxton and Jessie Paxton and Mrs Margaret Paxton (seated). By the time this photograph was taken Mr Paxton had passed away.  

I have already written a post about Mr Robert Paxton and about Homelands but in the near future I intend to write individual posts on the other members of the family.  Each one of them led a full and interesting life, in which they contributed immensely to the local community and to a range of good causes.  I would love to hear from anyone who knew the Paxtons personally.

This photograph from October 1974, shows members of the Montrave Hall Management Committee discussing renovation plans. Following a 1968 internal modernisation of the hall, the concern six years later was the roof and exterior of the building - shown here in its original corrugated iron finish.  Major repairs were required due to the "desperate condition" of the structure, which was built in 1910 as a 'temporary hall'. A combination of fund-raising activity, grants and support from local firms was planned in order to meet the substantial costs involved.  As we now know, the money was raised, the roof replaced and the iron walls made more permanent with the addition of harled brickwork.

This document from December 1871 advises of an increase in rental for the Sunnybraes Farm (part of the Lundin Estate).  At this time the farm was rented by long-time tenants the Forgans.  James Forgan Senior had farmed there since at least the 1850s and handed over to his son, also James, around the 1870s.  In the 1881 census, James Forgan Junior was recorded at Sunnybraes as "Farmer (of 300 acres, 200 arable, employing 4 men, 5 women and 1 boy)".

The 1871 note of increase in rental includes an 'ochre rent' and a 'rent of sand pit'.  Ochre is a natural earth pigment containing hydrated iron oxide, which ranges in colour from yellow to deep orange or brown. Used as a paint, it can be seen on walls of many historic buildings (for example in Culross).

In the 1890s farmworkers cottages were built for Sunnybraes Farm on Pilmuir Road, close to the junction with Leven Road (now known as Pilmuir Cottages).

James Forgan Jr remained at Sunnybraes after his retirement, until his death in 1923 at the age of 79.



 

Although the above postcard is entitled "Golf Links and Railway Station", it's interesting to imagine this scene without either of these features.  Prior to the creation of the Lundin Golf Club in 1868 and the building of the railway in 1857, all of this land would have been Sunnybraes Farm.  The farm house is shown up on the high ground to the left, with the road to Leven running behind it.  Dating from 1815, the Sunnybraes farmhouse has seen its neighbouring houses along Leven Road multiply over the decades.  It's easy to see how the farm got its name - being situated on a south-facing slope, overlooking Largo Bay.  The farm and its name pre-date the existing house, as the farm is named on a 1775 map. It is also mentioned in the Caledonian Mercury newspaper of 8 July 1775, in an advert which stated:

"Drummochy, by Leven - Land to be let for any number of years, not exceeding nineteen, the farms of Muirton of Lundin and Sunnybraes of Lundin, lying within the Parish of Largo, in the Shire of Fife. "

It went on the describe Sunnybraes as being "remarkably convenient for sheep".  Originally, not part of any village, Sunnybraes was considered closest to the village of Drummochy back in the 18th century.  Produce from the farm may well have been transported using the port at Drummochy.  With the creation of the railway station so close to the farm, I imagine rail must have been used at some point as well.  Over time, the expansion of Lundin Links saw land use shift away from farming in this particular area.

It was recently suggested by a visitor to this website that a view of Largo Harbour prior to the building of the viaduct would be of interest.  I've never heard of such a photograph existing (if you know otherwise, please get in touch), nor had I seen any artwork of such a scene.  So the challenge was set to mock something up myself - and here it is.  I'm not an artist and this may contain historical inaccuracies, but at least this sketch gives the general impression of the area without the viaduct.

With the village of Drummochy on the left and Seatoun of Largo on the right, the two villages were separated by the mouth of the Keil Burn - connected only by a rickety wooden footbridge at a point further away from the sea than the current road bridge.  The chimney of the flax spinning mill (later to become Largo Oil and Cake Mill) rises up behind the Drummochy cottages, yet sits on the opposite side of the burn.  The Crusoe Hotel building would still have been partly in use as a granary, partly as an inn.  The harbour itself would most probably be busy with boats and often a hive of activity.

When building of the viaduct began in 1856 it must have caused quite a stir.  An image of it under construction would be fascinating to see.  By the time the railway opened in 1857, the villages would never be the same again.

This photograph dates from the mid-late 1960s when Lundin Mill Primary School was still located on Crescent Road at the site of the present library.  If you can pinpoint the class and/or date or know anyone in the picture, please comment.  It shows the playground behind the school building.  Beyond the brick wall you can see the tops of the buildings on Emsdorf Street.  The small piece of black and white building frontage, just visible in the centre background, is the La Scala cinema. The old school was built in the 1850s and closed in 1974, when the present primary school opened.  The new school building celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.  The old school building continues to house the village library.  Please comment if you have memories of the old school on Crescent Road.

A couple of undated views of the Standing Stanes today but with a bit of information about the coming and going of railings and the development of the golf course, a guess can be made at dates.  The top image shows the surrounding land as a field rather than a golf course.  The Lundin Ladies Golf Club moved to 'Standing Stanes Park' in 1909, so the photograph was probably taken shortly before then.

The other postcard shows the stanes surrounded by a single set of railings.  These railings were in place from time of the opening of the Ladies course on its new site until 1922, when they were replaced with two separate enclosures, allowing play through the middle.

The presence of railings required there to be a local rule in event of balls falling within the enclosed area or other interference from the structures.  Eventually, the deterioration of the railings and the tendency for litter to collect within them led to them being completely removed in the mid-1980s.  Now the Standing Stanes are an integral part of the course and look as they are meant to be - imposing and unconfined.

The above view of Leven Road probably dates from around 1910 and shows Miss Margaret Bremner's Post Office in the left foreground.  The Postal Arrangements advertised for June 1897 (see notice below) show the long opening hours kept by the local Post Offices, as well as the multiple collections and deliveries made daily.  During the summer seasons in particular, the Post Offices would have been kept extremely busy.

Miss Bremner was Postmisstress from the initial building and opening of the Lundin Links Post Office in 1896 for around 20 years.  In her retirement she lived at Fir Park villas on Crescent Road and was actively involved in the community.  She died in 1938 at the age of 83 in a nursing home in Edinburgh.

Mr James H. Young was stationmaster at Largo for nine years until January 1929.  During that time the station won many awards.  For example, in 1923 a special prize of £10 was awarded by L.N.E.R. for 'best kept station' from a field of over 300 competitors.  The Courier of 5 January 1929 reported on the leaving presentation, saying that Mr Young (who was departing to take up a post in Tillicoultry) was:

"...met in the general waiting-room at Largo Station last night, and presented with a silver-mounted walking-stick, with inscription, from the station staff, and a well-filled wallet of Treasury notes from traders and friends....Mrs Young was presented with a dinner and tea service."

There had previously been an article in the Courier announcing Mr Young's new post.  This article from 7 November 1928 had spoken of his 36 years service with the railways, beginning at Tynehead, on the Waverley route, and including a variety of posts across Scotland.  The piece continued...

"He takes a keen interest in beautifying his station, and during his nine years at Largo has been instrumental in gaining four first class certificates and two specials for best kept station, his model of the Flying Scotsman, made of cement and shells, being a great attraction.  He has also associated himself with all organisations in the district pertaining to the welfare of the community.  He is a member of the Parish Council, an elder of the Parish Church, member of the Men's Social Club Executive, Member of the Literary Society and treasurer of the Harbour Committee.  During his residence in Largo he has gained the confidence and esteem of both shopkeepers and travelling public, who wish him success and prosperity in his new sphere."

Mr Young and his wife eventually returned to the Largo area, where his son also lived, in his retirement and he died on 28 October 1941 at Rossini Place, Lundin Links, aged 68.  As well as the shell-covered model of the Flying Scotsman, the genial Mr Young had made a similarly decorated statue and sun-dial. These were reportedly much photographed over the years.  If you have a photo of any of these features, or the station during that era, please get in touch.