VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO
  • Blog

The August Invasion of Fife

31/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The amusing piece from the Fifeshire Advertiser of 3 August 1912 comments on the volume of summer visitors to Fife from the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh - calling it "an invasion".  Seaside holidays soared in popularity with the expansion of the railway network in the mid-nineteenth century, helped by the firm belief that the sea air and bathing had significant health benefits.  Whether it was a short break or a longer stay for the summer season, there was plenty on offer for the holidaymaker to the Fife Coast.  Pierrot shows, concerts, sporting activities, boating and bazaars were some examples of entertainment to be found.

At the time of the above article, Lundin Links and Largo would have had a significant number of visitors that would take a house let for a month, or two or three months.  Newspapers would print a list of names and addresses of houses for let and bookings might be managed by an agent such as a local shopkeeper (such as Margaret Bremner at the Lundin Links Post Office).  Some families would send luggage on ahead. Fathers might commute to the city during the week.  Some house owners might move in with relatives for the season or cram into an attic or annex in order to capitalise on the demand for holiday accommodation.

It might be less of an invasion these days, but there's no place else I'd rather be at this time of the year - especially if the west coast weather keeps away!
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Dr William Eggeling

26/7/2016

2 Comments

 
Having written previously about both Dr George Lumgair and Dr Stuart Palm, I would like to turn attention now to the next in the succession of long-serving Largo doctors, namely Dr William Eggeling.  He was in practice in Largo from soon after the death of Dr Palm in March 1908 until his own death in 1946.  It's possible that some people living today may remember Dr Eggeling or at least recall parents or older relatives speaking of him.  If you have any information about him at all, please get in touch by commenting on this post or by using the 'Contact' button - his descendants would love to learn more about him!  
Picture
Julius Franz Wilhelm Eggeling was born in London to German parents on 28 October 1873.  When his family moved to Scotland, he was educated at George Watson's College and Edinburgh University.  He obtained an M.A. before going on to study Medicine and Surgery - being awarded his M.B. Ch. B. in 1901.  Seven years later, William filled the gap left by the death of Dr Palm and was living and practising at the Palms' former residence, St Leonard's, on South Feus, Upper Largo. In 1908, at the age of 35, he married Ellis Mitchell Wood.  The photograph above, shows Dr Eggeling probably not long after that on his motorcycle. The couple had four children: William Julius (born 1909), Minnie Anne Annandale (1911), Alfred Homann (1914) and Thomas Frederick (1916).  The family can be seen together in the photograph below. The Doctor had a distinctive car (a British-made G.W.K. - see below) which became well-known in the area and even featured on a popular postcard of Upper Largo at the time.
Picture
Picture
Dr Eggeling had a challenging time during the First World War, when some highlighted his German descent.  However, his work seems to have been tireless through this period and beyond.  During the Second World War the Eggelings, like many others, took in evacuees from cities threatened by air raids.  In fact, they took a family of five, who stayed longest of all the locally hosted evacuees. Their oldest son would later comment that in all the decades that his father worked in Largo, he only took two holidays that he can recall. 

Sometimes patients could not afford to pay the medical fees but Dr Eggeling would not turn them away.  He was often given gifts instead, for example books.  His daughter-in-law recalled one particular case...

"On one occasion, a motorist crashed his car at the bad corner on the main road between Upper Largo and Lundin Links" and in the resultant accident, bit off the end of his tongue.  He "walked up to the surgery at St Leonard's with the tip of his tongue in his hands.  Dr William Eggeling simply sewed it back on again" and once healed, the tongue was apparently "as good as new"!

There was another story about a man who had an accident near Peat Inn during a severe winter and whose leg was so badly injured that Dr Eggeling had to amputate it back at Largo without anaesthetic (only whisky). Do you know more about these stories or others?

Dr Eggeling died on 23 May 1946, aged 73, while his wife passed only weeks later on 11 July.  The pair are shown in the photograph below in their garden at Upper Largo.
Picture
If this information and these photographs stir any recollections of the Eggeling family, please do get in touch.

[With thanks to David Eggeling for sharing the information and images]
2 Comments

Horse-Riding Accident 1880

22/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The following story is taken from the book "Eighty Years' Reminiscences" by Colonel John Anstruther-Thomson of Charleton (1818-1904) (pictured).  Although quite lengthy, it is worth reading in order to gain an excellent insight to the type of incident that Doctors Lumgair and Palm would have been called to and the type of treatment that they might have given. This incident occurred in 1880 to the author's daughter....

"Rosie galloped away straight across the field and got an awful fall over a wall rather up hill and into a road. Her groom, Woods, on "Bachelor," instead of following her, went straight up the field and through a gate. When he got round to where she was, she had just got upon her feet and the horse was galloping away. The blood was pouring down from her face. He jumped off his horse, and asked her if she could come home in a carriage, then he left her in charge of Mr. Balfour and rode home for the carriage.

Her mother wrote : " I sent for Doctor Lumgair, and I got towels and sponges, sal-volatile and eau- de-Cologne. As I was going out I met Mr. Balfour in back drawing-room, who relieved me by telling me that it was a severe cut. I drove in the brougham to Mr. Scott's house. She was lying on a bed, Ella Erskine with her. She told Ella that she did not wish me to see it, so I was sent downstairs to wait till she walked down, bare-headed (hat torn to pieces). She was bleeding and did lose a great deal of blood.

At the door of Charleton stood Doctors Lumgair and Palm. She walked to my bedroom and was placed upon the sofa. They chloroformed her. She took an unusual amount of chloroform to send her off. Ella Erskine had followed us, and up to this time was in the room, I thought it unnecessary that she should remain longer, so she left. They then stitched up the wound with silver wire and gave her brandy. I got her undressed (the doctors staying in the house) and I and Christie helped her into bed. I shall sleep in your dressing-room. The maid will sit up to-night with her. The doctors are coming to-night at seven o'clock to cut off the half of the silver wire now sticking out."


Dr Lumgair writes a follow-up communication...

Largo, 16th February, 1880, Thursday Evening, 9.30 p.m.  My Dear Sir, I was at Charleton when your telegram arrived to-night, and was sorry I could not reply in course, I will telegraph in the morning, which you will receive before this ; however I cannot in a telegram give you particulars. Miss Rosie's horse in attempting a stone wall failed to get over it, and rolled over, throwing her on her face, I fear she had struck on a stone. Her face is a good deal cut, her lip on the right side from the nose is completely cut through, and it is separated also along the bottom of the nose to the left side. It was all hanging down and is a very dirty lacerated wound.

Immediately on receiving intelligence of the accident. Dr. Palm and I drove along, put her under chloroform, and carefully stitched it. The parts are very much swollen, but to-night she seems very comfortable and complains little, if at all. Had the wound been a clear incised wound it would have been little trouble, but it is a nasty ragged, dirty wound, and I fear may not heal nicely without leaving a considerable blemish ; however in that I may be mistaken. It is beautifully put in position with silver stitches, and the edge of the wound with a hare-lip needle, and I earnestly hope it may do well.

She has slept a little this afternoon, and feels, on the whole, better than might have been expected; but of course the most critical part is to come. However you may keep your mind at rest so far that there is no injury to any internal organs, and that I am not apprehensive as to danger to her life. If all goes on well, I will not telegraph, but should the least anxiety occur I will at once make you aware of it. I would have telegraphed this afternoon, but Mrs. Thomson assured me it was unnecessary as she was to do it herself.

I am, in haste,  Yours very sincerely, George Lumgair 


Colonel Anstruther-Thomson later noted that when he returned home he "found her in bed quite cheery, but she could not speak, and could only suck milk or soup through a tube. Dr. Lumgair treated her with great skill, and she soon got better, but had a very big lump on her lip. The chief difficulty was to keep her from laughing. Some years after she had an operation on her lip, and it was restored to its natural size."

0 Comments

Dr George Lumgair

22/7/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
The above simple notice, placed in the Fife Herald on 16 February 1837, marked the beginning of a remarkable career and a lasting legacy of medical care in Largo Parish.  Yet, at the time, who could have imagined that the nineteen-year-old medical graduate, originally from Arbroath, would have become, by the time of his death, the oldest of his profession in Fife. Born in 1818, son of linen manufacturer David Lumgair, George left for Edinburgh at a very young age to study medicine at the University and the College of Surgeons.  He seems to have also undertaken some study in St Andrews before settling into a country practice at Upper Largo.  

Initially, Dr Lumgair lodged with Mary Thom and the census of 1841 shows him still lodging with her four years later, living in between George Simpson the tailor and John Marr the grocer on what appears to have been the Main Street. One of the incidents that Dr Lumgair attended during this period was the fatal accident at Lundin Pier when the flory boat carrying people ashore from the St George steamer went down in January 1843. On 14 Nov 1848, George married Frances Hart Beveridge, daughter of the town clerk of Dunfermline, William Beveridge. By this time George was living in 'Largo Cottage' on South Feus, Upper Largo.  The couple are pictured standing outside this house below c1870 (an image which appears in the book 'Seatoun of Largo' by Ivy Jardine).  Here they would live out the rest of their lives.
Picture
George and Frances had two daughters - Anna Simpson Beveridge (1849) and Agnes Crawford (1851).  The younger daughter would go on to marry Stuart Palm, who became her father's partner in medical practice before succeeding him. The Palms settled just a few doors along the street at 'St Leonard's'. The photograph above hints at the Lumgairs' interest in horticulture, with their well-tended garden.  Their names crop up in newspaper archives in relation to floral fetes. Dr Lumgair was involved in the Largo Field Naturalists' Society and was at one time president.  Dr Lumgair had to keep horses and had a coachman that worked for him for 23 years - James Cunningham who died in 1877. The advert below shows the doctor advertising a pony for sale.
Picture
In 1882 George Lumgair was unanimously elected as the first President of the Fifeshire Medical Association, when it was constituted. He also became a Justice of the Peace around that time. However, on 1 November 1884 Dr Lumgair passed away aged 67 after several months of illness. The Fife Herald quoted the Edinburgh Medical Journal's tribute to his memory the following month...

"For the long period of forty seven years he laboured [in Largo], hardly ever a day off duty, though a great martyr to bronchial asthma....In his practice, his name was indeed a household word, and his bright smile and kindly hopeful manner, won the affection of all classes of his patients as his skillful care commanded their confidence. His professional brethren in this and the neighbouring counties recognised his many-sided ability, and gladly sought his help in consultation....An accurate physician, an able surgeon, and an accomplished accoucheur, his wonderful experience and his extensive knowledge of human nature made him a power far beyond his immediate neighbourhood; and his enthusiasm in this work, and his interest in the welfare of the people amongst whom he spent his life, will not be soon forgotten."
1 Comment

Buckthorns Poultry Farm

22/7/2016

5 Comments

 
Picture
In a recent post, I speculated over what the many huts were visible beyond The Temple at Lower Largo around the 1940s. Well, thanks to some comments from blog readers and some further research, I can confirm that these huts housed poultry as part of Buckthorns Farm.  The above image marks the hen huts and the site of the Viewforth houses on each side of the railway line.  The extract from the 1950 valuation roll for the area (below) shows both the Buckthorns Poultry Farm and the other houses at Viewforth.  By this stage the two houses closest to the sea had been condemned ('Viewforth B' above).  Viewforth of course is a very old site that once was the location of a salt works.  

Amazingly, even plans for the 'hen and duck houses' could be found on-line.  The plan shown below was dated 1910, so poultry must have been kept on the site for upwards of forty years!  The photographs at the foot of this post show the Viewforth site as it is today.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
5 Comments

Upper Largo Chemist

16/7/2016

3 Comments

 
Picture
The above multi-view postcard of Upper Largo features a range of familiar views of the area.  I've picked out in detail below the view of the Main Street.  One of the many shops at the time was George Mackie Ltd, the Chemist.  George Mackie had an earlier chemist business in Glasgow on Renfield Street and had lived in Kirkintilloch.  However, he made the move to Fife in 1935, taking over the existing chemist shop from James Bowie.  Mackie lived at 'Lynwood' on Upper Largo's Main Street just a few doors along from the shop (which itself has now been converted into a house).  The Upper Largo chemist business was in fact run by his daughter Miss B. H. Mackie.

George Mackie was "an authority on music, having one of the finest collections of high-class musical recordings in the District", according to the Kirkintilloch Herald, which reported his death on 14 May 1941.  It also noted that Mackie made musical instruments as a hobby and "for some time conducted the Players' Club Orchestra with great success".  He was also an elder at St David's Church.  He was 77 years old when he died.  The Upper Largo Pharmacy continued under his name for many years and it was only in 1975 that the business was wound up.

James Bowie, Mackie's predecessor, had been local chemist throughout the 1920s and early 1930s.  On 25 May 1935, the Fife Free Press reported that "Mr Bowie, who has carried on a chemist's business at Upper Largo for a great many years, is leaving the district.  The premises will be opened soon under new management."  At the foot of this post is an advert from a few months later (1936) and another dating from 1950 about conquering smoking.  Prior to James Bowie there had been a chemist named Peter Cowie in Upper Largo, who had died in 1917 at the age of 46.
Picture
Picture
Picture
3 Comments

In The Swim

9/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
A summery novelty postcard from c1940s.  The sender was "having a lovely holiday with grand weather"!

The idiom "in the swim" is less heard these days.  Meaning to be actively involved in or participating in the flow of events or happenings.  Examples of usage might be "I've been ill, but soon will be back in the swim of things" or "I can't wait to settle down and get into the swim of things" or "Despite her age, she's still in the swim of things".

0 Comments

Net-Making

9/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
This interesting photograph appears in the book 'Fife's Fishing Industry' by Linda McGowan (2003).  It shows the female workers of the Cardy Net Factory in Lower Largo.  The factory started in 1867 - the enterprise of David Gillies. Although the business was extremely successful, and employed around sixty women at 36 looms, it was relatively short-lived.  A decline in fishing saw the works close in 1886.  However, the building still stands, as does the imposing Cardy House behind it (built in 1871 for Gillies).  The house's Victorian interiors were preserved for over a century.
0 Comments

Huts Beyond The Temple

6/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The above postcard image shows a busy beach scene looking from close to The Orry at Lower Largo towards The Temple. Zooming in a little (see below), the left-hand-side of the image shows a beach busy with bathers.  However, on the right-hand-side between the end of The Temple and Viewforth some unusual hut-like structures can be seen scattered about the slope above the railway line.  They appear again in a similar postcard scene shown further below.  What are these? Read on below for my theory.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The above images date from around the 1940s and so I wonder whether these are war-time related buildings.  Perhaps poultry sheds to bolster the supplies of meat and eggs?  Or sheds to house some other livestock?  Maybe they were there for longer than just the duration of the war?  Another view of these structures can be seen in the 1944 aerial photograph below (on the right surrounding the Viewforth buildings).  It shows about a dozen of the sheds - many with worn ground immediately around them.  If you can confirm what these were or have further information - please comment.
Picture
0 Comments

Pitcruvie Castle

3/7/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
Pitcruvie (or Balcruvie as it is sometimes called) Castle, to the north of Lundin Links and Lower Largo adjacent to Keil's Den, is a ruinous grade B listed building. Built on the edge of a steep bank above the Keil Burn, the listing text describes the castle as follows:

"Possibly late 15th century with some reconstruction circa 1500. Ruinous rectangular, rubble built tower with later projecting stair at north west. At south east angle built up entrance at 1st floor level with indications of an earlier projecting stair. 2 intercommunicating ground floor vaulted chambers with trap being only access to 1st floor. Entrance to 1st floor on west elevation, round arched and formerly opening to screens passage. Chimney on east wall of hall barrel vaulted (now gone) inserted, early springing remains. Upper floors now fragmentary."

Furthermore, RCAHMS provide the following description of the castle:
​
"This ruined tower has features which suggest that it has at some time been reconstructed though the difference in building style is so slight that it may indicate only changes made during building. The date of the original construction would seem to be a little before 1500. On plan the tower is an oblong lying E-W and measuring 25.5ft by 38.25ft with the remains of a small stair-wing projecting from the north-west angle. It is constructed of dressed stone with rubble filling and is now much weathered." 

The site belonged to a branch of the Ramsay family in the 14th century but became the property of the second Lord Lindsay of the Byres* upon his marriage with the heiress of Pitcruvie. The book 'The East Neuk of Fife - It's History and Antiquities' describes the story of the site's ownership as follows:

"It belonged, in the beginning of the fourteenth century, to a family of the name of Ramsay. Sir John Ramsay's granddaughter, Janet Ramsay, Lady Pitcruvie, married David, second Lord Lindsay of the Byres,....David, Lord Lindsay, died in 1492, and was succeeded by his brother John, who died without issue in 1497, and the title then came to Patrick, who, in 1498, has a charter of Pitcruvie for himself and his wife ; and his son John was styled Lindsay of Pitcruvie, whence we gather that Janet Ramsay had brought the lands of Pitcruvie into the Lindsay family. It was, with other lands, erected into the barony of Pitcruvie, and remained long in possession of their descendants. In or about 1650 Lord Crawford was obliged to sell Pitcruvie to James Watson of Aithernie. Soon after we find it in the hands of Arnot of Fernie ; and it now forms part of the estate of Largo."

 *
Byres is located close to Haddington in East Lothian

Below are some pencil drawings of Pitcruive Castle done in 1838 by Alexander Archer, which show it in broadly the same state as it remains today.
Picture
Picture
4 Comments
<<Previous

    About

    This 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!

    Search

    There is no in-built search facility on this site. To search for content, go to Google and type your search words followed by "lundin weebly".

    Contact

    Categories

    All
    Antiquities
    Beach
    Boarding Houses
    Business
    Churches
    Clubs And Societies
    Drummochy
    Facilities
    Farming
    Fishing
    Golf
    Houses
    Keil's Den
    Largo Law
    Lower Largo
    Masseney Braes
    New Gilston
    People
    Railway
    School
    Shops
    Standing Stanes
    Streets
    Tourism
    Upper Largo
    Viaduct
    War

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Links

    Largo Baywatch Blog
    Fife Family History Society
    ​
    Polish Parachute Brigade Info​

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.