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Ballingall's Shores of Fife

29/8/2025

Shores of Fife by William Ballingall was published on 7 October 1872. It was printed by T. and A. Constable of Edinburgh and published by Edinburgh-based Edmonston and Douglas. The volume was dedicated to Sir Robert Anstruther of Balcaskie, Bart., M.P. who was the Lord Lieutenant of Fife. The preface, written from William Ballingall's home at 35 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh (indicated on the photograph below), speaks of the author's "love of his native county" and "desire to promote the art of Engraving on Wood". It also references the "Subscribers" who had to be patient while Largo-born Ballingall completed his research and drawings.

Indeed the amount of research and quantity of illustrations within the book was considerable. was a "labour of love, in which he wrought incessantly for four or five years". Subject matter covered included the archaeology of Fife, the mineralogy of Fife, the Flora of Fife and Kinross and in-depth accounts of several Fife towns and stretches of coastline. Content was contributed by a number of experts - for example Charles Howie wrote the section on flora - but Ballingall himself compiled the chapter on Largo Law and Its Neighbourhood. Within this part of the book, Ballingall writes about Lower Largo being the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, about Sir Andrew Wood, Sir Philip Durham and Sir John Leslie.

The one hundred original illustrations in the book, draw upon the work of various artists. Some of the illustrations were both drawn and engraved by Ballingall. Other artworks were created by others then used as the basis for an engraving by Ballingall. A few were entirely the work of contributors. The many artistic contributions of William himself include representations of St Andrews Cathedral, the Lomond Hills, St Monance Castle and Church and Falkland Palace. His larger scale engravings were signed W Ballingall SC. The "SC" is a Latin abbreviation for sculpsit, meaning "he/she carved it,"

Smaller scale pieces tend to include only a subtle WB towards the foot of the engraving. Of course all of the Largo-related images were both drawn and engraved by Ballingall himself. Those pieces include the Standing Stones of Lundin, Largo Parish Church, Alexander Selkirk's Cottage (as well as specifically his sea-chest and cocoa-nut cup), Andrew Wood's Tower and Pitcruvie (Balcruvie) Castle.

William received high praise for Shores of Fife, noting his "softness and delicacy of touch, for the wonderful manipulation of light and shade" (Dundee People's Journal 12 Oct 1872). He reached the highest capability in wood engraving and we can still enjoy the results of his painstaking artistic endeavours (and the effort of his printers and publishers) today. William Ballingall followed Shores of Fife with further books featuring his artwork: Scenes of Scottish Story (1874) and Edinburgh Past and Present (1877).

You can read more about the life of William Ballingall (1840-1919) here and more about his artistic brothers John Ballingall and Alexander Ballingall in previous blog posts.

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Melancholy Steamer Accident at Largo in 1843

22/8/2025

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The man pictured above had a leading role in the Disruption of 1843 and was for many years a high-profile figure in the Free Church of Scotland. Robert Smith Candlish was born in Edinburgh, the son of a medical teacher. He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1823, following this with studies in divinity. In 1833, he was called to St George’s, a prominent pulpit in Edinburgh, while still in his twenties. Thereafter he established himself as a leading figure in the group who would, after the Disruption in 1843, become the Free Church of Scotland.

As a leader of the Free Church movement and a powerful orator, it was in the run up to the Disruption that Candlish made the journey from Edinburgh to Fife, to give a series of talks. He took the St George steamer to Largo - a route which ran all year round (with an additional evening run during the summer months). The notice below from the 12 October 1842 Scotsman provides details of the service.

However, on the day of Candlish's arrival in Largo, on 9 January 1843, conditions were challenging. A gale, coupled with a heavy sea and an unfavourable tide, meant that a small fllory boat had to be used to transfer passengers from the St George to Lundin Pier on the Drummochy side of the Keil Burn. The small boat had ten men in it and was backing into the small wooden jetty when a large wave swamped the small vessel and she went down. All on board, including Candlish were plunged into ten feet of cold water.

An early report of the incident appeared (above) in the 11 January Scotsman newspaper. It noted that one man had drowned in the accident. This was James Miller a young sailor from Elie, who became tangled in rope and could not be rescued in time to save his life. The burial record of Miller is shown below. It states "James Miller, son of John Miller Shipmaster Elie. He lost his life at Largo coming on shore from the streamer on the 9th January and was buried in Elie 6 yards east from the session house and 4 yards 2 feet from the south apse".

Further details later emerged and a fuller report of the incident was published in the 14 January 1843 Scotsman (shown in full below). Several onlookers leapt to assist the capsized crew and passengers. Reverend Candlish was plucked from the water "in a very precarious state" and took two hours to revive. Among those who assisted in the rescue effort and subsequent care were Reverend Brown (who had been waiting to greet Reverend Candlish), George Duff (keeper of the Inn that would later become the Crusoe) and Dr Lumgair. Although many were rescued, the loss of the young life of Miller cast a gloom over the area.

Later, some dispute arose over precisely what role Reverend Brown played in the whole scenario. The letter below appeared in the 26 January 1843 Fifeshire Journal. This "observer" questions the extent of Brown's actions and states that it was in fact two carters (awaiting the opportunity to carry luggage) that saved Reverend Candlish, with Brown looking on calling "Will nobody save the godly man?". Candlish recovered and was able to continue with his "tour of Church-agitation in the East Neuk" as planned, according to the 12 January Fifeshire Journal, having been "rescued from his perilious situation" from which he "speedily recovered on receiving warm appliances" and later "conveyed to the manse" in Upper Largo, his intended destination.

Candlish and Brown remained associated over their careers, and Reverend Candlish returned to Largo in 1862 to re-open the altered Largo Free Church, as the 21 August 1862 Fifeshire Journal piece below notes. This was the same year that Candlish became Principal of New College, while retaining his position as minister at St George's. As well as his pulpit ministry, he published many theological works during his lifetime. Robert Candlish died on 19 October 1873 at his home at 52 Melville Street, Edinburgh. He is buried at Old Calton Burial Ground.

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United Free Church Building in Upper Largo

15/8/2025

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The last two posts have looked at the two ministers of the United Free Church in Upper Largo. Between the two of them, Rev. Robert Lundin Brown and Rev. William Bruce led the church across 74 years and were the only two clergymen to head up the church during its existence. The congregation was formed in 1843 as a result of the Disruption. A proportion of members of Largo Kirk struck out on their own, and finding ground to the west end of the main street, initially built a "hall of wood". The early church structure was soon replaced with something more substantial - a building which had three roofs, like the historical Tanfield Hall (the site in Edinburgh where the very first assembly of the Free Church of Scotland took place on 18 May 1843). The piece below from 21 August 1862 Fifeshire Journal reports upon the reopening of the church following alterations and repairs by Reverend Robert Candlish (a leading light in the Free Church - more of whom to follow in another post).

The year 1879 brought a significant remodelling of the church. The building closed in May and reopened for worship in late October. The 31 October 1879 Daily Review below, provided detail of these works. The gables were raised to allow for a higher and better supported slated roof. A large window was added to the frontage (as seen in the photograph at the top of this post) and some sources suggest that the church's bell had the distinction of being the biggest in the Parish. The interior was also given an overhaul with several modern conveniences added. Much of the work was undertaken by local joiner Peter Broomfield. This time around the official re-opening was conducted by Reverend James Chalmers Burns, Moderator of the General Assembly at the time. Some two decades later, in 1899, a new organ was installed, with a liberal contribution from William Robinson Ketchen, manager of the National Bank, who was a member of the congregation.

The death of Reverend William Bruce marked the beginning of a long vacancy, during which congregation were brought under the oversight of Reverend James Ewing of Lathones. Ewing left Lathones for Glasgow in 1923, where he worked for ten years before a further move to Dalkeith. [Ewing died in 1954 following a collapse in his vestry after a service (see 18 October 1954 Edinburgh Evening News piece below).]

The combination of a long vacancy due to a shortage of ministers, and the loss of Ewing, led to the ultimate demise of the Free Church in Largo. The office bearers and members decided to dissolve the church (see 12 April Fife Free Press above). The final service took place in the church in April 1924. Some of those present recalled the time when Bruce succeeded Lundin Brown and one of the oldest members was noted as having been baptised in the church just four years after it was first built.

The funds and property of the congregation were left to the General Trustees of the United Free Church. A couple of months later, the 28 June 1924 Fifeshire Advertiser (above) noted that it was problematic to find an alternative use for the building. In fact the building lay empty for many years before an agreement was reached in September 1933 to sell it to David Ramage and the place was converted into a garage. The frontage was remodelled, so that the building had a less church-like appearance. It was only the rear aspect of the building which gave away its original use (and that remains the case to this day).

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Ballingall's Shores of Fife

Melancholy Steamer Accident at Largo in 1843

United Free Church Building in Upper Largo

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