This advertisement dates from 1925 and features an image of a camera from that era. Interestingly, the chemist's shop in Lundin Links had once had a dark room which could be used by amateur photographers. Andrew Hogg was the original proprietor of the Lundin Links Pharmacy. Hogg was born in Melrose in 1853 - the son of the Gas Works manager there. He was already described as a 'druggist' by 1871, aged 18. After a period in Lancashire, England, Mr Hogg returned to Scotland, married and started a family. The 1891 census finds the Hogg family in Leven where they had a chemist business on the High Street (where they also lived). Business must have been doing well, as the family had moved to a house they named "The Eildons" on Marine Road (now part of Church Road) in Leven by the 1901 census. The Lundin Links branch of the business opened a couple of years later, in a newly built row of shops. He was clearly quite innovative in the services and products provided in the shop over the years - even producing a perfume to appeal to visitors to Largo.

Andrew Hogg died in 1937 at the age of 84. He was remembered in his native Melrose when the Southern Reporter reported his passing, stating:

"A Melrose chemist who has spent most of his life in Leven has passed away....Mr Hogg started business in Leven fifty-five years ago....In his younger days he enjoyed fame as a bowler in the Borders. For many years he was chairman of Leven Gas Company until it was taken over by Buckhaven Town Council."

The name of 'A. Hogg' was the name under which the pharmacy continued to trade until 1947.

The first panel of names on the Largo War Memorial shows four members of the Anderson family who all lost their lives in the First World War.  Shown in the photograph above, the brothers (from left to right) were known as Bertie, Ronnie, Charlie and Teddy. They were born as follows: William Herbert (1881), Alexander Ronald (1884), Charles Hamilton (1888) and Edward Kerr (1896). A fifth brother, Harry, had died in 1887 aged only a few days old. The boys parents were William James Anderson (a chartered accountant and stock broker) and Eleanora Kay (one of eight daughters of well-known Glasgow merchant Alexander Kay). 

Although the brothers lived in Glasgow and were educated in Edinburgh, they came to be remembered on the Largo War Memorial because their parents had Strathairly House outside Upper Largo as a second home.  The family would spend weekends and holidays there and ultimately the boys parents would settle their in retirement.  The father, William, died in 1922 at Strathairly. His wife, Nora, became actively involved in local life.  She was president of the local Association of Girl Guides and was involved in the Nursing Association at both the local Largo and Newburn level and at the Fife County level. She hosted many events at Strathairly, such as fund raisers and children's treats, and would have been a contemporary of other well-known local figures such as Leonora Rintoul and the Paxton ladies.  Mrs Anderson died in 1939.

One of the Anderson brothers was killed on this day, exactly a century ago. Alexander Ronald Anderson was in the Highland Light Infantry and died in action at Vielle Chapelle on 8th October 1915. He was the second son to be lost, as his younger brother, Charles Hamilton Anderson (also of the Highland Light Infantry) had been killed during the Battle of Givenchy on 19th December 1914.

More than three years passed before the youngest brother, Edward Kerr Anderson, died. He had earlier seen action at the Somme but had transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was a flying instructor in WInchester, England, and lost his life following a plane accident there on 16th March 1918. Only nine days later, the eldest and last remaining brother, William Herbert Anderson, died at Bois Favieres near Maricourt, France. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross "for most conspicuous bravery, determination, and gallant leading of his command". The following is an account of the incident:

"The enemy attacked on the right of the battalion frontage, and succeeded in penetrating the wood held by our men. Owing to successive lines of the enemy following on closely there was the greatest danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned. Grasping the seriousness of the situation, Colonel Anderson made his way across the open in full view of the enemy now holding the wood on the right, and after much effort succeeded in gathering the remainder of the two right companies. He personally led the counter-attack and drove the enemy from the wood, capturing twelve machine guns and seventy prisoners, and restoring the original line.His conduct in leading the charge was quite fearless and his most splendid example was the means of rallying and inspiring the men during a most critical hour. Later on the same day, in another position, the enemy had penetrated to within three hundred yards of the village and were holding a timber-yard in force. Colonel Anderson reorganised his men after they had been driven in and brought them forward to a position of readiness for a counter-attack. He led the attack in person and throughout showed the utmost disregard for his own safety. The counter-attack drove the enemy from his position, but resulted in this very gallant officer losing his life. He died fighting within the enemy's lines, setting a magnificent example to all who were privileged to serve under him."

The brothers' parents were already heavily involved in supporting regimental charities before the loss of any of their sons. Their ongoing fundraising led to Mr Anderson being awarded a C.B.E.. The four brothers are remembered, not only on the Largo Parish War Memorial, but also on a memorial within Upper Largo Church and on several other memorials in Glasgow, Edinburgh and in other parts where they were known.  

The photograph above and to the side were taken early in 1990 and show the viaduct before the fitting of drainpipes. In December 1992 notice was given to the public that it was proposed to "install downpipes" on the listed structure.  Other repairs and reconstruction of a wall were to take place at the same time. Presumably the work was carried out in 1993 (if you remember this work being carried out, please comment).

The reason for the installation of these pipes would obviously be to improve the drainage arrangements.  A similar project on another disused viaduct at a similar date spoke of such structures being at risk of becoming "saturated, and the stonework damaged by frost" and of "leaching out of the mortar". While not particularly attractive, the drainpipes at least help to preserve this great symbol of skill and enterprise.

Below are some recent ​images showing the pipes on the viaduct.

This wonderful image of a train filling the expanse of the viaduct at Lower Largo was taken by Helen Muir in April 1957 and was kindly shared by her and her daughter, for visitors to this site to enjoy.  At the time that this photo was taken, the viaduct was a century old. Below is a more recent photograph of a similar view.  Aside from the obvious difference - no train! - note the changes to the house on the left, with the end dwelling being built up to align with its neighbour. There are also now drain pipes attached to the viaduct....more on that in the next post.

More images of the viaduct in days gone by (or indeed other local scenes) would be very welcome!

The Cottage Tearoom has been covered on this site a couple of times before - both the early years and more recent times. The above advertisement dates from the 1990s, when traditional high teas were still a big selling point at the tearoom. At this time gifts were for sale in the shop side of the business (in the background in the photo below) while the restaurant area occupied the larger space in the foreground. The entrance was to the left out of shot and the kitchen to the rear of the shop. There were around six tables, each seating around four people. Specials were shown on the blackboards seen on the wall and the ladies in the photograph were regular customers.

Back in 1988, preparations were under way to hand over the former railway viaduct at Lower Largo from the British Rail Property Board to the North East Fife District Council. The proposed change in ownership led to discussion around the future use of the structure. Some hoped that the landmark might form part of the official coastal path for walkers. It was recognised, however, that the first step would have to be to clear debris from the top of the viaduct and assess its structural condition. Local councillor Andrew Gilmour suggested that the current owners might be prepared to provide funding equivalent to what it would have cost to demolish the bridge and take away the debris. 
Other bodies mentioned as potentially supporting such a project were the Scottish Tourist Board, the East Neuk of Fife Preservation Society and the Maritime Heritage Project. The local community council backed the idea but were conscious that safety considerations would have to be fully weighed up.

Happily, the grade B listed viaduct, built by the East Fife Railway Company in 1856-7, still stands in all its glory, but the vision of it being turned into a footpath never came about.  No doubt in this day and age such a plan would have proved to be a health and safety nightmare (unlike it was a century ago).