Category: Churches - VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO

VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO

Newburn Parish Church Artefacts

14/3/2025

An earlier post looked at the unification of Newburn Parish Church and Largo Parish Church. The two churches united in 1958, with the Newburn Church closing completely in January 1961. Before the church building at Newburn was converted into a private dwelling, a number of important artefacts were moved from there to Largo Parish Church at Upper Largo. One of the first things to be relocated was the Newburn Parish 1914-18 War Memorial Plaque, pictured above. In the images below, captured in 1963, the empty wall space and exposed brickwork indicates the place where this was once mounted on the church wall. This plaque is still proudly displayed within the church at Upper Largo.

The Newburn communion silver (which included two cups dated 1772) was of course retained for use by the unified church. One of the cups can be seen in detail above (as featured in the book 'Largo Kirk' by Douglas Lister and James Gillies (1968)). A wider range of the Newburn communion silver can be seen in situ at Newburn Parish Church in the photograph below (from the book 'The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843' by George Hay (1957)).

The largest item relocated from Newburn to Largo was the panelled pulpit and canopy (seen above in another image from the book 'The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843' by George Hay (1957)). This was removed and relocated to Largo Parish Church ahead of the conversation of Newburn Church into a private dwelling. Below is a composite image showing the pulpit both in its original location at Newburn (left, from the Canmore collection) and in its home of the last sixty years, Largo Kirk (right).

In fact, the installation of the Newburn pulpit at Largo was part of a wider programme of renovations at the time. This saw the communion table relocated from the east wall of the chancel to the axis of the cross, and the re-siting of the organ. The 29 September 1965 Leven Mail reported on the works and the extract below highlights the introduction of the Newburn pulpit and font.

On Sunday 26 September 1965 a special service took place to rededicate Largo and Newburn Parish Church, including the dedication of the new church furnishings. The notice below appeared in the Leven Mail two weeks beforehand. If you remember this service or have any memories of Newburn Parish Church before its closure, please get in touch or leave a comment.

Kirk House

7/3/2025

The previous post looked at Newburn Parish Church, which was in active use from 1815 until January 1961. The church then closed and remained empty for a few years. In 1964, the Church of Scotland decided to sell the building and the advert below appeared in the 1 April 1964 Leven Mail. Viewings were arranged through the minister of the church at Upper Largo, Reverend James S. Paterson.

The purchaser, some months later, was Leven architect L.A. Rolland, with the intention to convert the rural church into a dwelling house. One huge attraction of the property is its elevated position and extensive views, which were described as "across eight counties" on a clear day.

The update above appeared in the 1 June 1965 Scotsman newspaper. The "elegant pulpit" mentioned in the piece can be seen in the floor plan below at the lower centre of the main rectangular space. The pulpit was moved to Largo and Newburn Parish Church in 1965 and is still in use today. The diagram below (from the book The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843 by George Hay (1957)) also shows the four pillars which held up the upper gallery. The lower level pew layout is shown including the central five box pews which could be converted into a space for a long communion table. The session house projected to the south and the small tower is shown to the east.

As the architect firm of L.A. Rolland and Partners of Leven embarked upon the project, the key challenge was to insert an intermediate floor without spoiling the external appearance of the building from the south (as seen in the photograph at the top of this post). The two tall arched south-facing windows once flanked the pulpit. In the end the intermediate floor was set back from the glass and the two south-facing doors were glazed to internal floor level. The main entrance became through the base of the tower, which acted as a vestibule.

At the north facing ground level, the former session room became a morning room (seen in the background of the photograph above, with steps leading up into a reception room). An original stone gallery staircase provided access to the first floor. The original pillars and some of the wood panelling were reused. The image below shows the dining room with steps to the left leading up to the former upper gallery of the church. The completed conversion comprised four bedrooms (one en-suite), dining room, morning room, drawing room, kitchen and offices. The completed house, named Kirk House, was sold in 1970 for £15,000.

The picture below, (from the Canmore Collection - http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1636717) shows the building from the north, where some reconfiguration of windows was carried out. In fact the category B listing for the building states that "North elevation symmetry lost by insertion of 1 door and window".

The top image and both internal photographs featured in the booklet 'New Life for Old Churches', published in 1977 by HMSO. In fact a sketch of Kirk House by Roy Worskett was used as the cover drawing for this booklet (below).

Newburn Parish Church

28/2/2025

Canmore Collection http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1579039

The image of Newburn Parish Church above was captured in October 1963, at which point the church had been closed for almost three years. The church building was the design of Largo architect Alexander Leslie and was completed in 1815. The design follows a traditional Scottish post-Reformation layout. The panelled pulpit, flanked by tall Gothic arched windows, was centrally located on one side of a rectangular hall. Galleries filled the other three sides (see photograph below). The session room was behind the pulpit at ground level (and can be seen front and centre in the image above). A small bell tower and spire is attached to the eastern end of the building.

Canmore Collection http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1579049

Alexander Leslie designed several churches in Fife, including Ceres (1806) and Kilrenny (1807) and he was also responsible for the 1816 incorporation of Largo Parish Church's earlier tower and chancel into the cruciform church we see today. Born in 1754, Alexander was the son of Largo wright and cabinet maker Robert Leslie (1723-1804) and his wife Anne Carstairs. Alexander Leslie died in 1835, and is buried at Largo Churchyard, alongside his parents and younger brother Sir John Leslie (1766-1832).

Now a listed building, the 1815 Newburn Church is described as follows:

Simple rectangular-plan Gothic church, with 2-stage square tower to east. Whin rubble, with yellow ashlar long and short dressings: upper stage of tower is ashlar; pointed and hood-moulded belfry opening to each face, corbelled and crenellated parapet and faceted spire. Symmetrical south elevation: glazed former doors to outer bays, low centrally placed piend-roofed projecting vestry, below 2 blind quatrefoil panels and flanked by 2 tall windows: all openings pointed-headed and hood-moulded with intersecting tracery. Piended slate roof with single central stack. North elevation: symmetry lost by insertion of 1 door and window, pointed window with intersecting tracery to each outer bay group of 4 symmetrical centre windows to ground and former gallery. Slated roof.

The 1815 Church replaced the Parish's earlier church (pictured above) which has a history dating back centuries. Part of the original structure was dedicated by Bishop Bernham in 1243. Newburn Old Parish Church was eventually considered too small and outdated, and fell out of use upon completion of the new building. The new church was much more commodious and was fitted out with many box pews (shown below in another image from the Canmore Collection). Upon its opening there were 180 people on the communion roll.

The centre pews shown above had moveable divisions which were withdrawn for the celebration of the Sacrament - see photograph below from the book 'The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843' by George Hay (1957).

After over a century and a half of use, de-population of the catchment area saw attendance levels at the 'new' church fall. That situation, combined with the retirement of minister Reverend George Frederick Cox in June 1958, led to the congregation uniting with Largo later that year. The 3 September 1958 Leven Mail (above) reported on the approval of the decision to unite.

The joint charge became known as Largo and Newburn Parish Church. For a couple of years, a Sunday service took place each church. The notice below for example shows the two Christmas Day services in 1960, with an 11am service at Largo followed by a 12:30 service at Newburn. The full closure of Newburn Church came that New Year with the final service taking place at Newburn Church on 8 January 1961. Further below is a piece from 4 January 1961 Leven Mail.

The following week's Leven Mail reported on the "big turn-out" for the final service where the "pews were packed to capacity". While there would no longer be a church in Newburn Parish, the building itself would soon embark upon a new chapter and there will be more about that in the next post.

Footnote: On 15 November 2017, Largo Parish Church came into being as the result of a union between Largo and Newburn and Largo St David’s churches. The above church sign predates that union.

Margaret MacDougall Nicoll (1882-1962)

10/1/2025

Margaret MacDougall Nicoll was born in Largo in 1882, the second child of Kirkton schoolmaster Thomas Nicoll. and his wife Annie Morgan. The couple had five children - William (1880), Margaret (1882), Robert (1886), Mary (1888) and Annie (1892). Margaret and her siblings attended Kirkton of Largo Primary School, where their father was master for 35 years.

The above school group photograph dates to circa 1900 and features Thomas Nicoll and Mary, younger sister of Margaret. There are also some other Nicolls from another family. This photo appeared in the 25 May 1966 Fife Mail. At the time this photograph was taken Margaret would have moved on to Waid Academy in Anstruther, where she excelled in her studies and qualified for a Queen's Scholarship to study at St Andrews University (see 4 August 1899 East of Fife Record piece below).

In May 1900, when the schoolmistress at Kirkton was unwell, Margaret was appointed temporary mistress (presumably during a break from her studies). In the 1901 census, she was recorded in St Andrews as an 18-year-old, living in student lodgings on Albany Place. Going on to gain a Master of Arts degree, Margaret followed her father into full-time teaching. When her mother Annie died in 1902 aged 52, Margaret became an important support to her father, at home as well as in the workplace.

In the census of 1911, a 28-year-old Margaret was the Assistant Teacher, to her father the Head Teacher, at Kirkton of Largo School. Thomas was also the Registrar for Largo Parish and this particular census was especially significant. Taken on 2 April 1911, it was part of Thomas's role to produce the summary data in the days immediately after the raw census information was captured. This he did with the support of Margaret as he was suffering from heart disease. On completion of the census summary, he declared to Margaret that his work was done and on 16 April, he passed away at the Schoolhouse on North Feus, aged 57.

Margaret continued her career and by the 1921 census, she was living alone at Greycot (pictured above) on Upper Largo's Main Street, and was recorded as a 'School Teacher'. Subsequently she lived at Viewfield on South Feus (pictured in the centre of the image below) with her sister Annie (who was also a teacher) and it was there that she passed away on 10 June 1962 aged 79 years. Margaret had a long association with St David's Church in Lower Largo, and had been Treasurer there as well as honorary president of the Women's Guild. Below is the notice of her memorial service held 17 June 1962. Two years later, the recast bell of St David's Church was dedicated to her memory.

The Bells of St David's

13/12/2024

The former St David's Church had two different bells during its existence - the one which can still be seen today at the rear of the roof (pictured above) and the original bell which hung in a tall stone bellcote above the front entrance. The original bell was presented by the family of Alexander Hogg a former Largo blacksmith who had died in 1870, the year before the church building was erected. The original bell and bellcote can be seen in the images below.

After many decades of service, not to mention exposure to the coastal elements, the bellcote and its rope-operated bell were in need of repair. By the early 1960s, the tall stone bellcote was considered dangerous and so a project was begun to make it safe. The bellcote was taken down and the stone work at the rear of the roof was also reduced in height. The bell was recast, relocated to the rear of the roof and was converted to electric power.

Mr Ewan Bryden co-ordinated the project and also designed the cross-topped metal structure which would house the new bell. The bell was recast at John Taylor and Company, Bellfounders and Bellhangers. The name 'Taylor' can be seen on the bell in the images further below. Founded in 1859, Taylor have cast more than 25,000 bells which hang in over 100 countries around the world. You can read more about that here and watch a video about the bell founding process here and in the other videos on the firm's YouTube channel.

Funds for the works came from a memorial fund in the name of Miss Nicoll, supplemented by fundraising activities organised by the congregation. As the 4 November 1964 piece above from the Leven Mail explains, there was a show held in the Durham Hall, where the Sunday School, Bible Class, Kirk Session, Woman's Guild, Life Boys and Youth Club presented a programme of entertainment. This included a song written by Mr McGregor, sung to the tune of "The Bells of St Mary's" called "The Bell of St David's".

On the first Sunday of 1965, a service was held at which the bell was rededicated (see 6 January Leven Mail piece above). The new gates and railings were also dedicated at the same time. A plaque was placed in the church vestibule to mark the occasion and to ensure that the memory of Miss M.M. Nicoll, late Kirk Treasurer was remembered.

Margaret MacDougall Nicoll (1882-1962), was a daughter of Kirkton of Largo Schoolmaster Thomas Nicoll. She became a school teacher herself and had died on 10 June 1962, at which time she was Honorary President of Largo St David's Women's Guild. Margaret was the second eldest of five children - William (1880), Margaret (1882), Robert (1886), Mary (1888) and Annie (1892). She attended Kirkton of Largo Primary School (where her father was master for 35 years) then Waid Academy in Anstruther, before going to St Andrews University where she gained an M.A.. In May 1900 she was appointed temporary mistress at Kirkton, assisting her father and beginning her career in teaching. More on the life of Miss Nicoll will follow in a future post.

The former Largo St David's Church building has now embarked upon a new chapter - read more here.

Ancient Largo Stone at Parish Church Gates

9/8/2024

Above is a 'then and now' comparison of the entrance to Upper Largo Church, looking towards East Drive. The older image at the top appeared on a 1920s postcard, upon which someone had written the following on the reverse:

"The ancient Largo stone is under canopy at left of view and the avenue leads to Largo House."

The avenue of tall, mature trees is prominent in the black and white image but absent from the present day view. There are still some trees there today but they are younger, smaller ones. The passage of time between the two views of Largo Church has resulted in a few other changes. Most noticeably, the two yews, one either side of the top of the steps, are no longer manicured into neat cone shapes. Iron gates have been removed from the top of the steps (a handrail is now in place in the centre of the steps). A small hard rail has also been added at either side of the church door and an electric light has been installed to illuminate the entrance. A metal boot scraper remains on either side of the entrance door.

Largo's Pictish Stone, which is the main subject of the postcard (despite it being difficult to spot under its shadowy canpoy) has been covered in an earlier blog post here. It is shown slightly more clearly in the 1970s Canmore image above. Its features have been much weathered since captured in the images below from John Stuart's 1856 publication 'Sculptured Stones of Scotland' - a seminal work that sparked great interest in Scotland's Pictish stones.

The East Drive Gates, including the fluted urns with swagged bands, can be seen in both the 'then' and now' images (although only one urn remains today). The tree-lined avenue that once extended along the east drive to Largo House is clearly shown on the 1912 map below. This map also shows the detail of the two small buildings which flank the steps leading up to the church west entrance (just above the letters W.T.). These were likely once a session house and offeratory house (the latter a place where the church collection was received). The photograph at the foot of this post looks back up the steps between these two buildings towards the west entrance.

Largo Arts Week 2024

26/7/2024

Largo Arts Week has recently completed its fifth run. Held over nine days 31-21 July 2024, the event showcased the work of more than fifty artists, provided a varied programme of bookable events (music, comedy, food, storytelling and more) and repeated its annual painting competition. All three villages were involved, with bunting adding to the colour of the summer blooms in the gardens, planters and roadsides. The week has evolved since its debut in 2019 and it was great to hear that visitors numbers were up this year.

Many thanks to the organisers, the artists, the performers, other supporters and the visitors for making it a special occasion with a friendly atmosphere. For more information and news of next year's event - which will take place 12-20 July 2025 - keep an eye on the website www.largoartsweek.com.

Some news that broke just before the start of this year's Arts Week was the welcome new chapter for the former Largo St David's Church on Lower Largo's Main Street. The building, pictured below, is to become a sister venture to the Aurrie (which is just across the road in the former Baptist Church building and opened in time for Arts Week 2021). To be known as The Aurrie Mor, plans are still in development but you can read a little more here:

https://www.theaurrie.com/mor.html.

No doubt by the time that Largo Arts Week 2025 rolls around, things will have progressed in leaps and bounds for Aurrie Mor.

Edwardian Excursion Party

28/6/2024

The busy beach scene above has all the hallmarks of an "excursion party". In other words, it looks like a party of day-trippers, enjoying a much-anticipated visit to the beach. The location is the beach at Massney Braes, looking towards Largo Pier. Note the boat masts close to the pier in the background and the salmon stake nets in the sea to the far right. Dressed in their finery, this would have been an important social occasion and a special treat for the group. Their attire may look rather out of place to the modern-day eye, however, it was normal then for ladies to take to the sands in full length skirts and flamboyant hats, while the gents wore three-piece suits with ties. Children were a little less formal. Most boys appear to have on short trousers - perfect for paddling or being buried in sand. The party of at least fifty people included all ages. Close inspection shows a few donkeys are on the beach, giving the youngsters rides along the sand (see detail below).

Probably the group would have arrived by train at Lundin Links station and made their way over the iron bridge to the beach at Massney Braes, bringing a picnic with them. This could potentially be a church outing, or perhaps a society of some kind. The example below, mentioned in the 14 June 1906 Leven Advertiser, is of an excursion to Lundin Links by the Markinch Parish Church Sabbath School. Like the group in the photograph, they enjoyed games and races on the sands. In their case a 'special train' was laid on for the occasion, suggesting a sizeable group similar to the one shown. On occasion, a band would accompany these groups on their outing, to provide musical entertainment throughout the day.

Not all visiting groups arrived by train however. The 26 July 1907 East of Fife Record piece below describes how a picnic party a hundred strong from Colinsburgh United Free Church travelled to the seaside at Lundin Links in carts, in "delightful weather". Not all such trips were blessed with favourable weather conditions. Sometimes groups had to retreat into a suitable indoor venue at short notice. However, both the group in the image above, and a similar group shown in a different image below (at the same location but looking west), were fortunate.

The Selkirk Headstone

22/9/2023

In the northwest corner of Largo Kirk churchyard is the headstone shown in the photograph above. It appears again below in a black and white image which featured in the East Fife Mail in July 1976. The gravestone stands out because of the shells which are scattered around its base. The stone features a carved "winged soul" effigy (representing the flight of the soul from one realm to another). The date appears to be 1817 and the fading words begin: HERE LYES ANDREW SELKIRK NOTAR PUBLICK. Notar Publick was a public official who would witness the signing of important legal documents - see Dictionary of Scots Language entry - https://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/notar. This man must have been an important figure in the community.

The headstone is marked number 3 on the churchyard map below. It is in fact a double-sided headstone.

On the other side of this same headstone are the initials of the parents of the famous Largo-born inspiration for the character Robinson Crusoe, Alexander Selkirk:

JS (for John Selcraig) and EM for his wife Euphan Mackie

Selcraig is a variation of Selkirk. This side marks an earlier burial as the pair likely died at least a century before Andrew Selkirk. Their side of the stone is shown above (image from the book 'The Story of Largo Kirk' 1990 edition). The J looks like an I because J was not differentiated from the letter I until comparatively recent times. For example, John and James appeared as Iohn and Iames (see examples below). The exact relationship of the Andrew Selkirk on the reverse side of the stone to John Selcraig and Euphan Mackie is unclear - he could be 3 or 4 generations further down the family tree.

The stills below are from an episode of Weir’s Way filmed in Largo in 1985, showing Tom Weir visiting the grave of John Selcraig and Euphan Mackie while on the trail of the life story of their famous seventh son, Alexander, who was born 1676. As there is no memorial to Alexander Selkirk himself (he was buried at sea in 1721), over the years people have brought shells to the grave of his parents, acknowledging the family's connection to the sea and to pay tribute to the man who inspired the famous Crusoe story. Comparing the 1980s image below to the more recent one at the top of the post, the number of shells seems to have grown in recent years.

Church Rooms

7/7/2023

The photograph above of the former Church Rooms associated with Largo Parish Church was taken in 2021. Dating back to the early 18th century, the facility was for much of its history an ancillary building linked to Largo House. Note the traditional forestair leading to the upper entrance and the thackstane at the chimney base (suggesting an original thick thatched roof). The building was given to the Largo Kirk Session in 1935, by then owner of Largo Estate David Maitland Makgill Crichton. Presumably the building had become surplus to the requirements of the estate. During this era, Largo House had been let to a series of long-term tenants and at the time was occupied by John Key Hutchison, flour merchant.

One of the main uses of the Church Rooms was as a meeting place for the Sunday school. However, several other groups made regular use of the facility, which comprised a hall at the upper level and a smaller meeting space plus kitchen and WC on the ground floor. These groups included the Woman's Guild, Mothers' Union, Youth Fellowship, Largo Kirk Men's Association and the Church Choir, who held their practices there. Events such as an annual daffodil tea, annual sale of work, bring and buy sales, talks and annual general meetings took place within the venue. Some example events from over the years are shown below. Note that Mrs Hutchison of Largo House was the President of the Mothers' Union in the late 1930s.

When Largo Parish Church completed the renovation of The Stables in 1970, the Church Rooms became a secondary hall space and was less in demand. In 1984 it was designated a category B listed building. Its listing description is as follows:

Early 18th century with alterations. 2 storeys, 3 bays. Harled with some ashlar dressings. Entrance front originally 2 doors in left ground bay, one now window; central forestair to 1st floor door. 2 later 1st floor windows. South front altered fenestration to ground floor, 3 windows in weathered stone architraves to 1st. Straight skews with simply moulded skewputts, crowstepped skew to south-east. End stacks. Pantiled roof with straight skew and skewputt left and right (mutual with adjoining building). Rendered left and brick right end stacks.

Below are two 1970s black and white images of the property, front and back, from the Canmore Collection.

Largo Cricket Club made use of the facility as a pavilion in more recent decades before switching to a portacabin adjacent to their ground. When the Church undertook significant renovation work during 2016-17, it was recognised that the Church Rooms were not being used. Plus, when Largo Parish Church came into being on 15 November 2017, a result of a union between the linked charges of Largo and Newburn and Largo St David’s churches, the Church had the use of both The Stables and the Durham Hall. Accordingly, the Church Rooms building was handed back to Largo Estate. After nine decades of community use, the Church Rooms were in need of maintenance. The estate applied for planning permission to convert the facility into a dwelling house, replace the roof and carry out a series of renovations inside and out. Now residential accommodation for estate workers, the building has moved into the next chapter in its story.