A few months ago I was contacted by someone who had come across the hand-painted buttons shown in the image above while going through family belongings. They are mounted on a piece of card upon which is written:

Largo, Fife. Miss Lyons. Heatherlie, Lundin Links.

A date on the back states 1923 and to the side is written: H.T. Lyons, Largo W.R.I.

With a bit of detective work, some information about the origins of these artistic buttons has been put together. Firstly, the house named Heatherlie still exists (with the same name) on Crescent Road. Heatherlie is in the centre in the photo below, behind the lamp post (with Aldersyde to its right). Secondly, the creator of the buttons was Helen Thomson Lyons, who lived at Heatherlie at the time with her parents Daniel Lyons (who was originally from New York, USA) and Janet (nee Thomson). Helen Lyons would have been aged about 18 when she made these buttons. Both she and her mother were very active in the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute (W.R.I.) in the 1920s and were members of the Largo branch. 

The S.W.R.I. was (and still is) about sharing and developing skills, including handicrafts. Many competitions took place at different geographical levels, covering all manner of categories. Clearly, in 1923 there was a category at one event for button making and the young Helen Lyons entered as a member of Largo W.R.I. How these have managed to survive in such good condition almost a century later and still neatly mounted on their competition label is unclear but they provide a small insight into the care that went into just a single entry in a single category at just one of the thousands of events that must have taken place during this era. Below is an example from the newspaper archives (15 July 1924 Leven Advertiser) showing that Helen was active in the W.R.I. at the time.

Helen went on to become a nurse and to marry a Dr George Bradbury in 1930. He was from Tunstall in Yorkshire and they settled in England, including time in Sheffield. Below is another example of the ingenuity of the W.R.I. members in the sphere of handicrafts. From the 1931 Fife News Almanac, this feature showcases the Fife W.R.I. turning their hands to upholstery. Long-time leader of the Largo W.R.I., Evelyn Baxter is in the photograph below along with other Largo members, Miss Syme and Miss Burns. The Largo W.R.I. reached their centenary in 2018. 

The photograph above, from the book 'Seatoun of Largo' by Ivy Jardine, features the yacht 'Semiquaver' which was designed, built and sailed by brothers William and Robert Gillies. This scene of a crowd gathering, to see the impressive vessel launch, was captured around the turn of the century. There were in fact two 'Semiquavers', plus a predecessor named the 'Quaver'. The unusual names reflect the family's great love of music. In fact, they made violins as well as boats. According to 'Seatoun of Largo', the 'Quaver' had a few bars of the song 'Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep' on her starboard side and the opening bars of 'The Boatie Rows' on the port side.

Among the early mentions of the Quaver in the local newspapers, is a piece in the 7 July 1877 Fifeshire Advertiser, noting that she participated in the Kirkcaldy Annual Regatta. The six ton yacht competed in the Kirkcaldy Regatta again in 1878 before that particular event lapsed for a number of years. When revived in 1889, the Quaver returned and won first prize in its category. What ultimately became of the Quaver is unclear but in 1895 a new yacht was built by the Gillies brothers in their workshop at the east end of Main Street close to Cardy House (pictured below when reincarnated as the Gillies Art Studio in the 1980s). Named 'Semiquaver', this yacht is mentioned later in 1895 as winning the Star Cup at Aberdour Regatta.

The location in the above photograph is most commonly known as The Orry, or sometimes Orra. However, this name is seldom seen in an official written form. There is no name sign there and it tends not to be labelled on maps. It is most often referred to in the spoken word and that has led to fairly wide variation over the years in its spelling.

Although the name probably goes back to at least the 19th century, early written mentions are few and far between. Back in 1939, when the location was designated as a "regulation parking place" by the District Council (see 5 Aug Fife Free Press notice below), the spelling was given as "Awry". 

Now here is a coincidence (pointed out by a blog reader yesterday) the owner of the Eaglesham estate from 1844 was none other than Allan Gilmour, who went on to purchase the Lundin Estate in 1872. Although, Allan Gilmour was not involved in a hands-on capacity locally, his son John was (before and after he inherited Lundin estate). Could Sir John Gilmour (and/or any employees brought over from the Eaglesham estate) have introduced the term 'Orry' to the local population? Or was it already in use in Largo by 1872 (evolving independently from the Scots 'aurrie')? If you know of a reference locally to 'Orry' before 1872 - please comment.

Meanwhile, the local variation in spelling continued over the decades. In 1959, when plans were being formulated for the Sailing Club, the Leven Mail went with the spelling 'Orrey' (see below).
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Once the days of the Largo Children's Gala came - with the regular parade commencing at the Orry - references to the spot became more common in the newspapers. Below are clips from 1975, 1982 and 1983 and all use the name 'Orra'. Orra is a well-known Scots word meaning either 'spare', 'odd' or 'occasional' - with an 'orraman' being an odd job man. It's tempting to think of the space as somewhere historically that odd jobs were carried out. 

However, by 1984 the spelling 'Orrie' was being used instead (see advert below featuring Crusoe from that year). It was still used in 1993 - see further below.
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This street map from 1996 - perhaps the most official reference among this selection - favoured the label 'The Orra'.

To complicate matters further, another name used for the space has been 'Market Square'. The above snippet from the 20 August 1938 Fife Free Press describes how a driver (presumably having picked up speed coming down Durham Wynd) collided with the telephone box at the Orry. The phone box in question is marked on the map below as TCB (telephone call box). Anyway, the 'Market Square' name (connected with fish markets perhaps) seems not to have stuck.
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So, what you do call the Orry? And how would you spell it? Have you heard stories about the origins of the term? Any information would be most welcome. To conclude this lengthy post - an image of The Orry from the beach, looking towards Goodsir House plus a crowd-filled Orry back in 1975 - eagerly awaiting the start of the Gala parade (courtesy of the East Fife Mail).
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The "iron bridge" footbridge at Lundin Links (seen in the photograph above to the left of centre in the distance) was built in 1896. This was the same year as the opening of the new Lundin Golf Club House (read more about that here and here). Built for the convenience of the golfers and completed in time for the summer season, the bridge allowed easier access to the building from the east side. Previously, safe access was only from Golf Road to the west.

At the time, Lundin Mill only extended as far south as Crescent Road but feuing plans were underway to develop what would become Victoria Road and Station Road (now Links Road). The 1893 map below shows the spot chosen for the bridge. Handily placed for the residents of (and visitors to) Lundin Mill, Drummochy and Lower Largo, the feus around this area were soon occupied. Non-golfers obviously benefited too from the safer access to the beach.

The 1912 map further below, shows the footbridge now situated between Norvil on the right and Victoria Boarding House to the left. Norvil in particular was planned and built just months after the footbridge was erected. This was probably no coincidence, as Norvil was built for seedsman William Watt - a keen golfer (more of that another time). Further below are a series of images featuring the iron bridge, including (at the very end) a still from cine footage taken from the train driver's cab shortly before the line closed in 1965, The road bridge at the top of Drummochy Road can be seen in the distance to the left. Sadly the footbridge was removed in the early 1970s but many still refer to the vicinity around the steps down to the path were it once stood as "the iron bridge".
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Finally, a few shots from the present day of the spot where the old bridge once stood.

Does anyone remember welcoming in 1975 at The Law? This advert from the East Fife Mail tells us that Jimmy Spowart played the organ there every night during the festive season....

Back on the first day of 1896, the "time-honoured custom" of the Largo Brass and Silver Band playing around the three villages was still being observed (East of Fife Observer 3 January). That year the band (led by George Houison) made a special visit to the home of Johnny Laidlay at Strathairly. The Laidlays entertained their tradespeople, servants and friends to a Christmas treat that same festive season. Thomas and Sarah Wishart were likely guests at that event, as they met at this time while both working on the estate. 
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The top advert dates to 13 July 1899 (Leven Advertiser) and the second advert dates to 1904 (East of Fife Record 1 July) and features Largo Motor and Cycle Engineer T.G. Wishart. One of Wishart's creations was the 'Largo' brand of cycle which he made himself. He bought, hired out and taught people how to use bicycles - later moving also into the sphere of motor cars. ​Thomas Graham Wishart was born in 1871 to John Wishart and his wife Elizabeth Henderson.  John was gardener at Airth Castle who regularly won prizes for his fruit growing. The family lived at Airth Castle Stables. After a spell at Shanwell House in Kinross, the family moved to Largo in the late 1880s.

John Wishart bought an acre of land at the east end of Kirkton of Largo to set up a market garden. Meanwhile, Thomas began a joinery apprenticeship at Strathairly. From a young age Thomas demonstrated a flair for engineering. At the age of 16 he had exhibited a design for a steam engine at Dundee Industrial Exhibition. In 1890 he patented a design for an improved speed regulating governor attachment for a steam engine. At the time of the 1891 census, Thomas was living with his parents and working as a joiner.

In 1896 he married Sarah Lee whom he met at Strathairly where she was a domestic servant. The same year Thomas's father John died. Around this time Thomas began to manufacture cycles at the Upper Largo site and, by the census of 1901, he was described as a 'cycle maker and electric bell fitter'. He was living with wife Sarah and their two sons (John and James - named after their two grandfathers). The advert above from 1904 details that types of services offered by the business.

Outside of work, Thomas was an avid curler. With his expert input, the curling pond behind the Simpson Institute was lit in 1905, using electricity generated by an engine he had specially adapted (see 29 Dec East of Fife Record piece below).
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​Thomas Wishart was also the Secretary of the Largo Brass Band before the First World War. In the previous post, mention was made of how Wishart drove around the streets of the Parish advertising a bazaar in aid of the band in 1909. The article below from the 21 October East of Fife Record tells us a bit more about the car in question. Wishart had rebuilt an old Decauville car - making it more powerful, adding new features and causing "quite a sensation".
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In 1911 Thomas described himself as a 'Motor cycle engineer'. Around this time he joined Largo Parish Council. In 1915, aged 44, Thomas enlisted for the Great War effort becoming an electrician in the Army Service Corps. He spent time in France and became a Sergeant in 1918. When the war ended, Thomas was part of the Army of Occupation in Germany. While in Cologne in 1920 he was a passenger in a motor accident which resulted in two months in hospital and ultimately an end to his military career.

He returned to Largo and continued to work as a motor engineer. The business was now styled 'Wishart & Sons', with both sons following in their father's footsteps. Thomas also continued to invent - including the 'Wizard wringer' attachment for laundry, a special trolley for moving pianos and the 'Wizard carburettor'. He also resumed his hobbies including the Curling Club and the Brass Band. In 1928, Thomas was president of Largo Brass Band and both of his sons were members. Sadly, Thomas's younger son, James (who had six years army service during and after the Great War) died in 1927 aged just 28. Elder son, John went on to become a chief electrical engineer and was pictured in the Courier of 6 November 1928 when he took up a new position at Inveresk Paper Works (see image at the foot of this post). He lived until 1982.

Sarah Wishart died in Largo in 1934 aged 67. Thomas Graham Wishart died 26 August 1960 in Collessie aged 89.

For many a decade Largo had its own band. The above image (dated 1890 but possibly a few years later) shows the Largo Silver and Brass Band in uniform (reproduced from the book 'Seatoun of Largo' by Ivy Jardine). An article written about this particular incarnation of the local band appeared in the 29 August 1908 St Andrews Citizen. This piece stated that the band was established "25 years ago" suggesting an 1883 start date. It went on to say that they made their debut on the New Year's Day after their inception and since then had never missed a New Year's Day performance. However, a search through the newspaper archives reveals that earlier bands had come and gone before that 1883 date.

In 1839, the "Largo and Lundin Mill Instrumental Band" played at an Old Handsel Monday soiree organised by the "Largo and Lundin Mill Total Abstinence Society" in the "wareroom" at the spinning mill. The band are mentioned frequently in the 1840s and 1850s including the lacklustre review in the Fife Herald of 15 May 1856 below, where "the attendance was most miserable". This review generated a letter of complaint to the paper soon afterwards suggesting that this was an "attack" on the band due to "wounded feelings". I wonder what the story was there?

A dearth of mentions during the 1860s and early 1870s suggests that the band fell into abeyance for a time. The fact that  special events in Largo were attended by brass bands from nearby places such as Largoward, Leven and Methil supports that theory. However, in 1876 the 'Largo Brass Band' provided the music at a flower show in St Andrews representing a possible come back but it was not until the 1880s that the band seem to have become more consistent and fully established. They were conducted by a Mr Williamson in the mid 1880s and were typically known as 'Largo Brass Band'. At this time, the band also benefited from coaching from Leven's bandmaster - Mr Adamson - in an attempt to get them onto the 'competition list'. Band contests were popular with many Fife bands being regularly involved in these.

In 1899 it was noted in the St Andrews Citizen (1 July) that the band had recently secured a "smart uniform" through funds raised by a prize draw and liberal aid from "shopkeepers and other friends". This suggests that they previously had no uniform and places the image at the top of this post perhaps closer to 1899 than 1890. This was the era when the band were leasing and using a space in the granary building at Largo Harbour as a band room.

For 17 years (from around 1890) the band had been conducted by Leven man Mr George Houison. He led them to the competition victories that gave them the name "Largo Prize Band" for a number of years. He may well be in the photograph above. However, Houison left for Ontario, Canada around the end of 1907 with several other members of his family, some of whom were also band members. The front page advert from the East of Fife Record (6 Sept 1907) details what must have been one of Houison's last engagements with the band.

The band was funded entirely by subscriptions with costs of around £60 per annum in 1908 (excluding repairs or new instruments). At this time it was noted that other bands in the area had "full-plated sets of instruments" and it was thought that Largo should too. A sum of around £200 would have to be raised to make that happen. A bazaar was proposed for the following summer​.

A Mr J Bisset took over the bandmaster role in 1908 was described as an "energetic and efficient teacher". This was quite possibly John Bisset later of Buckthorns Farm. At that time the band had a number of wealthy patrons and seemed to be in great demand. To advertise their 1909 summer bazaar, the band's secretary Thomas Graham Wishart had his motor car "gaily decorated and...driven round the district advertising the announcing the attractions of the bazaar". This must have been effective as around 700 people attended the event and soon afterwards the band became 'Largo Silver Band'.  Mr Bisset resigned early in 1912 as bandmaster and the position was advertised (see advert below from 10 Feb Fifeshire Advertiser). It was noted that attendances at practices were not good at that time and only a couple of concerts were mentioned in the local papers thereafter before the band took a break during the Great War. ​
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The band had resumed by 1921 and continued albeit with up and downs for many years after that. In 1929 the Leven Mail (19 June) reported that the "exodus of many young players from the district may force Largo Silver Band to break up" but by 1933 the same paper (8 March) stated that the band "now has the financial security to enlarge its scope". There was a simple bandstand on Massney Braes around the 1930s (see images below) where the band gave a popular summer programme of concerts. There was a period of disbandment during World War Two but the band were reported in the 19 June 1946 Leven Mail as playing at the Largo War Memorial. The leader at that time was another Mr Bisset. In this post-war period there was also a 'Largo Pipe Band'. Mention of either band seems to be absent from the newspaper archives after this time. If you know when the demise of the Largo Silver Band came about - please comment.
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The distinctive external staircase on the landward side of the Crusoe Hotel (pictured above) was created when an additional loft storey was added to the granary building circa 1870. The image above shows it around 1930 when David Todd was the name written on the 'Railway Inn' sign. Note the community noticeboard area adjacent to the staircase and the chocolate advert on the side of the kiosk by the road bridge, as well as the old motor car parked outside the hotel. The Pier Pavilion was in place for the season too. 

However, going back to the years before the First World War, the Crusoe stairs led up to the 'band room' of the Largo Brass Band (also known as the Largo Prize Band and later the Largo Silver Band). The 1895 and 1905 valuation rolls note that the Largo Brass Band (secretary T. G. Wishart) were the tenants of the 'loft' (as it was described in 1895) or 'hall' (as it was described in 1905) within the granary. A reference to the stairs as the "stair leading to the Band Hall" can be seen in the sad news story below from 26 April 1895 East of Fife Record.
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Although the use of the granary loft by the Brass Band ceased with the outbreak of war, the use of the granary for entertainment purposes had been long-standing. Below is a snippet from 1856 (25 December Fife Herald) where a ball had been held there. No other suitable hall was available in the 1850s - the Temperance Hall in Lundin Mill not being built until 1886.

A couple of years later, on 14 Jan 1858, the Fifeshire Journal remarked upon a another ball held on New Handsel Monday in the granary. 
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Fast forward to 1890 and there was a smoking concert in the granary (29 Aug East of Fife Record). Perhaps the recently-built Temperance Hall would not have allowed such an event.
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More to come in future posts about the Largo Brass Band and about their secretary Thomas Graham Wishart.

The silver vesta case shown in the image above was one of the prizes given for the competition played on the newly opened Lundin Ladies' Golf Course on Tuesday 12 June 1894. This was the not the course we know today incorporating the Standin' Stanes but the one at Sunnybraes (now part of the main Lundin Golf Club). The piece from the 22 June East of Fife Record below describes the event in some detail, as does the Fife Free Press article from 16 June further below.

The reverse of the vesta case (made by Sampson Mordan and Co of London) is shown below. It is engraved with the words 'Lundin Links Ladies Golf Club June 11 1894' (although the competition appears to have taken place the day after this). It was won by James Wilkie of Leven. James Wilkie was a master builder (like his father George Wilkie before him). Between them, father and son were responsible for many notable landmarks in the area. George was involved in the building of the original Bawbee Bridge at Leven as a young man and James was builder of Linwood Hall. James is pictured at the foot of this post with his wife Mary on the occasion of their diamond wedding in 1938 (2 July Fife Free Press). He died the following year at the age of 85.

As Halloween approaches - a couple of appropriate local tales from the past....

Bats have long been associated with Halloween. They are, of course, nocturnal creatures. They leave their daytime roosts when the sun sets. Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' suggests that vampires are able to morph into bats (a small number of bat species worldwide are blood feeders). A more natural association with Halloween is related to the bat life cycle. They can swarm in the months of September to November as they look for mates and increase food intake ahead of hibernation. Below is a local bat-related story featured in the 17 March 1868 Northern Warder. On this occasion, bats were coming to the end of their hibernation period at Balcruvie Castle - now known better as Pitcruvie Castle . 
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Moving forward in time to the 10 November 1943 Leven Mail (below) - a war-time Halloween party provided Polish visitors with a taste of some of the Scottish traditions associated with the celebration - including a bit of a dunking in water it would seem!

​Happy Halloween!
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