The notices below from the Fife Herald (30 Sep 1847 and 19 June 1856) show how places were advertised when vacancies arose. The head master in the mid-nineteenth century was Mr William Maxwell Wright, up until his death on 16 May 1848. He was described as "parochial teacher of Newburn and Master of Wood's School at Drumeldrie" although by this time to original Wood's Grammar School had amalgamated with the Parish School at Newburn. Some decades earlier the two schools had been joined such that one teacher served both - the combined school being in Newburn.
This website has previously covered John Wood and Wood's Hospital in Upper Largo. Perhaps lesser known is Wood's School. Initially, in Drumeldrie and later in Newburn, this school was another legacy of John Wood's. Founded on 7th July 1659 by John Wood of Orkie (a descendant of Admiral Sir Andrew Wood), two years before his death, the grammar school was to provide free education to a maximum of six boys with the surname Wood on either their father or mother's side. The boys would be taken into the school at around the age of seven and kept to the age of 14 or 15, at which point they would be given one year's allowance to enable them to commence an honest trade. Education, board and clothing were all provided by the deed of mortification. The school also owned the Farm of Orkie in the Parish of Kettle, from which it received rent in the form of both produce (wheat, oats and barley) and money. The notices below from the Fife Herald (30 Sep 1847 and 19 June 1856) show how places were advertised when vacancies arose. The head master in the mid-nineteenth century was Mr William Maxwell Wright, up until his death on 16 May 1848. He was described as "parochial teacher of Newburn and Master of Wood's School at Drumeldrie" although by this time to original Wood's Grammar School had amalgamated with the Parish School at Newburn. Some decades earlier the two schools had been joined such that one teacher served both - the combined school being in Newburn. Following Mr Wright's death, the position of school master was advertised (see below from 28 Jun 1848 Aberdeen Press and Journal). Note the list of subjects taught and the substantial salary attached to the post. The eventual appointee was Mr John Brash, who was born in Mid Calder and taught in Forfarshire prior to coming to Fife. He remained in post until his death in 1862 at the age of 54. On 2 April 1863 the Fife Herald reported on the election of a new school master. The successful candidate for this "very lucrative office" was Mr Frederick Roome Lumsden. He was chosen from a "great number of applicants, the emoluments of the situation being very attractive" - there were over eighty candidates. Edinburgh-born Lumsden came to Newburn from Ardrossan. He would prove to be an ideal choice - becoming a prominent local figure and filling the school master role for 44 years - more to follow on him. The map above shows the close proximity of Drumeldrie in the lower left and Newburn to the top centre (with the school marked). The daily routine of the school bursars is detailed below, giving a real insight to the lives of the boys who attended Wood's School in the nineteenth century. This is an extract from the 1873 Commissioner's report on the school. The report also states that "the boys are treated as part and portion of the master's family".
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Born in Kilconquhar in 1853 to shoemaker William Nicoll and his wife Mary Young, Thomas Nicoll was the predecessor to David Pye as Head Master of Kirkton of Largo School. By the age of 17 in 1871 Thomas was Pupil Teacher at Kilconquhar. Two years later he was appointed assistant at Pathhead Subscription School. At the time, the Fife Free Press (6 December 1873) described him as "an accomplished young teacher....bred in Kilconquhar Parish School....spoken favourably of by several other members of the Board".
In September 1875, there was a special meeting of the Largo School Board - the purpose of which was to elect a master for Kirkton Public School. Each Board member handed in a list of three candidates - 13 men being named in total. The 16 September Fife Herald noted that "it was agreed that each member should select his best man and thereby reduce the leet to 5" however "there was considerable difficulty in agreeing the manner of election, as each member proposed his own man as the best one, and consequently there were no seconders". A scoring system was then agreed and a Mr Forbes of Dundee was elected. However, it transpired that this candidate had already accepted another post. So, Mr Nicoll, being second, was elected instead. And thus began Thomas Nicoll's long spell at Kirkton. Thomas married Anne Fotheringham Morgan in 1879 and the first of their five children was born the following year. At the time of his marriage he was presented by his pupils with a "handsome marble timepiece with the latest improvements and got up in the neatest style", according to the 13 November Fife Herald. Attached to the front was a silver plate bearing the following inscription: "Presented to Mr T. Nicoll, Teacher, Largo, Fife, by his affectionate scholars and a few friends, on the advent of his marriage. October 1879." The Nicoll family became actively involved in local life, with Thomas being an elder in the Upper Largo Church and Secretary and Treasurer of the Lundin Golf Club (he was instrumental in the 1909 course alterations). When wife Anne died in 1902, Thomas - who was also local Registrar - recorded her death as he did all the others in the Parish. After 35 years service at Kirkton School, and suffering from heart trouble, Thomas Nicoll resigned as Head Master. He died only a fortnight later. Part of his role as Registrar was to complete the summaries of the 1911 census. The census was taken on 2 April and Thomas Nicoll worked on the resulting data with his daughter. Apparently, after completing the census work, he had indicated to his daughter that his life's work was done. He died on 16 April at the Schoolhouse. At a meeting soon after his death, locals "paid a high tribute to his worth and character" noting that "some of us who call recall Mr Nicoll's first years in the parish, remember him as a quiet, unobtrusive young man; but a man who, when he put his hand to the plough would not turn back". The account in the St Andrews Citizen (13 May) continued "the innumerable services rendered by him to the community during his long residence in Largo constitute a great record..."well done good and faithful servant"". On 13 June 1911, the Dundee Courier announced the new Head of Kirkton of Largo School under the headline "Mr D. Pye, Kilconquhar is Appointed Headmaster of Largo Public School". The above photograph featured in the article, which explained that Mr Pye had been selected by the School Board the previous evening, out of 74 applicants. He would succeed Mr Thomas Nicol who had recently passed away.
David Low Pye was the son of Thomas Pye and Margaret Low and was born in 1869 in Dysart. One of at least nine children, David's father and grandfather were both linen weavers. When David was aged 9, his father Thomas died, aged 54, from chronic alcoholism. In spite of these difficult circumstances, David became a pupil teacher under the Dysart Board at Gallatown Public School at the time when a Peter Alison was Headmaster. Mr Alison's own son (of a similar age to David Pye) had also been a pupil teacher there and had gone on to become Head at George Watson's College in Edinburgh. David Pye passed first class through the Church of Scotland Training College in Edinburgh and also attended classes at Edinburgh University. Initially, he came to Fife in 1895, as assistant to Mr McInnes at Leven Public School. In 1901, he secured his first Headship - at Kilconquhar School - where over a decade he "accomplished very successful work" and "identified himself with the public life of the village and district." He also got married in 1901, to Elizabeth Louisa Mitchell. They went on to have two daughters, Catherine and Louisa. Mr Pye remained Head Master at Kirkton of Largo and living in the schoolhouse until his retiral in 1932 (see photo below), when he was presented with a walnut desk. During the Second World War, Mr Pye took on the role of local A.R.P. warden (air raid precaution), supervising blackout arrangements and doing "much to help the general public in times of distress" (Fifeshire Advertiser, 25 April 1953). He was also a champion bowler, president of Lundin Links Bowling Club and an elder at Largo Parish Church. David Pye died, at Netherfield, Upper Largo, on 15 April 1953, aged 83. His death "brought much sadness and great concern not only to Upper Largo but to his many ex-pupils scattered throughout the world, some in high positions in life". This postcard featuring a section of Crescent Road probably dates to the Edwardian era. The school and school house at are the centre (and in detail below). The school building still has its original two entrances - one for girls (on right) and the other for boys. To its right is Oldfield (originally 'Bayview Cottage') and to the left is Old Calabar (once known as 'Melville Cottage'). Further to the left is 'Elphinstone'. The road in the foreground was for a long time named 'Norvil Road' after the house which lies to the right out of shot - 'Norvil'. This street has since been absorbed into Victoria Road.
The most noticeable change today is that the grassy are on the left has been built on. This whole area - facing onto both Crescent Road and Victoria Road was developed around 1930. The photograph above suggests that, over the seventy years or so that this space was undeveloped, it was used by the school children. They can be seen spilling out of the school and over the road onto the grass. I wonder what activities might have gone on on this open space - sport, drills, fetes, camps, etc? The school (and children) must have felt its loss when finally it was filled with housing. The previous post focussed on the cluster of feus around the inn corner at Lundin Mill, dominated by the Bell family in the mid 19th century. Around 1802 the planned settlement of Emsdorf was created - spreading east from the inn and toll bar. The origins of Emsdorf have been covered before. Some of the original feuers were described as 'manufacturers' perhaps suggesting that they set up the weavers' cottages found on this street. Fast forward fifty years and there were still many weavers operating on this street. From the c1850 map above, the plot marked '1' above was owned by Andrew Hogg who was a 'weavers' agent' or 'manufacturers' agent'. Plot '2' was owned by Robert Gibb a 'disabled seaman' whose daughters were hand loom weavers, while the plot marked '3' contained two houses and a weavers' shop, owned by James Thin but partly occupied by weaver James Peebles. Next along were weavers James Muir and George Grieg (4). Feu '5' stands out as being different - this contains 'Emsdorf House', a larger detached property, which was owned by Peter Smith, miller at the Cameron Bridge Mill. At '6' were weavers George Clark and Robert Mitchell. While the south side of Emsdorf Street was largely occupied by weavers and their agents, the north side was more diverse. For example, plot '7' was owned by John Reid a nurseryman from Leith, while '8' was owned by Thomas Smith of the 'United States of America' - could these have been early holiday homes? The image below (taken late 1890s) gives an impression of the contrast between the fairly uniform south side of the street (left) and the more varied north side. Originally, many of the cottages would have had thatched roofs and the roads would have been rough and poorly drained (as recalled in an earlier post). The other notable building in Emsdorf was the old school - situated strategically between the villages of Emsdorf and Drummochy (marked '9' above). According to the Scotland's Places website, it was "a small stone building in good repair, built for and occupied as a school house. Built in 1821 at the expense of General Durham then the proprietor of the Largo Estate". The average attendance was noted as around 60. This was replaced in 1858 by the Crescent Road school but continued to be a public resource - used for meetings and soirees before becoming the wash-house of Seacliff and ultimately being demolished. Seacliff is pictured below and the school/wash-house was situated at the back corner of the garden just behind where the bus-stop is today and where a very old wall remains.
John Milne was born in Fettercairn in 1822. Son of a house carpenter, he was briefly apprenticed to his father before leaving his home area in the early 1840s to move to Edinburgh. He initially worked under John Henderson before he became clerk of works for eminent architect David Bryce, covering the St Andrews area. For the rest of his life he lived in St Andrews (mostly at 34 Argyle Street) and he designed many buildings both in the town and elsewhere in Fife (with occasional works back in his birthplace of Fettercairn). Soon after his arrival in Fife (early 1850s) he was adopted by the Free Church of Scotland and given a succession of commissions for churches and manses. Although his work in Lundin Links fails to get a mention in official lists of his work, this blog has established that he was architect for the 1858 Lundin Mill School and was part of the 'team' responsible for the Standard Life development of the village at that time. It is highly likely that he had a hand in other buildings erected around that time in the village. As James Campbell Walker was designing houses such as 'Bourtree Brae House' and 'Homelands', Milne might well have been responsible for other contemporary villas. It would seem likely that 'Haworth', neighbour to 'Homelands', off Leven Road could be the work on Milne. Looking at some of Milne's other works gives an insight to his style. Below are images of some of his best known buildings, namely (clockwise from top left) Fettercairn Arch (1863), Fettercairn Public Hall (1891), Duncan Institute Cupar (1869), and Westerlee St Andrews (1865). The Dictionary of Scottish Architects describes Milne as "a very competent Gothic designer", "geometrical" and "an inventive neo-Jacobean and Scots Baronial architect of the Bryce school". His mix of Flemish, Scottish and Gothic details often featured crowstepping, crucifixes, decorative plaques and turrets. He was known for having a different window style on each floor. Below is an image of 'Haworth' and underneath that one of St Leonard's College in St Andrews (one of his documented works). The book 'Building for a New Age' by John Frew contains a chapter about John Milne. Within this, it is noted that in the 1850s, while establishing himself in Fife, Milne undertook building and carpentry work on the buildings that he designed and that this flexibility helped him to gain commissions. He could well have been 'hands on' with several houses in Lundin Links, not just those he acted as architect on but also those designed by Walker. John Milne, who died in 1904 at the age of 82, was a keen churchman, a member of St Andrews town council for over 25 years, and Bailie for four years. He produced over sixty buildings and was heavily involved in municipal improvements such as tree planting, the laying out of gardens, drainage improvement, road widening and installation of proper pavements. Perhaps in the latter areas he would have had direct contact with Henry Petheram - long-time St Andrews area road surveyor - who lived in Lundin Links and moved into 'Haworth' soon after its completion.
The above site plan for the present Lundin Mill Primary School was produced c1972. It filled the space vacated by a long-time hen farm at the end of Emsdorf Crescent. The circular building design was complemented with curving playground areas and pathways. The main playing field was set out on the elevated flatter area to the south. Access was provided from both the Lundin Links and the Lower Largo sides. Building began in January 1973, with the children moving into the new school around the turn of the year. The official opening took place in June 1974. For those children that had been used to attending the old school in Crescent Road, it must have been quite a transformation. Leaving behind the Victorian building with limited outdoor space, there would now be so much light and space. If you were one of those that made the move to the new school when it opened - please share your memories by commenting.
The detailed plans show the semi-open-plan nature of the classrooms, the central hall area, the dedicated library, the substantial kitchen for serving school meals, the sliding doors, the plentiful storage and the named rooms in the administrative wing for 'headmaster', 'infant mistress', 'janitor' and 'staff room'. The same design was used elsewhere in the 1970s in Fife. If you look at the primary school in Balmullo on Google Earth you’ll see it’s a twin of Lundin Mill. There are also duplicates at Crossford and Newport – although these two have the extra wing that was marked on the above plan as "future extension". The plan excerpt below shows the main hall area surrounded by a raised circular area that was multi-functional - used for dining at lunchtime and for break-out working at other times. The school building has evolved over the decades but it's interesting to reflect on the contrast between the classical old school and the ultra-modern new one and the impact that the change must have had at the time. Just before going on to look at the "new" Lundin Mill Primary School building...a step back to the origins of the old building. The image below of Giffordtown Village Hall below has just come to my attention today. This looks to be an exact replica of the Lundin Mill School (now library) in its original form. Except, its actually the other way round, as the village hall in Giffordtown, between Ladybank and Collessie in Fife, was built in 1843 as 'Collessie Free Church'. It was sited at Giffordtown, as it was to serve Kettle as well as Collessie. This was fourteen years before the school in Lundin Mill was built. See the sketch and the image of the school further below and compare and contrast. There's very little difference. So, why was Giffordtown Church used as a template for the school in Lundin Mill? The architects that worked on the development of the Lundin Estate with the Standard Life Assurance Company were James Campbell Walker and John Milne. Walker was born in Strathmiglo, 5 miles away from Giffordtown in 1821. He was a practising architect by 1842. John MIlne is recorded in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects as having carried out improvements at Collessie Free Church Manse in 1858... http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=209180 I suspect that one or both men were involved in the original building of Collessie Free Church and re-used the design at Lundin Mill....and possibly elsewhere. It was not uncommon to find this 'recycling' with school buildings either then or now. The present 1974 school in Lundin Links also has 'twins' at other locations. Anyway, all of this accounts for why the original 1857/8 version of the Lundin Mill School looked so church-like in appearance! Small image of school above taken from 'Largo - An Illustrated History' by Eunson and Band (2000)
The previous post looked at the evolution of the old Lundin Mill School building on Crescent Road (the present library building). As well as major changes to the building over the years, there have been many small changes. A couple of examples of minor changes are shown below. The first shows that, as it became necessary to enable vehicular access to the rear of the school, a boundary wall had to be altered in order to provide a wide enough passage. Note the building close to the top right hand corner of the image below, labelled 'School Meals'. This was apparently added in the early 1960s as a dinner hall, along with a prefabricated classroom. The second example concerns the external toilet block, altered in 1963. At that time the floors and roofs were redone. The elevation and cross-section are shown below. The late 1960s photograph below that shows the toilet block and adjoining shelter in the background. Emsdorf Street is visible in the distance. The group of children are facing towards the back of the school building. The next post will look at the innovative design of the replacement school building, opened in 1974.
The above sketch is a depiction of how Lundin Mill School (now Lundin Links library) looked when first built in the late 1850s. Sadly, I do not know who created the above drawing, or when, but I am so glad to have come across it, as the building has undergone a series of modifications over the years. Long gone are the pair of ornate doors (one for girls and one for boys) and the school bell. However, the two porches are still there (minus the ornate doors) and the central chimney stack remains. The former school master's house still adjoins to the right, although without the old internal connecting door. The most obvious change is the central extension beneath the chimney stack. It is at the side of this extension that the main entrance to the building is now found.
In 1910, major alterations were carried out to the school, including the central front addition. This originally housed the cloakroom and a 'Teacher's Retiring Room' with store and WC. At that time there were two main classrooms within the main part of the building plus an 'Infants' Classroom' (capacity 56) jutting out at the back of the building, with its own rear porch and external door. The rear playground was divided into the girls' and the boys' halves, each with their own play-sheds and toilet blocks. Their was a back entrance/exit to the playground allowing access from the back lanes and vennels on the Emsdorf Street side. The photograph below is thought to be late 1920s/early 1930s. Certainly the metal railings and gate show it to be pre-World War Two. The loss of these railings altered the appearance of the school again. The result can be seen further below in a 1966 image where more modern-style railings have been installed. Less than a decade later, the school was moved to the present site and a very modern building. Soon afterwards, the library took over the old school building and has remained there until the present day. However, the building looks set for further change in the not too distant future, as the library is scheduled to close. |
AboutThis 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!
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