The bastion of trees that stand opposite the Lundin Links Hotel - shown at the top of the above image and once widely known as 'Fir Park' - was almost lost back in 1914. Whether this was averted by the action of the local people or by the onset of war is unclear but this area of woodland was reprieved and still survives today. Lundin Links was still in a period of growth in 1914, notably to the west along Leven Road. There was a "dearth of houses" according to a Fife Free Press headline on 30 May that year:
"The famine of houses reported in various parts of Fife is very pronounced in Leven District. Some twenty new houses have been finished lately but the number of families on the search for houses is astonishing. A proprietor a day or two had about thirty applications for a house"
However, a plan to feu Fir Park was met with alarm from the residents of Lundin Links as the article from the 6 June St Andrews Citizen below shows.
"The famine of houses reported in various parts of Fife is very pronounced in Leven District. Some twenty new houses have been finished lately but the number of families on the search for houses is astonishing. A proprietor a day or two had about thirty applications for a house"
However, a plan to feu Fir Park was met with alarm from the residents of Lundin Links as the article from the 6 June St Andrews Citizen below shows.
It seems that Fir Park was well-used by locals. It is celebrated in the names of a number of nearby houses: 'Fir Park' on Crescent Road, 'Fir Park Cottage' on Emsdorf Street, 'Park View' above the former Post Office and 'Park Knowe' adjacent to the Pharmacy.
Although perhaps a little unloved today, the wooded area is still part of the character of the village, which would have taken on quite a different appearance had this elevated site been developed for housing a century ago.
Although perhaps a little unloved today, the wooded area is still part of the character of the village, which would have taken on quite a different appearance had this elevated site been developed for housing a century ago.
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