I've often wondered about the history of this building at the corner of Hillhead Lane and Hillhead Street. Obviously old, it's clearly not just a garage, as it's very long and has an upper doorway with evidence of some kind of contraption above that door. The answer came from the 'valuation rolls', which were compiled annually, listing every house, building or piece of ground, together with the names of the owners and tenants and the annual rateable value.
This building clearly features on an 1894 map and, on the 1895 valuation roll, a Janet Grieve or Simpson (flesher) is listed as owner of three entries ('Slaughterhouse and Stable', 'House, Shop & Garden' and 'Huts') on Hillhead. Janet was by this time the widow of the butcher David Simpson who had died earlier that year after a fall from the Largo viaduct.
Looking at other valuation roll entries and at census information, it seems that David Simpson had moved to Largo parish around 1878 from Markinch. Initially, he was a flesher in Kirkton of Largo before moving to Lundin Mill Farm before 1885. By the 1891 census, Simpson has his own butcher's shop, which I'm guessing is the same one noted as belonging to his widow four years later on Hillhead. So, more than likely the slaughterhouse was built for him sometime between 1885 and 1891.
This building clearly features on an 1894 map and, on the 1895 valuation roll, a Janet Grieve or Simpson (flesher) is listed as owner of three entries ('Slaughterhouse and Stable', 'House, Shop & Garden' and 'Huts') on Hillhead. Janet was by this time the widow of the butcher David Simpson who had died earlier that year after a fall from the Largo viaduct.
Looking at other valuation roll entries and at census information, it seems that David Simpson had moved to Largo parish around 1878 from Markinch. Initially, he was a flesher in Kirkton of Largo before moving to Lundin Mill Farm before 1885. By the 1891 census, Simpson has his own butcher's shop, which I'm guessing is the same one noted as belonging to his widow four years later on Hillhead. So, more than likely the slaughterhouse was built for him sometime between 1885 and 1891.
After David Simpson's untimely death early in 1895, his widow continued the business. In the 1901 census, she is recorded as living in 'Croft House', Hillhead Street and her occupation is given as 'butcher'. Two of her sons also are listed at the same address with the same occupation (as is another man who is a non-family member). So at the turn of the century, this business was employing at least four 'butchers'. By 1911, the whole butcher business had changed hands and was being run by Andrew Robertson. Robertson appears in the 1915 valuation roll as owning the 'House & Garden', 'Huts' and 'Shop, Slaughterhouse and Stable' on the west side of Hillhead Street, however, he dies in 1916. The 1920 valuation roll shows that the buildings are in the hands of solicitors and the butcher's shop is empty. This I believe marked the end of the building's original use. There was, of course, by this stage an established butcher on Leven Road, which remains to this day. So what happened next to the building shown above? Find out in the next post.
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