On 3rd November 1937 the Dundee Courier reported on how a meeting of the Public Health Committee of Fife Council in Cupar criticised the National Trust for Scotland and their recommendations. The NTS requested that any houses on the list for potential demolition or reconditioning which had architectural, historic or artistic interest be run past them and "every endeavour should be made to preserve" such buildings.
However, in the case of one particular house in Lower Largo, the committee "recommended that no undertaking should be accepted, that a demolition order should be made". One member stated that "the National Trust for Scotland had scheduled all sorts of absurd houses" and in the case of this house "its only feature was that it had an outside stair" and "it was a little ridiculous to preserve old houses for that reason". The plan to proceed towards demolition was approved.
Looking back at this decision today, it seems pretty harsh and perhaps short-sighted to not be more open to preserving the past. However, such buildings were probably seen to be standing in the way of progress and improvement. Today the same newspaper is reporting a fire at the empty Lundin Links Hotel (see image below). This is sad news and leaves uncertainty over the future of an important local landmark. No doubt many will be despondent and left wishing that more had been done to preserve this historical building. Others will view it as a chance for a fresh start. Only time will tell what will happen to the hotel site. In decades to come, I wonder what will people make of the decisions of the present.
However, in the case of one particular house in Lower Largo, the committee "recommended that no undertaking should be accepted, that a demolition order should be made". One member stated that "the National Trust for Scotland had scheduled all sorts of absurd houses" and in the case of this house "its only feature was that it had an outside stair" and "it was a little ridiculous to preserve old houses for that reason". The plan to proceed towards demolition was approved.
Looking back at this decision today, it seems pretty harsh and perhaps short-sighted to not be more open to preserving the past. However, such buildings were probably seen to be standing in the way of progress and improvement. Today the same newspaper is reporting a fire at the empty Lundin Links Hotel (see image below). This is sad news and leaves uncertainty over the future of an important local landmark. No doubt many will be despondent and left wishing that more had been done to preserve this historical building. Others will view it as a chance for a fresh start. Only time will tell what will happen to the hotel site. In decades to come, I wonder what will people make of the decisions of the present.
Image: Tom Aitken 19 Nov 2016. Story reported STV news and Dundee Courier
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