VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO
  • Blog

Site of Viewforth

6/7/2015

3 Comments

 
Picture
The above representation of Viewforth, which lies to the east of the Temple at Largo, is based upon the 1854 OS map. The buildings have evolved over the years - with bits added or taken away - but this is how it was captured in the earliest detailed map widely available.  The 1825 advert for the sale of these grounds described the two-storey dwelling house named 'Viewforth' (the largest building in red at the centre) with its dining-room, parlour, kitchen and three bedrooms, plus adjoining stable. The advert also mentioned four small one storey houses, which can all be seen in the illustration. I imagine the whole settlement would have been quite self-sufficient, with vegetables grown, livestock kept and fish caught. There was a well to the east side.

The period when Viewforth (or Largo Pans) was a salt works is well-documented in the book 'Largo - An Illustrated History' by Eunson and Band.  It places the origins of the works at 1759. The household account book of Lady Janet Anstruther lists 'salt from Largo' among the items purchased for the household between 1763 and 1770 (alongside such other items as a barrel of herrings, pint of gin, oysters from St Monans and hard biscuit from Leven). Other references to early Viewforth are hard to find but it seems that later in the 18th century salt production ceased and the site become more residential.  The construction and arrival of the railway must have been hugely disruptive to inhabitants of Viewforth as the line cut the original site in two.  Presumably compensation would have been paid for the loss of ground. Just to the east of Viewforth was the 'Strathairly siding' and the 'Viewforth level crossing'.

The photograph below was taken from the beach at the south west corner of the Viewforth site, looking up towards the main dwelling house. The ruined building in the foreground always was incredibly close to the high water mark, and must have witnessed some spectacular storms over the decades, but eventually coastal erosion rendered the houses closest to the sea uninhabitable.  By the late 1940s they were abandoned. The image at the foot of this post shows the remains of the main dwelling house.  It is easy to distinguish the original elements of the building from the later brick addition. Remnants of doors, windows, walls, and a chimney can also be seen. 
Picture
Picture
3 Comments
June Henderson
11/10/2017 12:10:10 pm

Thanks for this very interesting post. I've often wondered what these buildings were! I was looking at valuation rolls in Cupar Library on an un-related search & noticed that Hugh Cameron RSA RWS, artist, was the tenant of Viewforth from at least 1890 to 1900. He lived 1835 to 1918 so wasn't a young man at this time. In the 1899-1900 roll he is also a tenant of another property at Viewforth "house used as studio". I googled him & lots of his paintings popped up. Some mention Largo in the title but many others are clearly set in the surrounding area. One is of a woman with a huge bunch of ferns and looks to me as if it is in The Serpentine.

Reply
Rhona link
31/3/2020 06:30:08 am

Fascinating that Hugh Cameron lived at Pans(Viewforth). One of my favorite paintings is his Moonlight Largo bay

Reply
Micha Weir
7/10/2021 07:15:06 am

My great-great grandmother Margaret Lyall Melville née Grubb was born there.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About

    This 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!

    Search

    There is no in-built search facility on this site. To search for content, go to Google and type your search words followed by "lundin weebly".

    Contact

    Categories

    All
    Antiquities
    Beach
    Boarding Houses
    Business
    Churches
    Clubs And Societies
    Drummochy
    Facilities
    Farming
    Fishing
    Golf
    Houses
    Keil's Den
    Largo Law
    Lower Largo
    Masseney Braes
    New Gilston
    People
    Railway
    School
    Shops
    Standing Stanes
    Streets
    Tourism
    Upper Largo
    Viaduct
    War

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Links

    Largo Baywatch Blog
    Fife Family History Society
    ​
    Polish Parachute Brigade Info​

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.