Worrall's directory of the North-Eastern counties of Scotland ...

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DlEECTOET.] 203
DUNFERMLINE,
CEOSSFOED, HALBEATH, TOWNHILL, WBLLWOOD, SPITTAL, AND MILES MAEK.
UUNFEEMLINE is a city, a royal burgh, and
parish, containing a population, according to the
census of 1871, of 23,123. It is the chief
town in the western part of the county of Fife,
16 miles N.W. from Edinburgh, 81 S.S.W. from
Cupar, 21 from StMing, and 47 N.E. from Glasgow,
situate 3 miles north from the Frith of Forth, and
300 feet above the level at Limekilns, which is the
nearest part of the coast. Thus elevated, it commands
a prospect remarkably various and beautiful,
extending over fourteen different counties, and its
salubrious situation renders it one of the healthiest
cities in Scotland. The government of the bm-gh is
vested in a lorovost, four bailies, a dean of guild,
treasurer, chamberlain, and town clerk, and joins
with Stirling, Inverkeithing, Culross, and Queens
Ferry in sending one member to parliament. Witliin
the last thirty years the improvements have been
considerable, not only by the extensiaa of the cross
streets but by the addition of a large suburb to the
east and west. At the east end of the town there is
a fine pubhc park, extending to between 30 and 40
acres. The staple trade is the manufacture of table
linen, for which it is noted. There are also other
branches of trade, among which may be mentioned
the manufacture of fire clay goods, iron and brass
founding, brewing, dyeing, and the manufacture of
tobacco. The coal trade is extensively carried on.
There are five branch banks, and several good hotels,
the principal being Milne's, situated in the centre of
the town. The public buildings consist of the following:—The
County Buildings or Guild Hall, in High-sfc.,
which contains the Post Office, Savings' Bank, and
Public Library ; the Music Hall, which is used as a
Corn Exchange every Tuesday; the Prison, the
Workhoase and Fever Hospital are at the eastern
extremity of the town. The new oifices of the British
Linen Co.'s Bank, in High-street, were opened on
the 18th of September, 1876, and is one of the
handsomest buildings in the town. It is in the
Tuscan style of architecture, and built with Polmaise
stone, after the designs of David Cousins, Esq., city
architect, Edinbm'gh. The cost of the erection was
about ^88,000. The following are now (1877) in course
of erection :—The New Corjjoration Buildings, Bridgest;
Carnegie Public Baths, Schoolend-st; and the Public
Hall, St. Margaret-st. But the most elegant building
of modern erection is the Abbey Church, which is of
Gothic architecture, and surmounted by a tower of
100 feet. While excavating the foundation for this
place the tomb of the celebrated monarch King
Eobert the Brace was discovered, 490 years after
death. Adjoining the new is part of the old
abbey. There has been erected in the southern
transept of the abbey a very chaste and exceedingly
beautiful memorial in honour of the late Lady
Augusta Stanley, wife of Dean Stanley. The Dean
entrusted the execution of the work to Miss Grant,
of London, who has to the very full given ample
justice to her subject—the execution of the work
giving every and positive indication of Miss Grant's
high powers as a sculptor. The cenotaph—which is
executed in very fine relievo style, and measures
3 feet in breadth, and stands fully 6 feet high—is of
statuary marble. In the upper portion there is
embodied a very striking hkeness of the deceased,
underneath which are six angels. Again, underneath,
is the following inscription, composed by the Dean
himself :
[
To the Dear Memory of
Aug'uata Elizabeth Frederica Bruce,
Fifth Daughter of Thomas, Seventh Earl of Elgin and
Kincardine. The beloved wife of
Arthur Penrhyue Stanley, Dean of Westmuister.
Born at BroomhaU, AprU 3, 1822.
Died March 1st, 1876.
Buried in Westminster Abbey, the scene of her latest and
dearest afiections.
She retained through all changes her deep attachment
To the home of her childhood and the resting-place of her race.
The above words are inscribed on the left side of a
crest of the Stanley and Bruce arms. Towards the
right are the words :
—
" I love Dunfermline ; I love my own, my own BroomhaU.
Let the people of Limekilni and Charleston never forget me,"
She stretched forth her hands to the needy.
And in her tongue is the law of kindness.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.
And her own works praise her.
" We know that we have passed from death unto life, because
we love the brethren,"
The parish church has been collegiate and under the
care of two ministers since 1645. There are also
places of worship for the various other denominations.
The educational estabhshments comprise the Dunfermline
Grammar School, the Dunfermhne Commercial
Academy, and several private academies.
There are two Public Libraries, a Subscription News
Eoom, Mechanics and Scientific Institution, and
various other associations, a fist of which will be
found in the Directory. The market is held on
Tuesday for grain, and the cattle market every third
Tuesday in the month. The North British Eailway
have a station here.
Crossford, Halbeath, Townhill, Wellwood, Spittal,
and Miles Mark are small villages in the parish from
one to three miles distant from Dunfermhne.
Post Office, County Baildings, High-street, James
Bryden, jDOstmaster.—Ai-iival of mails from Edinburgh,
England, & Ireland at 5.45 a.m., 9.5 a.m., and
6.30 p.m. J from Alloa, Stirling, and the North at
9.5 a.m., 9.40 a.m., and 6.30 p.m. ; from Glasgow at
6.10 a.m., 10 a.m., and 7 p.m. ; from Perth, Dundee,
Cupar, Auchtermuchty, Lady bank, Markinch, Leven,
St. Andrews, Strathmiglo, Kinross, Kirkcaldy, Loch-
gelly, and Burntisland at 9.5 a.m. and 6.45 p.m. j
from Carnock, Oakley, and Saline at 6.30 p.m.
from Cairneyhill, Torrybm-n, Townhill, and Halbeath
at 3.15 p.m. ; from Inverkeithing at 10.15 a.m. and
6.50 p.m.; from Limekilns and Charleston at 7 a.m.
and 3 p.m. Despatches to all parts of England
and Ireland at 3.10 p.m., and to Edinburgh at
7.30 a.m., 1.20 p.m., 3.30 p.m„ and 7.5 p.m.; to
AUoa, Stirling, and Glasgow, at 8.40 a.m.,
12.30 p.m., 8.10 p.m., and 9 p.m.; to Perth,
Dundee, Cupar, Auchtermuchty, Ladybank, Markinch,
Leven, St. Andrews, Strathmiglo, Kinross,
Kirkcaldy, Lochgelly, and Burntisland at 6.30 a.m.
and 4.10 p.m. ; to Oakley and Saline at 7.5 a.m. and
12.30 p.m. ; to Cairneyhill, Torryburn, Townhill, and
Halbeath at 9.45 a.m. ; to Limekilns and Charleston at
7.10 a.m. and 9.45 a.m. ; to Inverkeithing at 7.30 a.m.
and 3.30 p.m. ; to North Queens Ferry at 8.30 p.m.
Money Order and Telegraph Office, and Savings'
Bank.
Post Office, Halbeath, Eobert Gourlay, Postmaster.
— ;
Letters arrive from Dunfermline at 11 a.m. and
are despatched thereto at 2 p.m. Nearest Money-
Order Office at Dunfermline.
Post Office, Kingseat—Letter-box letters through
Dunfermline collected ai, 11.45 a.m.