Museums, archives and heritage in Fife

Fife (or Fifeshire), maritime county in E. of Scotland; is bounded N. by the Firth of Tay, E. by the North Sea, S. by the Firth of Forth, and W. by the counties of Perth, Kinross, and Clackmannan; greatest length, 43 miles; greatest breadth, 18 miles; area, 314,952 acres, population 171,931. Fife forms the peninsula between the Firths of Forth and Tay. The coast is varied and picturesque; that part of it bordering on the Firth of Forth is lined with a succession of towns and villages, for the great number of which Fife is remarkable. The surface is pleasantly undulating. A ridge of high ground, commencing with the Lomond Hills, runs from W. to E.; to the N., between the Lomonds and a spur of the Ochils, lies an extensive plain called Strath Eden, or the Howe of Fife; to the S. is another stretch of low land, broken by Saline Hill, Knock Hill, the Hill of Beath, and the Cullalo Hills. The principal rivers are the Eden and the Leven. In the NW. the soil is moss, moor, and rock; in the NE. it consists of wet clay; the most fertile tracts are the Howe of Fife and the belt of loam which fringes the Firth of Forth. The formation is chiefly Carboniferous, and Fife is the third largest coal-producing county in Scotland. Limestone and freestone abound. Blackband ironstone is worked at Lochgelly and Oakley (where there are smelting furnaces); oil shale is worked near Burntisland. The principal manufacture is linen – damasks and diapers at Dunfermline, checks and ticks at Kirkcaldy. The county comprises 61 parishes and 2 parts, the Kirkcaldy Burghs, the St Andrews Burghs, and the parliamentary burghs of Dunfermline and Inverkeithing (part of the Stirling Burghs).

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Abbot House Heritage Centre

Abbot House, Maygate

Dunfermline KY12 7NE

01383 733 266

www.abbothouse.co.uk

Abbot House Heritage Centre is a charity, dedicated to protecting and preserving the fabric of this atmospheric medieval building, and helping our visitors to learn about Dunfermline’s early and medieval past through the exploration of our collections. Sited within a beautiful walled garden, and featuring heritage displays and a replica 17th century brew house.

Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum

Moodie Street

Dunfermline KY12 7PL

01383 724302

www.carnegiebirthplace.com

In 1895 the Birthplace Cottage was bought as a surprise 60th birthday present for Andrew Carnegie by his wife Louise and then let out to tenants. With the creation of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust in 1903, a caretaker was installed and in 1908 it was first opened to the public.

Collections: Strong social historic artefacts that reflect past local crafts and trades including cloth making. A series of gifts presented to Andrew Carnegie in return for his generous donations.

Balmerino Abbey

Balmerino Village

Newport-on-Tay DD6 8SB

0844 4932185

www.nts.org.uk/Property/Balmerino-Abbey

The ruins of Balmerino Abbey are a fine example of a 13th century Cistercian monastery, which became a dwelling house of the lords Balmerino after secularisation in 1603. Connected with the Abbey are historical figures such as William the Lion, Mary of Guise, Mary Queen of Scots and even Bonnie Prince Charlie. The abbey is situated in the award winning hamlet of Balmerino where examples of medieval farm buildings can be seen.

Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History

Bute Medical Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews

St Andrews KY16 9TS

01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museum/bellpettigrew

The Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History was founded, and most specimens acquired, during the heyday of the Victorian age, when collecting was all the rage.

British Golf Museum

Bruce Embankment

St Andrews KY16 9AB

01334 460046

www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk

Our collection tells the fascinating story of British golf, through material dating from the 17th century to the present day. It is the most comprehensive golf collection in Britain, and one of the finest worldwide, celebrating golf from grass roots to international level. Over 16,000 items cover equipment (clubs, balls, manufacturing and clothing), prizes (trophies and medals), decorative art (artworks, ceramics, silverware and ephemera), film, photographs and archives (books, periodicals, programmes and patents). The displays and archives are enhanced by unique loan collections from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and The Women Golfers’ Museum.

Buckhaven Museum

College Street (above Library)

Buckhaven KY8 1LD

01592 412 860

goo.gl/tFFpgX

A small local museum in a town once described as a full-flavoured fisher town. Buckhaven’s past importance in the East Coast Fisheries is reflected in the displays housed above Buckhaven Library.

Burntisland Museum

192 High Street

Burntisland KY3 9AS

01592 412860

www.fifedirect.org/museums

Burntisland Museum has recreated a walk through the sights and sounds of the town’s fair in 1910, based on a painting of the scene by local artist Andrew Young. See rides, stalls and side shows of the time and view the local history gallery.

Crail Museum & Heritage Centre

62-64 Marketgate

Crail KY10 3TL

01333 450869

www.crailmuseum.org.uk

The museum provides insight into the past life of this ancient royal burgh, its kirk, seafaring tradition, 220 year-old golf club and Airfield history (HMS Jackdaw, Fleet Air Arm Station, HMS Bruce Boys Training School and Joint Services School for Linguists).

Culross Palace Townhouse & Study

Culross Palace, Culross

Dunfermline KY12 8JH

01383 880358

goo.gl/Rq92sd

Everywhere you look in Culross you’re surrounded by the past. Close your eyes and you can almost hear the calls of medieval street vendors selling their wares and the clang of hammers on metal as the Hammermen of Culross fashioned the famous girdles.

Dunfermline Abbey

Dunfermline KY12 7PE

01383 724586

www.dunfermlineabbey.co.uk/wwp

The Abbey, whose foundation goes back to 1072, was built by King David I of Scotland in honour of his mother the saintly Queen Margaret.

Dunfermline City Chambers

City Chambers, Kirkgate

Dunfermline KY12 7ND

01383 312734

goo.gl/7wfcMe

Information is available on request about the history of the City Chambers, as well as the works of art housed within the building. Magnificent works of religous fairy painter Sir Joseph Noel Paton and impressive portraits displaying great figures of Scottish history.

Falkland Palace, Garden & Old Burgh

Falkland Palace, Falkland

Cupar KY15 7BU

01337 857397

www.nts.org.uk

The Royal Palace of Falkland was the country residence of Stuart kings and queens when they hunted deer and wild boar in the Fife forest. Mary, Queen of Scots spent some of the happiest days of her tragic life here.

Fife Archive Centre

Fife Council,Carleton House,The Haig Business Park,Balgonie Road Markinch

Glenrothes KY7 6AQ

01592 583352

goo.gl/zT5w3u

The Archive Centre looks after documents covering the last 500 years of history in Fife.

Fife Council Museums East Headquarters

County Buildings, St Catherine Street

Cupar KY15 4TA

01334 412934

goo.gl/DIZ5ow

Management and administration centre for Fife Libraries & Museums.

Fife Family History Society

Glenmoriston, Durie Street

Leven KY8 4HF

01333 425321

www.fifefhs.org

Fife Family History Society, which was formed in 1989, aims to join together people with an interest in the research of their Fife ancestors.

Fife Folk Museum

High Street, Ceres

Nr Cupar KY15 5NF

01334 828180

www.fifefolkmuseum.org

The Fife Folk Museum’s collections are housed in beautiful, listed buildings, including the original tollbooth and adjacent weavers’ cottages. Ceres itself is a charming village with a communal green and a burn running through its centre.

Fife Museums

Cupar

Fife KY15 4TA

01334 412934

www.fifedirect.org.uk/museums

Each venue has its own unique character, with fascinating permanent displays such as an A-Z of St Andrews and the stunning Scottish Art on show at Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery.

Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse & Garden

Cupar KY15 5PB

01334 653127

www.nts.org.uk

The present house was remodelled in 1906 by Sir Robert Lorimer for Mr F B Sharp to form a suitable setting for his notable collection which includes French, Chippendale-style and vernacular furniture, Dutch paintings and pictures by Raeburn and Ramsay, Flemish tapestries and Chinese porcelain and bronzes. The interior is very much in the Edwardian fashion.

Kellie Castle & Garden

Pittenweem KY10 2RF

01333 720271

www.nts.org.uk

Kellie Castle is a very fine example of the domestic architecture of Lowland Scotland. The oldest part is believed to date from 1360, but the building in its present form is mainly 16th- and early 17th-century and was completed about 1606.

Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery

War Memorial Gardens

Kirkcaldy KY1 1YJ

01592 412860

www.fifedirect.org.uk/themes/index.cfm

Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery, set in the attractive garden grounds of the town’s War Memorial Gardens, houses a collection of fine and decorative arts of local and national importance. The museum owns what is probably the largest public collection of the works of William McTaggart and Scottish Colourist SJ Peploe existing outside the National Galleries of Scotland. The collection also includes a significant number of works by the Glasgow Boys.The ground floor features an award winning permanent local history display.

Laing Museum

High Street

Newburgh KY14 6DX

01337 840223

goo.gl/eR2iMg

A small local history museum with displays about this interesting town and local historian and benefactor Alexander Laing.

Methil Heritage Centre

272 High Street

Methil KY8 3EQ

01333 422100

www.methilheritage.org.uk

Methil Heritage Centre is a small local history museum and exhibition venue, situated in the coastal town of Methil in Central Fife.

MUSA Collections Centre

87 North Street

St Andrews KY16 9AE

01334 461662

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museum/musacollectionscentre

Explore behind the scenes to discover some of the fascinating treasure from the University of St Andrews’ collections. From fine art to furniture, intricate sculptures to coffee pots, the Collections Centre is the home to many of the thousands of fascinating objects.

Museum of Communication Foundation Trust

131 High Street

Burntisland KY3 9AA

01506 823424

www.mocft.co.uk

The Trust was set up to preserve communications technology for future generations. It is currently developing a major facility at Burntisland in Fife which will educate visitors in an entertaining way, showing them how past technologies have shaped their own lives.

Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA)

7a The Scores

St Andrews KY16 9AR

01334 461660

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musa

MUSA tells the story of the history of the University of St Andrews. On display you can see highlights from the University’s collection of over 112,000 artefacts.

Pittencrieff House Museum

Pittencrieff Park

Dunfermline KY12 8QH

01383 722 935

goo.gl/ZRZn6T

From the outside you can see that Pittencrieff House was once a private residence. In fact it was a home for nearly 300 years until Andrew Carnegie bought the grounds in 1903.

Scotland’s Secret Bunker

Crown Buildings, Troywood

Nr St Andrews KY16 8QH

01333 310301

www.secretbunker.co.uk

For 40 years Scotland kept a secret. Hidden beneath an innocent Scottish farmhouse lies Scotland’s Secret Bunker. We invite you to take the journey down the 450 foot tunnel and through the blast doors to discover the secrets of the bunker, which was built to help safeguard Scotland during the Cold War in the event of a nuclear attack.

St Andrews Cathedral & St Rule’s Tower – Historic Scotland

St Andrews Cathedral And St Rule’s Tower

St Andrews G1 4ER

01334 472563

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places

The remains of the largest cathedral in Scotland, and of the associated domestic ranges of the priory. The precinct walls are particularly well preserved.

St Andrews Museum

Kinburn House, Kinburn Park, Doubledykes Road

St Andrews KY16 9DP

01334 412690

goo.gl/3zNHWd

St Andrews Museum is situated in a beautiful Victorian mansion within the grounds of Kinburn Park. The long term display, St Andrews A-Z, is housed in the downstairs gallery.

St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum

12 North Street

St Andrews KY16 9PW

01334 477629

www.standrewspreservationtrust.co.uk

The St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum is a small, independent museum situated in a lovely 17th century house in the heart of the town’s old fisher quarter, a stone’s throw from both the castle and the cathedral. The museum contains a wealth of fascinating information and objects pertaining to the history of St Andrews and its people.

St Margaret’s Cave

Glen Bridge Car Park, Chalmers Street

Dunfermline KY12 8DF

goo.gl/RlALU9

Queen Margaret came here to pray over 900 years ago. Then there was only a wooded path by a stream at the bottom of the valley with a short climb up to the small cave. Now there’s a tunnel with 87 steps leading deep underground. When you descend into the earth, with the haunting sound of monks singing, you can feel the weight of centuries of Dunfermline’s history.

University of St Andrews Library

University Library, University of St Andrews

St Andrews KY16 9TR

01334 462283

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/

The Special Collections Department houses over 120,000 rare printed books, a world-class collection of early photography, plus significant manuscript holdings ranging from Greek papyri of the second century to modern business records.