LINKTOWN WALKABOUT
Kirkcaldy Civic Society have walkabouts every year during the Summer months.
LINKTOWN WALKABOUT |
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Burgh Boundary Walkabout / Back O' the Toun Walkabout
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SUNDAY APRIL 16th 2000 - Our first walkabout of 2000 began at the Seafield car park. The Links Market had arrived in the town and the area was busy with traffic. Our group gathered on the grassy area near the shore of the Forth and after hearing about the centuries old Seafield Tower and the Seafield Colliery whose twin towers were a well known feature of Kirkcaldy's landscape until 1989 our small group headed off to view the site where the old Roperie and the open air swimming pool known as the 'Lido' once stood. |
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After crossing the Tiel Burn Bridge we stopped to have a look at what was once the West Bridge Spinning Mill. The mill, built in 1855, stood empty for 23 years and was under the threat of demolition until it was put into use by Links Housing. KCS erected a plaque at the entrance to the mill on the 10th August 1999. |
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Crossing Pratt Street we walked along Mill Street towards the railway viaduct. This is a very old part of the town and is mentioned in records as far back as 1583. The mill in this street was originally a meal mill and one of the millstones has been set in a nearby wall. In the year 1815 the mill was bought by a Robert Philp who began manufacturing linen. It was Robert Philp who left a great deal of money in trust to educate the poor children of Kirkcaldy. |
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Behind the mill can be seen part of Starks Park
the home of Kirkcaldy's football team Raith Rovers.
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As the group walked along Links Street we were reminded again of Robert Philp when we viewed the 'new' Philp Hall built in 1962. This replaced the old Philp Hall which had previously been one of the schools built from the money Philp had left in trust. |
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After having a look at the plaque erected by KCS marking the birthplace of Robert Adam, the famous architect, our walkabout finished at Linktown Church (formerly known as Bethelfield Church). We hurried inside for a welcome cup of tea and biscuits. Photographs of the buildings and people we had heard about on the walk were laid out for the group to inspect and after a 'vote of thanks' from Mrs. Watters the afternoons event came to an end. |
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We finish all our walkabouts with a cup of tea and biscuits. |
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There are always books, pens, badges etc. on sale. |