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Kirkcaldy

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Kirkcaldy is a Town in the Fife area of Scotland, 29 miles north of Edinburgh, via the Firth of Forth Road Bridge.

The Town is popular for its Market Square, Art Gallery & Museum, Theatre, Old Kirk, Merchants House, and Beveridge Park. The scenic Dysart Harbour is on the north side of Kirkcaldy. Wemyss Caves are 5 miles north with a Museum and Guided Tours.

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The image top is looking north along Kirkcaldy Promenade towards the Harbour. The Promenade and Sea Wall were rebuilt in 2014. Entertainment Venues may be added along the Promenade in future, as the Fife Coast continues to attract more Tourists.

The second image is of Kirkcaldy Volunteers Green, next to the Promenade, just east of the High Street.

The High Street in Kirkcaldy has the largest selection of Shops of all the Towns on the Fife Coast. The most notable building on the High Street is the Kirkcaldy Congregational Church, built in 1874.

Just west of the High Street is Kirkcaldy Market Square, with the Council Buildings and Sheriff Court. The Square holds a Farmers Market on the last Saturday of every month.

Just west of the Square is Kirkcaldy Galleries with a Cafe, Art Gallery, and Museum. The Museum covers the History of Kirkcaldy, and Art Gallery contains works by Fife Artists.

By the Galleries is the Adam Smith Theatre, a 475-seat venue for comedy, dance, drama, music, and children's theatre. The Theatre opened in 1889 to designs of Adam Smith, famous Architect from Kirkcaldy.

Kirk Wynd is near the north end of the High Street where you can find Kirkcaldy Old Kirk. The Old Kirk was built from the 1400s, on the site of a much earlier Church. This Church closed as a place of worship in 2010. Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust bought the the Building in 2011 for use as a Concert Hall and Heritage Centre.

The Merchants House is at the north end of the High Street looking onto the Harbour, claimed to be the best preserved 1500s Town House in Scotland. This Building was restored by Scottish Historic Buildings Trust in 2005. Parts of the House are now being offered for small Businesses. The Courtyard contains Information Boards covering the History of Kirkcaldy.

The Harbour is at the north end of the Promenade, with the ruins of Raivenscraig Castle sitting high above. The Castle was built from 1460 for the wife of King James II, Queen Mary of Gueldres, later passing to the Sinclairs.

By the 1500s, the Harbour was being used to trade with Baltic countries, importing Grain, Beer, Flax, and Timber. Exports included Salt, Linen Cloth made from the Flax, and later Coal. The Town also began manufacturing Linoleum and Carpets.

1870s - large Coal Seams were discovered if Fife at about 1,500ft below the surface. A number of Deep Mines were then opened to extract the vast quantities of Coal, with Kirkcaldy Harbour used for Shipping to transport much of the Coal. The last deep Mine in Fife, Longannet, closed in 2002.

Beveridge Park is on the west side of Kirkcaldy, with a large Car Park, Fast Food Stall, Gardens, Sports Fields, Pond, and Skate Park. The Park was gifted to the people of Kirkcaldy in 1892, using 104 acres of Raith Estate.

In the 1950s & 60s, Beveridge Park was used for Motor Cycle Racing, attracting up to 7,000 spectators. The races ended in 1988.

Kirkcaldy Golf Club is on the southwest side of the Town, founded in 1904.

 
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