Kirkcaldy and The Aquarius Theatre Performances: Difference between pages

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Difference between pages)
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
"Kirkcaldy conurbation"? Not contiguous settlements so highly dubious label, not a concept in any currency, original uncited coining of this notion.
 
Redirect fixer (talk | contribs)
69,018 edits
HA! G URR! has been moved; it now redirects to The Doors.
 
Line 1: Line 1:
#REDIRECT [[The Doors]]
{{Citecheck|date=July 2008}}
{{Copyedit|date=July 2008}}
{{infobox UK place|
|country = Scotland
|official_name= Kirkcaldy
|local_name= ''The Lang Toun''<ref>Pearson 1993, p.13.</ref><ref name="History & Celebration p10"/>
|gaelic_name= Cathair Chaladainn<ref name="Scottish Gaelic Placenames">{{cite web |author=Iain Mac an Tàilleir |year=2003 |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |publisher=[[Scottish Parliament]] |page=75 |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesK-O.pdf |title=Scottish Gaelic Placenames |accessdate=2008-08-10}}</ref>
|scots_name=
|population= 48,108 (town)<ref name="Population Estimates"/> <br> 180,220 (urban)<ref name="Population Estimates" />
|population_density= {{Pop density mi2 to km2|1669|precision=0|abbr=yes|wiki=yes}}
|os_grid_reference= NT275915
|map_type=Scotland
|latitude= 56.11073
|longitude= -3.16737
|unitary_scotland= [[Fife]]
|lieutenancy_scotland= [[Fife]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (UK Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]]
|constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Kirkcaldy (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Kirkcaldy]] <br/> [[Mid Scotland and Fife]]
|post_town= KIRKCALDY
|postcode_district = KY1, KY2
|postcode_area= KY
|dial_code= 01592
|london_distance={{convert|341|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Boxing the compass|SSE]]
|edinburgh_distance={{convert|11|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Boxing the compass|S]]
|static_image= [[Image:Kirkcaldy.jpg|240px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>Kirkcaldy from the [[Firth of Forth]]</small>
|area_total_sq_mi=6.9
}}

'''Kirkcaldy''' ({{pronEng|kɪrˈkɔːdi}}; {{lang-gd|'''Cathair Chaladain'''}}) is a town and former [[Royal burgh]] in [[Fife]], on the east coast of [[Scotland]]. It lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the [[Firth of Forth]] and is the largest settlement between the cities of [[Dundee]] and [[Edinburgh]].

The town began as a burgh under the control of [[Dunfermline Abbey]]. A harbour built around the east burn gradually led to the growth of the town surrounding the harbour itself, main street and Tiel burn following the demand of trade with the Baltic. Early industries which soon prospered included the production of textiles, nailmaking and salt panning. The industrial revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries proved to be the most famous period for the town which saw the introduction of [[linoleum]]. Originally developed in the town as floorcloth, this was quickly dominated by the Nairn's but did not become popular across a worldwide scale until the beginning of the 20th century.

According to the recent population estimate (2006), the town is believed to be around 48,108 making this not only the largest town in Fife but also in terms of population. The Kirkcaldy [[conurbation]], which includes the nearby settlements of [[Burntisland]], [[Kinghorn]] and [[Auchtertool]]{{dubious}}{{or}} has a population of 57,755. The town also falls under the wider Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife urban area which has an overall total population of around 180, 220.

Today Kirkcaldy is a centre for the surrounding areas, with a public [[Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery|art gallery]], two public parks, shopping facilities and the annual Links Market, Europe's longest street fair. The town is twinned with [[Ingolstadt]] in [[Germany]].

== Etymology ==
The name Kirkcaldy means "place of the hard fort" or "place of Caled's fort", deriving from [[Pictish]] ''caer'' meaning "fort", ''caled'', which is Pictish "hard" or a personal name ''Caled'', and ''–in'', a suffix meaning "place of". ''Caled'' may describe the fort itself or be an epithet for a local "hard" ruler.<ref name="Place-Names of Fife">{{cite book |title= The Place-Names of Fife, Volume One|last= Taylor|first= Simon|coauthors= Márkus, Gilbert|year= 2006|publisher= Shaun Tyas|location= Donington|isbn= 1 900289 77 6|pages= 487}}</ref> An interpretation of the last element as ''din'' (again "fort" but this time from [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]]) rather than ''–in'' is incorrect.<ref name="Place-Names of Fife "/> The [[Old Statistical Account]] states a derivation from [[culdee]], which has been repeated in later publications<ref name="Torrie & Coleman p12">Torrie and Coleman 1995, p.12.</ref><ref name="History & Celebration p10">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.10.</ref> but is also incorrect.<ref name="Place-Names of Fife"/>

The earliest written form of the name, from the Charters of [[David I of Scotland|David I]] in 1128, is as the shire of ''Kircalethyn'', with subsequent forms including ''Kircaldin'', ''Kirkaladinit'', ''Kerkalethin'' and the earliest close approximation to the current name, as ''Kircaldy'', appearing in 1250.<ref name="Place-Names of Fife "/>

Kirkcaldy has long been nicknamed the "''Lang Toun''" ([[Scots language|Scots]] for "long town") in reference to the {{convert|0.9|mi|km|1|adj=on}} (later a {{convert|4|mi|km|1|disp=s|adj=on|abbr=on}}) main street of the early town, depicted so on maps as early as the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref>Torrie and Coleman 1995, p.15.</ref><ref name="Pride p52">Pride 1999, p.52.</ref>

== History ==
{{main|History of Kirkcaldy}}
One of the earliest historical events in the vicinity of the town was the [[Battle of Raith]] in 596 AD, where the [[Angles]] fought an alliance of Scots, Picts and Britons led by King [[Áedán mac Gabráin]] of [[Dál Riata]].<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.11.</ref> Towards the end of the 11th century the Scottish king [[Malcolm II of Scotland|Malcolm II]] purchased the [[shire]] of ''Kirkaladunt'' from the crown lords of Fife to be given to the monks of [[Dunfermline Abbey]] as a means for aiding the funding of their newly built church.<ref name="Remembered p6">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'' 2005, p.6.</ref><ref name="Eunson p3">Eunson ''Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West'' 1998, p.3.</ref><ref>Omand 2000, p.105.</ref><ref name="Bean p33">MacBean 1908, p.33.</ref>

A reference to Kirkcaldy as a "villa" in 1182 is the only indication that century that it was by then thought of as a town.<ref name="Torrie & Coleman p12"/> In 1304 the abbot of [[Dunfermline]] requested of King [[Edward I of England]] (Scotland being under occupation in this period) permission to hold a weekly market and annual fair (the latter the basis of the modern Links Market) in this ''"most ancient of burghs"''. In granting this right a year later the king though termed Kirkcaldy simply a "manor".<ref name="Eunson p3"/><ref name="Torrie & Coleman p12"/><ref name="Fife Journal p82">''The Fife Journal'' 1994, p.82.</ref> [[Burgh of barony]] status was granted by [[Robert I]] between 1315 and 1328, under the control of the abbey.<ref>Omand 2000, p.136.</ref>

Kirkcaldy harbour was acknowledged for having "a sheltered cove round the East Burn", thus giving easy accessibility for boats.<ref name="Pride p51">Pride 1999, p.51.</ref> By the early 16th century the vessels of the harbour had begun to engage in trade with the [[Baltic region|Baltic]], later dealing with the import of [[grain]] in 1618 and continental [[beer]] in 1625.<ref name="Remembered p6"/> A shipbuilding trade also existed on the site until this was phased out temporarily in 1645.<ref name="Eunson p3"/> The success led to the growth of the burgh, surrounding the harbour, Main Street and Tiel (West) burn, commented on by [[Thomas Carlyle]].<ref name="Lamont-Brown p144">Lamont-Brown 2002, p.144.</ref>
During his stay he described the town as being "a mile of the smoothest sand, with one long wave coming on gently, steadily, and breaking into a gradual explosion beautifully sounding, and advancing, ran from the South to the North, from the West Burn to Kirkcaldy Harbour, a favourite scene beautiful to me still in the faraway".<ref name="Remembered p7&8">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', pp.7–8.</ref><ref name="History & Celebration p10"/><ref name="Lamont-Brown p144"/><ref name="Wemyss p1">Wemyss Environment Educational Centre 1990, p.1.</ref>

[[Image:Kirkcaldy Volunteers Green Plaque.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The plaque reads: "This is the remains of the 9 acres of common moor given to the people of this town by [[Charles II]] in 1644 when Kirkcaldy was made a royal burgh...."]]

Royal burgh status was problematic with the loss of the original charter, which had been noted in the conventions of royal burghs in 1582.<ref name="Civic Society p3">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'' 2005, p.3.</ref> However, it is noteworthy that Charles II granted Kirkcaldy royal burgh status in 1644, leaving nine acres of land to the town suitable "for dying and bleaching of linen, drying of clothes, recreation and perpetuity".<ref name="History & Celebration p17">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.17.</ref>

Although difficult times ahead threatened to beset the development of the town, local support for the [[Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms|Covenanting War]] (1644&ndash;65) led to the death of over 250 men.<ref name="Pearson p12">Pearson ''Around Kirkcaldy'' 1993, p.12.</ref><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.18.</ref><ref name="Eunson p3"/> The burgh was also deeply affected by the Highland Jacobite rebellion invading the town on two occasions during the 18th century on 1715 and again in 1745–46.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.7.</ref>

As Kirkcaldy bowed into the 19th century, the arrival of the railway saw the town develop into an industrial powerhouse&mdash;reviving the use of Kirkcaldy port, which had a severe setback during the mid&ndash;17th century.<ref name="Omand p195">Omand 2000, p.195.</ref>
The harbour was catering for the growing trade of imports of flax, timber and hemp and exports of coal, salt and linen cloth, when a decision was made to build a new wet dock and pier from 1843&ndash;46.<ref name="Omand p195"/> The subsequent demands for linoleum and coal led to a further extension from 1906&ndash;08 in the form of an inner dock.<ref name="Pride p51"/><ref name="Eunson p6">Eunson ''Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West'' 1998, p.6.</ref>

[[Image:Former canvas factory.JPG|thumb|left|180px|St Mary's Canvas factory of Michael Nairn & Co Ltd (1868)]]

Kirkcaldy became a centre for both iron founding and linen manufacturing&mdash;specialising in coarser material (i.e sail cloth).<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.89.</ref><ref>Omand 2000, p.189.</ref> Linoleum was first introduced by the Scottish Linoleum Company (later Barry, Ostlere and Shepherd), thanks to the expired patent of Frederick Walton in 1877.<ref>McKay 2002, p.64.</ref> Although Nairn's have since became the famous name of the cloth as well as world producers.<ref name="History & Celebration p80">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.80.</ref><ref name="Pride p51"/> Other industries such as [[coal]], [[pottery]], [[flour]], [[malt]], [[printing]], light electrical engineering and even furniture manufacturing flourished.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.30.</ref><ref name="History & Celebration p80"/> Carpets whose production concided with linoleum were also made here in the town for a brief time by the firm Victoria Carpets until they moved their production to [[Kidderminster]] in 1901.<ref name="History & Celebration p80"/><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.96.</ref><ref name="Civic Society p5">Civic Society ''Back O' The Toon'' 1999, p.5.</ref> The Nairn's were later philanthropists bequeathing land for public and commercial use, over the course of several decades, as a good deed to the citizens of Kirkcaldy with examples such as two public parks (Beveridge and Ravenscraig) and a museum, art gallery and library complex.<ref>Pearson 1993, p.14.</ref>

During the time of the industrial revolution, the burghs of [[Pathhead]], [[Linktown]], Gallatown and Sinclairtown officially merged into the royal burgh of Kirkcaldy in 1876.<ref name="History & Celebration p10"/><ref name="Eunson p4">Eunson ''Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West'' 1999, p.4. </ref><ref name="Bean p60">MacBean 1908, p.60.</ref> The population of the town
now stood at 20,000. By the time of the census in 1891, the population grew to nearly 30,000, making this now the largest place in Fife, in terms of population.<ref>Omand, 2000, p.87. </ref><ref name="Bean p60"/> Another population increase by 1950 saw the town up to nearly 50,000&mdash;which included the merge of Dysart following a private act of parliament in 1930.<ref name="History & Celebration p54">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.54.</ref><ref name="Eunson p4"/>

After the [[Second World War]], many new housing estates both residential and private (Raith, Muttonhall, Templehall and Sauchenbush) were built in the town to conceive the housing crisis being felt.<ref name="Development of Kirkcaldy">Royal Burgh of Kirkcaldy County Council ''Kirkcaldy Development Plan of 1952'' </ref> The population for a while looked to maybe increase to between 55,000 and 60,000 by 1970—however this never materialised considering the town's once proud industries were starting to decline during the 1960s.<ref name="Development of Kirkcaldy" /> This particularly included the shock closure of Barry, Ostlere and Shepherd as linoleum was starting to die out in favour of carpets.
The population of the town did indeed fall to 46,000 by the 1981 census.<ref name="Eunson p4" /> The loss of employment also slowly led to the permanent closure of Kirkcaldy harbour in 1992.<ref name="History & Celebration p82">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'' 2005, p.82.</ref> Despite many efforts to bring new jobs to the town and employment being allowed to dwindle at the few remaining firms, the town has long had high unemployment.<ref name="History & Celebration p80" /> Kirkcaldy continues to function as a busy town with many bus and road routes, modernised secondary schools; with two campuses of the Adam Smith College and prime shopping facilities in the town centre and Sinclairtown.<ref name="Kirkcaldy Remembered p7">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'' 2007, p.7.</ref>
The long running tradition of the links market&mdash;commonly known as "Europe's longest street fair" remains as popular as ever loved by young and old.<ref name="Fife Journal p62">''Fife Journal'' 1994, p.62.</ref><ref name="Eunson p29">Eunson ''Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West'', p.29.</ref><ref name="Pearson p17">Pearson ''Around Kirkcaldy'', p.17.</ref> The town is also increasingly becoming a site for more housing anticipated over the 20 years particularly in locations to the east and south-east of the town.<ref> Scoon, Tayne (2007) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Plan-forecasts-good-things-for.894904.jp] ''PLAN FORECASTS GOOD THINGS'', ''Fife Free Press''. Retrieved on June 19, 2008</ref><ref> (2005) [http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/The-train-now-departing-Kirkcaldy.980210.jp] ''THE TRAIN NOW DEPARTING'' ''Fife Free Press''. Retrieved on June 19, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.kingsbarnslinks.com/info/planning/draftstructureplan.pdf]''Kingsbarnslinks, p11'' Retrieved on June 19, 2008 </ref>

== Governance ==
{{Main|Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region)}}

During the early 15th century, the interests of Kirkcaldy became monitored by a chosen group of burgesses until the passing of an act by the Scottish Parliament encouraging this system to be scrapped in 1469. The town of Kirkcaldy was awarded royal burgh status in 1644 but the position of lord provost was not in place until 1658 (although the duties were completed by bailies, councillors and magistrates for the time being).<ref name="Pearson p12"/><ref name="History & Celebration p25">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'' ,p.25.</ref> The seal of the coat of arms was later introduced by 1673 which bore the town's motto ''Vilgilando Munio'' (I guard by watching) used to represent the royal burgh of Kirkcaldy until the passing of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
and County Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 put an end to the royal burgh status in 1975. <ref name="History & Celebration p18">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.18.</ref><ref name="Remembered p7">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.7.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Planning Handbook |edition=1st edition |publisher=Kirkcaldy District Council |year=1979}}</ref>
Although there was a desire to spilt Fife into two, this was replaced by the three-tier authority with Kirkcaldy District Council under Fife Regional Council to serve the surrounding areas.<ref name="Remembered p7">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.7.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Planning Handbook |edition=1st edition |publisher=Kirkcaldy District Council |year=1979}}</ref> The town is now under a single tier authority&mdash;Fife Council, based in neighbouring Glenrothes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkcaldy's history 1990-1999 |publisher=Fife Today |accessdate=2008-08-09 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17703}}</ref>

[[Image:Kirk Town House.JPG|thumb|right|Kirkcaldy Town House (1937–56)]]

=== Local government ===

The intial role of Kirkcaldy's Town House was the home of the district council before being reduced to the administrative headquarters for the central region of Fife Council in 1996 which it still functions as today.<ref name="History & Celebration p54">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.54.</ref><ref name="admin. HQ">{{cite web |url=http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=facility.display&facid=06596AA1-B51F-42C2-8A5CAEEA9BA07A67 |title=Kirkcaldy Town House, Central Region Headquarters}} </ref>

Kirkcaldy is one of 32 unity authority areas of Scotland. Since the May 2007 elections, the Kirkcaldy area has been divided into three multi-member wards with eleven councillors who sit on the Fife Council committee.<ref name="Kirkcaldy's councillors">{{cite web |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/orgs/index.cfm?fuseaction=councillor.all&orgid=60304273-A856-11D6-BF4D0002A5349AC9&contentid=A1520B22-9012-4485-ACC5CD065A028EEB |title=Kirkcaldy's councillors, Fife Today}} Retrieved on [[12 September 2008]] </ref>

=== Westminster and Holyrood ===

Kirkcaldy is within the Kirkcaldy Scottish Parliament constituency, the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region of the Scottish Parliament (at Holyrood) and the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath United Kingdom Parliament constituency (at Westminster).<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife MSP info |publisher=Scottish Parliament |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/locate/con-kirk.htm |accessdate=2008-08-17}}</ref>

The Kirkcaldy Scottish Parliament (or Holyrood) constituency created in 1999 is one of nine within the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region. Each constituency elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post system of election, and the region elects seven additional members to produce a form of proportional representation. The seat is currently held by Marilyn Livingstone for Labour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife MSP info |publisher=Scottish Parliament |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/locate/con-kirk.htm |accessdate=2008-08-17}}</ref>

The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath United Kingdom Parliament (or Westminster) constituency created in 2005 when the previous seat, Kirkcaldy was abolished elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system. The seat is currently held by Gordon Brown (the PM for the UK) for Labour.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=2007-11-19 |title=Gordon Brown MP profile |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/712.stm |accessdate=2008-06-19}}</ref>

== Geography ==

Kirkcaldy is located on a bay facing southeast onto the [[Firth of Forth]], along a sandy cove.<ref name="Remembered p6"/><ref name="Torrie & Coleman p6">Torrie and Coleman 1995, p.6.</ref> The town is located in the [[Central Lowlands|Midland Valley]] of Scotland between the major cities of Edinburgh and Dundee {{convert|30|mi|0|km}} away.<ref name="KEP">{{cite web |format=PDF |title=Kirkcaldy Economic Profile |publisher=Fife Council |date=June 2006 |url=http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_RevisedKirkcaldy_Apr07.pdf |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> The town is triangular in shape with relatively low-lying ground being a feature to the south-west near Invertiel and to the east of Boreland. Agricultural land in the vicinity of Kirkcaldy supports cereals, grass, potatoes, field beans, other vegetables and roots. The soil derives from [[Carboniferous]] [[limestone]] and [[Old Red Sandstone]] gravels and raised beach sands.<ref name="Torrie & Coleman p5"/> The town's [[British national grid reference system|national grid reference]] is NT275915.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=p&gazString=KIRKCALDY |title=Ordnance Survey of Kirkcaldy's location |accessdate=2008-07-21}}</ref>

{{geocompass
|hub = Kirkcaldy
|type = ex
|NE = [[Dundee]]
|NN= [[Glenrothes]]
|NW= [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
|WW= [[Dunfermline]]
|EE= [[Leven, Scotland|Leven]]
|SE= [[North Berwick]]
|SW= [[Livingston]]
|SS= [[Edinburgh]]
}}

Areas in and around the town centre at 50 feet above sea level contain clay, sand and gravel while the majority of Pathhead, Ravenscraig Park and older parts of Dysart at 100 feet contained sandy gravel and shaley soil. The highest piece of ground in the vicinity of the town, west of the Raith Estate at 500 feet, contains hard volcanic ash while to the north of the estate (Sauchenbush and south-east Chapel) are dolerite rock outcrops. An area to the south-west of the town, south of the Raith Estate and Invertiel, is practically impossible to build houses upon because of the thin drift and being full of basalt fragments.<ref name="Local Plan 1980 p3">Kirkcaldy District Council (Feb 1980) ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan - Planning Issues'', p.3.</ref> A 25-foot [[raised beach]] to the west of the High Street (a result of sea level changes 5 to 10 000 years ago) is likely to have heavily influenced Kirkcaldy's mediaeval form and development.<ref name="Torrie & Coleman p5">Torrie and Coleman 1995, p.5.</ref>

=== Built environment ===

Kirkcaldy developed as a linear settlement stretching along the sandy cove between the Tiel Burn in the south and the East Burn to the north. More recently as the town has developed north the settlement shape is more triangular in form.<ref name="Remembered p7" /><ref name="Torrie & Coleman p6" /><ref name="Local Plan 1986">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan'' 1986 </ref>

Following the Second World War, the first development plan approved in the mid-1950s was to support a proposed increase in population of between 55,000 and 70,000 by 1970.<ref name="Development of Kirkcaldy" /> Areas in the town such as Gallatown, Sinclairtown, Pathhead and Linktown would also be susbquently re-developed. <ref name="Development of Kirkcaldy" /> This saw new housing developments in the north and west sides of the town built by the private sector, the SSHA (Scottish Special Housing Association) and the then Fife County Council. Much of this land was suitable since it contained no man-made or natural barriers. This partnership played a pivotal role in the distribution of ownership ratios to the west of the town and in the owner occupied Dunnikier Estate. The town was to maintain a reputation for having a good mix of both private and public housing and having more smaller scale residential developments including land that applies to availability returns.<ref name="Local Plan 1980">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan: Report Survey'' 1980 </ref> The construction of the first multi-storey flats in the town began in the late 50s with the completition of Viewforth followed by Ravenscraig during the mid-60s.

[[Image:Oriel Crescent, Kirkcaldy.jpg|thumb|left|180px|private housing to the west of Oriel Road]]

The features of housing styles of imported English bricks, tiles and horizontal picture windows can be seen in the Templehall, Longbraes and Dunnikier parts of the town when this was cheaper in the current state of the economy at the time. Later, housing styles in Redcraigs, Blackcraigs and other parts of Templehall as well as ones to the west of Oriel Road built during the 1970s were of Scottish origin showing dark roof tiles, lightly coloured rendered walls and windows. <ref name="Local Plan of 1983">Kirkcaldy District Council (Feb. 1983) ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan: Development Issues'' </ref>

A local plan replaced the first development plan in the early 80s, under the Town and Country Planning (Act) Scotland 1972 and Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 when they put an emphasis on district councils to do so. This new plan dealt with highlighting areas for local authorities, private organisations and individuals while looking at the availability and best use of greenfield sites around the town, although brownfield land within Kirkcaldy was also considered.<ref name="Local Plan 1982">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan 1982'', 1982, p.5.</ref> [[Image:Capshard Estate.jpg|thumb|right|180px|semi-detached housing in Capshard Estate]]

New housing developments were focused towards the south-west (Southerton, Raith) and north-west (Capshard) of the town.<ref name="Local Plan 1986 Monitor p12&13">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan 1986 Monitor'', 1986, pp.12–13.</ref> The 1980's Local Plan also promoted the upgrading of many roads within and surrounding the town including the completion of the Thornton-by-pass (Kirkcaldy-Glenrothes Road) in 1980 and East Fife Regional Road (A92) in 1990&mdash;which the latter saw the town finally connect to the motorway system bringing viable growth and new development.<ref name="Kirkcaldy draft local plan p9">Kirkcaldy District Council (April 1981) ''Kirkcaldy draft local plan'', p.9.</ref><ref name="Local Plan of 1991 p5">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan'' 1991, p.5. </ref>

Another local plan developed in the early 90s aimed to regenerate Kirkcady by creating new employment opportunities in the north of the town and facilitating the creation of a variety of housing types and conditions. A major objective was to improve the state of residential areas by promoting suitable development land within the town.<ref name="Local Plan of 1991 p5" /> The majority of new housing was development by private developers in the south-east (Seafield) and north-west (Chapel Farm site) of the town. The new local plan also allowed the towns first out-of-town shopping facilities to be developed, conveniently located adjacent to the new A92 junction at Chapel. <ref name="Local Plan of 1991 p7">Kirkcaldy District Council ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan'' 1991, p.7.</ref>

==Demography==

{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+'''Kirkcaldy compared according to [[United Kingdom Census 2001|UK Census 2001]]'''<ref name="Kdy population">{{cite web |url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=Kirkcaldy&mainLevel=Locality |title=Comparative Populartion: Kirkcaldy Locality Scotland|publisher=scrol.co.uk|author=|date=2001|accessdate=2008-10-30}}</ref><ref name="FifePopulation">{{cite web|url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Fife&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=false&compLevel=CountryProfile&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null|title=Comparative Population Profile: Fife Council Area Scotland|publisher=scrol.gov.uk|author=|date=2001|accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref><ref name="KdyEmployment">{{cite web |url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Employment&mainLevel=Locality&mainText=Kirkcaldy&mainTextExplicitMatch=false&compLevel=CountryProfile&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null|title=Comparative Employment Profile: Kirkcaldy Locality Scotland|publisher=scrol.gov.uk|author=|date=2001|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref><ref name="FifeEmployment">{{cite web |url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Employment&mainLevel=CouncilArea&mainArea=Fife&mainText=&mainTextExplicitMatch=false&compLevel=CountryProfile&compText=&compTextExplicitMatch=null|title=Comparative Employment Profile: Fife Locality Scotland|publisher=scrol.gov.uk|author=|date=2001|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>


|-
!
!style="padding:2px;"|Kirkcaldy
!style="padding:2px;"|Fife
!style="padding:2px;"|Scotland
|-
! align="left"|Total population
|46,912||349,429||5,062,011
|-
! align="left"|[[British nationality law|Foreign born]]
|1.01%||1.18%||1.10%
|-
! align="left"|Over 75 years old
|8.57%||7.46%||7.09%
|-
! align="left"|Unemployed
|5.68%||3.97%||4.0%
|}

According to the 2001 census, Kirkcaldy has had a total population of 46,912. <ref name="Kdy population" /> A recent population estimate of Kirkcaldy has been recorded at 48,108 in 2006. The Kirkcaldy [[conurbation]], which includes the nearby settlements of [[Burntisland]], [[Kinghorn]] and [[Auchtertool]] has a population of 57,755. The town also falls under the wider Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife urban area which includes
Glenrothes, Levenmouth, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly has an overall total population of 180,220. <ref name="Population Estimates">{{cite web |publisher=Fife Council |date=March 2008 |title=Population Estimates for Towns and Villages in Fife |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-05-07 |url=http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_Population06Leaflet.pdf}}</ref>

The demographic make-up of the population is much in line with the rest of Scotland. The age group from 30 to 44 forms the largest portion of the population (22%). <ref name="Kdy population" /> The median age of males and females living in Kirkcaldy was 37 and 41 years respectively, compared to 37 and 39 years for those in the whole of Scotland. <ref name="Kdy population" />

The place of birth of the town's residents was 96.52% United Kingdom (including 87.15% from Scotland), 0.28% Republic of Ireland, 1.18% from other European Union countries, and 1.86% from elsewhere in the world. The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 40.13% in full-time employment, 12.17% in part-time employment, 4.79% self-employed, 5.68% unemployed, 2.57% students with jobs, 3.06% students without jobs, 15.70% retired, 5.51% looking after home or family, 6.68% permanently sick or disabled, and 3.71% economically inactive for other reasons. The number of children living in low income families is 46% within the constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath. Compared with the average demography of Scotland, Kirkcaldy has low proportions of people born outside the United Kingdom but has higher proportions for people over 75 years old. The most deprived areas of the town are Templehall and Valley regarded as the 7th in the SIMD indicators for Fife. <ref name="Kirkcaldy profile"/>

A local plan which looks forward to 2026 says that the Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife area will need at least 6,730 more houses to keep the population stable. There is expected though to be a 0% growth in population issued by the Housing Market Area (HMA). The urgent need for more housing alongside the SEA ([[Strategic Environment Assessment]]) was the result of the Environment Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) regulations in 2004.<ref name="Local Plan 2002 p11">Fife Council (Feb 2002) ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan - Pre-Inquiry Modifications'', p.11.</ref> The main areas of growth will be seen to the east and south-west of the town coinciding with the 20-year plan by SLA (Scottish Land Allocations).<ref name="Local Plan 2002 p16">Fife Council (Feb 2002) ''Kirkcaldy Local Plan - Pre-Inquiry Modifications'', p.16.</ref>

== Economy ==
=== Employment ===

Many people in the town are employed in the service sector, particularly MGT (call centre), which has been hailed as a market leader in customer management and is now the largest private sector employer in the town.<ref name="KEP" /> Other employers include: Forbo Nairn (floorcloth coverings), Adam Smith College, ESA McIntosh (school furniture manufacturers), Victoria Hospital and Kingdom Bakeries (food and drink) .<ref name="KEP"/><ref name="Kirkcaldy profile"/> There are nearly 21,500 people employed in the town, representing 16% of employment in Fife. Unemployment in Kirkcaldy is above the national average at 4.9%.<ref name="KEP"/>

Kirkcaldy has, however, been recognised as one of Fife’s strategic development areas.<ref name="fife.gov.uk"/> This is aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of jobs in Kirkcaldy and the high levels of unemployment in the town.<ref name="KEP"/> The long anticipated extension to the John Smith Business Park, due to open in early 2009, is hoped to improve the economy of the town and Central Fife.<ref name="KEP"/><ref>{{cite news |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-03-06 |title=Work starts on major office block |accessdate=2008-06-20 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7280957.stm}}</ref> There is also a proposal for a new business park, situated to the east of Kirkcaldy near the Kingslaw development, although this has not officially started yet.<ref name="fife.gov.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=advice.display&adviceid=4BF101BD-0655-D4CE-3747A8B6FEA65750 |publisher=Fife Council |year=2003 |title=Kirkcaldy Area Local Plan}}</ref>

=== Town centre ===
[[Image:High St.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Kirkcaldy High Street, looking North-East towards Kirk Wynd]]

Kirkcaldy's town centre has always been focused on the High Street, which runs parallel with the coast, stretching from the historic harbour in the north-east to Nicol Street in the south-west.<ref>{{cite web |format=PDF |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_KirkcaldyTownCentreFS.pdf |title=Kirkcaldy Town Centre Fact Sheet |publisher=Fife Council |date=October 2006 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The centre which is labelled a conservation area contains many vibrant buildings for both civic and commerical purposes. These include a town house; a sheriff court; a railway station; two college campuses and a museum, art gallery and public library complex.<ref name="Pride p52"/><ref>Pride 1999, p.52.</ref><ref name="Civic Society, pp.7, 35">Civic Society, "Town Centre Walkabout", 2000, pp.7, 35.</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1980-06-13 |title=Conservation Area granted |work=Fife Free Press |page=1}}</ref>

Historically the town had a wealth of family owned businesses which attracted people from across Fife and outside the county to visit the town.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.29.</ref> The town still has the main shopping area in Fife and currently the largest provision of all of the council area's town centres.<ref name="KEP"/><ref name="Footfall Report">{{cite web |date=October 2006 |title=Town Centre Footfall Report |format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]] |publisher=Fife Council |accessdate=2008-06-23 |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_TownCentreFootfallFinalReportOct2006.doc }}</ref> The central portion of Kirkcaldy's High Street was pedestrianised in 1991 between Whytescauseway and Kirk Wynd.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.46.</ref> A number of major retailers have outlets here with [[The Mercat Shopping Centre]] and The Postings Shopping Centre both in the vicinity.<ref name="Footfall Report"/> A Kirkcaldy development plan, under proposals laid out by Kirkcaldy Renaissance, has been promoted for town centre regeneration. This should include an extension to the town's Mercat Centre, a hotel and a multiplex cinema.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scoon |first=Tayne |date=2007-05-24 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/fife-free-press-news/PUBLIC-TO-GET-FIRST-VIEW.2902671.jp |title=Public to get First View |work=Fife Free Press |accessdate=2008-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2008-07-03 |title=Town Centre look great. Shame about the trash... |work=Fife Free Press |page=3}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{main|Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery|Links Market|Ravenscraig Castle}}
[[Image:Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery and Central Library.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery]]

The Kirkcaldy Art Gallery and Museum, donated in 1925 (by Nairn's benefactor, John Nairn the grandson of Michael Nairn), contains a notable collection of paintings by the [[Scottish Colourists]] and a permanent display of the town's industrial heritage.<ref name="Remembered p72">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.72.</ref><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.33.</ref> The Adam Smith Theatre (initially known as the Adam Smith and Beveridge Halls) was opened in 1899 by Andrew Carnegie as part of a memorial fund left in the will of Michael Beveridge to preserve the legacy of Adam Smith on the 100th anniversary of his death.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.11.</ref><ref name="Civic Society p59">Civic Society, ''Kirkcaldy's Famous Folk 3'', 2000, p.59.</ref><ref name="Civic Society p13">Civic Society, ''Town Centre Walkabout'', 2000, p.13.</ref> The theatre is currently the base for musical companies and organisations such as KADS (Kirkcaldy Amateur Dramatic Society), KAOS (Kirkcaldy Amateur Operatic Society), the local Gilbert and Sullivan group and of course, the annual Fife Festival of Music which gives an opportunity for Fife's best musicians and choirs to highlight their talent.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.49.</ref><ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/events/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.display&objectid=95D9B9D1-D6E8-18BF-25DE7D8F8E287717 |title=Fife Festival of Music, Fife direct |accessdate=2008-10-24}}</ref> The famous Links Market sited on the Promenade every year, widely claimed to be "Europe's longest street fair" began as a farmer's market in 1304 before moving to Sands Road (later to be known as the Promenade) in 1903. It's 700th anniversary was celebrated in 2004.<ref name="History and Celebration p114">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.114.</ref>

Notable literary and artistic people associated with or hailing from the town include [[Adam Smith]], [[Robert Adam]], [[Sir Sandford Fleming]], [[John Buchan]], [[O. Douglas]] and in recent years [[Ian Rankin]], [[Val McDermid]], [[Jack Vettriano]], Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] (himself a writer), Professor [[Duncan Glen]], Professor Tom Hubbard, Professor William Walker, [[Christopher Smout]] and Maureen Sangster.

[[Image:Pathhead Sands.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Ravenscraig Castle seen from Pathhead sands]]

Historical landmarks in the town include three main former big houses being Path (initially known as Dunnikier) House (dating from 1692), Raith House (dating from 1694) and Dunnikier House (dating from 1790).<ref name="History & Celebration p14">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.14.</ref> Other main features include the A-listed Flemish influenced Sailor's Walk largely reconstructed by the National Trust of Scotland between 1954 and 1956; Hunter House&mdash;initially St Brycedale&mdash;built by George Heggie in 1786 from a possible design by Robert Adam and 339/343 High Street&mdash;now known as the Merchant's House&mdash;built by the Law Family around 1590 considered by many to one of Scotland's finest buildings.<ref name="History & Celebration p15">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.15.</ref><ref name="Encyclopedia Britannia">''Encyclopedia Britannia'' 15th edition</ref><ref name="Pride p55">Pride 1999, p.55.</ref><ref name="Pearson p16">Pearson 1993, p.16.</ref><ref name="High Street p4">Civic Society ''High Street: Port Brae to Nicol Street'', p.4.</ref> Although now referred to as a ruin, Ravenscraig Castle remains a dominant feature to the east of the town best known as one, if not the first in Scotland for artillery defence to withold cannon fire.<ref name="Pride p60">Pride ''Kingdom of Fife'' 1999, p.60.</ref><ref name="History & Celebration p13">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'' 2005, p.13.</ref><ref name="Eunson p27">Eunson ''Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy'' 1998, p.27.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_230&PropName=Ravenscraig%20Castle |publisher=[[Historic Scotland]] |title=Ravenscraig Castle profile |accessdate=2008-07-20}}</ref> The castle began around 1460 for the memory of James II&mdash;when he ironically died in a tragic accident with a loaded cannon, near [[Floors Castle]]&mdash;by his wife, Mary of Guelders as a dower house.<ref name="History & Celebration p13"/> After the death of his widow in 1463 the castle was acquired by James III in 1470 who quickly sold it to Lord Earl of Caitness in an exchange deal. As the new owners, the Sinclair family held onto the castle until 1896&mdash;even during an invasion by [[Oliver Cromwell]] in 1451.<ref name="History & Celebration p13"/><ref name="Lamont-Brown p149">Lamont Brown ''Fife in History and Legend'' 2002, p.149.</ref> The present owners, [[Historic Scotland]] have allowed free public admission into the castle since 1971.<ref name="Lamont-Brown p149"/><ref name="Civic Society 2002 p45">Civic Society ''Pathhead and Ravenscraig Castle'' 2002, p.45.</ref>

== Sport and recreation ==
{{main|Raith Rovers F.C.|Kirkcaldy RFC|Fife Flyers}}

[[Image:Starks Park. Kirkcaldy.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Starks Park]]

Kirkcaldy is home to professional league teams in football, rugby and ice hockey.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', pp.50–52.</ref> The senior football team are Raith Rovers, who play their matches at [[Stark's Park]]. The club was established in 1883 and currently play in the [[Scottish Football League Second Division]].<ref name="Eunson, p29">Eunson ''Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West'' 1998, p.29.</ref><ref name="SFL">{{cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/default.stm |title=Scottish Football League status, BBC Sport}} Retrieved on July 5, 2008.</ref> In 1902, Raith became the first notable Fife team to be elected to the [[Scottish Football League]].<ref name="Eunson, p29"/> They had some glory in the 1990s, particularly when they won the[[Scottish League Cup]] in [[1994-95 in Scottish football|1994]] by defeating [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] on [[penalty shootout (football)|penalties]] in a Final played at [[Ibrox Stadium]].<ref name="History & Celebration p50">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.50.</ref><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.52.</ref> This cup win meant that the club qualified for the [[UEFA Cup]], where they reached the [[UEFA Cup 1995–96|second round]] before eventually losing to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Litster |publisher=J. Litster |location=Kirkcaldy |title=Rovers Recalled |year=2002 |page=5 |volume=1 |oclc=51483225}}</ref> During 2008 the club is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a new sponsor and shirt as preparation for [[2008–09 in Scottish football|the new season]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Elder |first=Matthew |title=Raith's new strip and sponsors |work=Fife Free Press |date=2008-06-25 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/Raith39s-new-strip-and-sponsors.4221773.jp |accessdate=2008-07-05}}</ref>
Kirkcaldy YM are the town's only [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior football]] team, who have just resumed their place in the [[East Region, Central League]] after pulling out in the season of 2007/08 due to a lack of players.<ref>{{cite news |last=Elder |first=Matthew |accessdate=2008-08-14 |date=2008-07-23 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/Kirkcaldy-YM-return-to-Junior.4317933.jp |title=Kirkcaldy YM return to Junior scene |work=Fife Free Press}}</ref> Rugby Union is dominated by Kirkcaldy RFC who have been established since 1873 and were known for playing at a ground near the top of Nicol Street, before a permanent move was made to Beveridge Park in 1991.<ref name="History & Celebration p50"/><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.54.</ref> Fife Flyers are famously known as the oldest existing Ice Hockey club in both Scotland and the UK&mdash;with a tradition of recruiting Canadian players since the Second World War&mdash;where their home is still at the Fife Ice Arena (initially Kirkcaldy Ice Rink) in Gallatown.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.52.</ref>Bowling is also present with many private and municipal clubs, but the most famous is Kirkcaldy Bowling Club established in 1858 on the former grounds of Osbourne House.
[[Image:Kirkcaldy golf course.JPG|thumb|left|Kirkcaldy golf course (1904)]]
Motor racing was once a popular event, with the annual Scottish road races&mdash;Kirkcaldy being a pioneer in this field as the first place in Scotland to stage this&mdash;taking place in the Beveridge Park from 1948 until 1988 where they have since moved to Knockhill racing circuit in [[Dunfermline]] following health and safety concerns.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salmond |first=Catherine |date=2007-07-19 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/features/Beveridge-Park39s-place-in-motorbike.3044144.jp |title=Beveridge Park's place in motorbike history work=Fife Free Press |accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bikes back at Beveridge Park |work=Fife Free Press |page=2 |date=2008-07-03}}</ref> A local club known as the KDMC (Kirkcaldy and District Motor Club) dedicated to preserve the legacy of the town's sport are still going strong.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.55.</ref> Kirkcaldy also had their very own cricket team, founded in 1856 but have since disbanded.<ref name="History & Celebration p51">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.51.</ref>

The town's leisure facilities include a variety of public parks most notably Ravenscraig and Beveridge, an ice rink and two golf courses&mdash;Kirkcaldy (private) and Dunnikier (municipal).<ref name="History & Celebration p51"/> The latter being built in 1963 as a response to the loss of Dysart golf course.<ref name="History & Celebration p51"/><ref name="Eunson p26">Eunson ''Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy'' 1998, p.26.</ref>
There has also been pressure to replace the town's aging swimming pool, which has been met with controversy. The local sports council believes that funding should be directed towards building a new multi-sports centre instead, in order to improve the disrepaired state of the town's leisure facilities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salmond |first=Catherine |date=2008-03-27 |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Call-to-halt-11m-pool.3919592.jp |title=Call to halt £11 million pool plan |work=Fife Free Press |accessdate=2008-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Rip it up and start again |work=Fife Free Press |page=2 |date=2008-05-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Speaking up in the fight to win better facilities |work=Fife Free Press |page=1,13|date=2008-05-08}}</ref><ref name="FFP, 15/05">{{cite news |title=Nobody wants new centre on this site |work=Fife Free Press |page=9 |date=2008-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Location, location.....new venues studied for pool |work=Fife Free Press |page=2 |date=2008-05-22}}</ref>

== Media ==

The town's local newspaper ''The Fife Free Press'' operated by the Fife Free Press group (who are based in the town and also own the Glenrothes Gazette and East Fife Mail) is published every Thursday.

The Courier and advertiser, a daily newspaper operated by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, also serves the Kirkcaldy area in their Fife edition.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=''The Courier'' |title=About The Courier |accessdate=2008-06-19 |date=2008-06-17 |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/06/17/about_courier.asp}}</ref>

The three local radio stations that serve the town are Kingdom FM, Forth one and Forth two. Kingdom FM operates on 95.2 and 96.1 MHz. This station broadcasts from the former Haig factory in the village of Markinch located immediately east of Glenrothes and operates as a local radio network. Forth One broadcasts from Edinburgh and covers the south Fife area, including Kirkcaldy. It operates on a wave length of 97.3 MHz(FM). Forth 2 sister station to Forth One operates on a wave length of 1548 kHz (Medium Wave).

== Education ==
{{Main|Kirkcaldy High School|Balwearie High School}}
[[Image:Philp School, Kirkcaldy.jpg|thumb|right|Former Philp School]]

The first grammar school established in 1582 was known as Kirkcaldy Burgh School, relying on help of the minister, Dr David Spens. The school initially struggled to find premises with pupils being taught in the minister's house to start with.<ref name="Remembered p41">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.41.</ref> The school managed to occupy premises on Hill Street before being replaced by a new grammar School on St Brycedale Avenue in 1843, later upgraded as a "higher class school conspicious by its history and excellent results" by 1872.<ref name="History & Celebration p21">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'' 2002, p.21.</ref><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.44.</ref> Notable students of the burgh school include both [[Adam Smith]] and [[Robert Adam]].<ref name="History & Celebration p21"/> Kirkcaldy High School has since relocated to a new building on the former land of the Oswald's of Dunnikier in 1958.<ref name="History & Celebration p36">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.36.</ref>

Many other educational facilities operated in the town until the late 19th century included: girls schools; subscription schools; apprentice schools and Philp Schools (from 1830).<ref name="History & Celebration p21"/> The latter being known to educate as many as 400 children and to provide all necessities such as books and clothes coming from a trust deed started by Robert Philp&mdash;a local linen manufacturer.<ref name="Remembered p41" /> The school system, however was revolutionised with the passing of the Education (Scotland) Act of 1852, which would now enforce all children to receive a school-based education from the ages of 5 to 13.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.22.</ref>

[[Image:Balwearie High School, Kirkcaldy.JPG|thumb|left|190px|Balwearie High School]]

Kirkcaldy now has four secondary schools and eleven primary schools, along with a private school and a school for children with learning difficulties.<ref name="Kirkcaldy profile">{{cite web |last=Melville |first=Shirley |format=DOC |date=July 2006 |url=http://www.learningkingdom.org.uk/kirkcaldy/Kirkcaldy%20CLD%20Plan.doc |title=Kirkcaldy and Cardenden Area Community Learning Plan |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Balwearie&mdash;since acquiring high school status in 1972&mdash;has become the most populated school, serving 1750 pupils to the west of the town, including Burntisland and Kinghorn and has recently been acknowledged as one of Scotland's best performing Schools.<ref name="Balwearie">{{cite web |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=facility.display&facid=9678A744-536F-4D41-B4B85BD7453BEC6A |title=Balwearie High School profile |publisher=Fife Council |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Shannon |first=Kate |date=2008-06-11 |title=Balwearie at the top of the class |work=Fife Free Press |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/Balwearie-at-the-top-of.4175669.jp |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> Viewforth&mdash;which acquired high school status in 1980&mdash;has the smallest intake of the four with only 375 pupils in the east of town including Dysart.<ref name="Eunson p43">Eunson ''Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy'' 1998, p.43.
</ref><ref name="scotland.gov.uk">{{cite web |format=[[Microsoft Excel|XLS]] |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/933/0031698.xls |title=Viewforth High School, pupil numbers |publisher=Scottish Government |accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref> While, St Andrews is the Roman Catholic High School for the eastern half of the county.<ref name="St Andrews">{{cite web |url=http://www.fife.gov.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=facility.display&facid=97B6298C-418C-4F11-BCBE5F5909037A69 |title=St Andrews RC High School status |publisher=Fife Council |accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref>
Adam Smith College, formed from the merger of Fife College and Glenrothes College have two campuses in the town, St Brycedale and Priory.<ref name="Fife College no more">{{cite web |url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/New-name-and-a-new.1098682.jp |title=Fife College no more, |work=Fife Free Press |date=2005-07-27 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref><ref name="Adam Smith">{{cite web |url=http://www.adamsmithcollege.ac.uk/general/contactinfo/default.aspx |title=Adam Smith College campus info |publisher=[[Adam Smith College]] |accessdate=2007-06-28}}</ref> The University of Dundee also has a presence in the town with a nursing and midwifery campus.<ref name="Kirkcaldy campus">{{cite web |publisher=[[University of Dundee]] |url=http://www.dundee.ac.uk/general/campusguide/kirkcaldy.htm |title=University of Dundee campus info |accessdate=2008-06-27}}</ref>

== Transport ==
{{Main|Kirkcaldy railway station}}
[[Image:Rail Stat.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Main Entrance (South Platform), Kirkcaldy Railway Station]]

Kirkcaldy is served by the A92 which connects the town to [[Glenrothes]] [[A911 road|A911]] and [[Dundee]] to the north and [[Dunfermline]] [[A907 road|A907]] to the west&mdash;which the latter coincides with the [[M90 motorway]] leading to the [[Forth Road Bridge]] and [[Edinburgh]].<ref name="Nicolson Maps p7">''Nicolson Maps Street Atlas, Fife 2nd edition'', p.7.</ref><ref name="Nicolson Maps p32">''Nicolson Maps Street Atlas, Fife 2nd edition'', p.32.</ref> Other main roads such as the [[A915 road|A915]] (Standing Stane Road) from St Andrews; [[A955 road|A955]] from Leven and East Wemyss and the [[A921 road|A921]] from Kinghorn/Burntisland/Aberdour all meet in the town.<ref name="Nicolson Maps p35&52">''Nicolson Maps Street Atlas, Fife 2nd edition'', pp.35, 52.</ref><ref name="Nicolson Maps p37-39">''Nicolson Maps Street Atlas, Fife 2nd edition'', pp.37-39.</ref>

The main bus terminus is Kirkcaldy Bus Station which operates twelve stances; seating area and a hairdressers unit with these services dealt by [[Stagecoach Fife]].<ref name=KEP/> A railway station can also be found to the north-west of the town centre which is on the route for [[Fife Circle Line]] and [[National Express East Coast]].<ref name="Kirkcaldy Station">{{cite web |url=http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=facility.display&facid=029616FA-349C-4E36-856A1D88BFEDBA0F |title=Kirkcaldy Railway Station Profile |publisher=Fife Council |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref>
The station has half-hour services to both [[Dundee railway station|Dundee]] and [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh Waverley]].<ref name="KEP"/>
Other services run from locations such as [[Perth railway station, Scotland|Perth]], [[Aberdeen railway station|Aberdeen]] and [[Inverness railway station|Inverness]] to the north and [[Newcastle Central railway station|Newcastle Central]], [[York railway station|York]], [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] south of the border.<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', p.110.</ref> Nearby stations such as [[Burntisland railway station|Burntisland]] and [[Kinghorn railway station|Kinghorn]] exist to the west of the town.

The nearest major international airport is located at Edinburgh airport, 26 miles to the south of the town, only taking a good 35 minute drive. The nearest ferry sea port is much closer located at Rosyth, 17 miles to the south-east of the town, only taking a good 20 minute drive.<ref name="Kirkcaldy profile" />

== Notable people ==
{{Main|Adam Smith|Robert Adam|Sir Sandford Fleming}}
[[Image:Kirkcaldy High Street Adam Smith Plaque.png|thumb|right|150px|plaque acknowledged at Adam Smith House, 220 High Street where [[Adam Smith]] wrote [[The Wealth of Nations]]<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy Remembered'', p.9.</ref>]]

Some famous sons of Kirkcaldy are: "the father of modern economics" [[Adam Smith]] (1723–90); "Demarcator of [[Universal Time|Standard Time]]" [[Sandford Fleming]] (1827–1915); one of Scotland's most famous [[architect]]s, [[Robert Adam]] (1728–92); linen manufacturer and philanthropist, [[Baillie Robert Philip]] (1751–1828); missionary to [[South Africa]], [[Dr John Philip]] (1775–1851) and first European explorer of [[Australia]], [[John McDouall Stuart]] (1815–66). These names have all been acknowledged in Kirkcaldy's Town House for international gratitude{{Clarifyme|date=September 2008}}, all for the exception of Robert Philip.<ref name="Famous Folk p1,3,9,11,25,39,46&55">Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy's Famous Folk 1'' 2000 pp.1, 3, 9, 11, 25, 39, 46, 55.</ref><ref name="Fife Council p19,22,25,27&29">Fife Council''Kirkcaldy's History, Its Places and Its Famous Folk'' Sept. 2000, pp.19, 22, 25, 27, 29.</ref> Although, in the last decade, two further names have been added: poet, diarist and author, Marjorie "Pet Majorie" Fleming (1803–11) and floorcloth later linoleum manufacturer, Michael Nairn (1804–58).<ref>Fife Council, "Kirkcaldy's History, Its Places and Its Famous Folk", Sept. 2000, p.16.</ref>

Other notable people from Kirkcaldy include [[Governor-General of Australia]], [[Ronald Munro-Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar|Ronald Munro-Ferguson]]; [[David Steel]], the former leader of the Liberal Party; [[Dr Lewis Moonie]], MP for Kirkcaldy 1987–2005; twice World [[darts]] champion [[Jocky Wilson]]; co-founder of the [[Scotsman]] newspaper, [[John Ritchie Findlay]]; the father of the Adam Brothers and architect, [[William Adam (architect)|William Adam]] (1689–1748); [[John Thomson (footballer|John Thomson]] (1909–1931) and professional footballer and Scottish international [[Colin Cameron]].<ref>''The Fife Journal'' 1994, p.62.</ref><ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History & Celebration'', pp.65, 69-72.</ref><ref>Pearson 1993, p.15.</ref> The journalist and author [[Val McDermid]] as well as the [[Coldplay]] bassist, [[Guy Berryman]] and the first female judge of the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] and the [[Court of Appeal for Ontario]], [[Bertha Wilson]] (1923–2007) also come from the town. Other people who were brought up in the town include the current [[Prime Minister]], [[Gordon Brown]]; owner of Fife pottery, [[Karel Nekola]]; minister of Bethelfield (now Linktown) church [[Reverend Robert Shirra]] and author [[John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir|John Buchan]].<ref>Civic Society ''Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration'', pp.60, 65, 67.</ref><ref>Lamont-Brown 2002, p.145.</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

== References ==
* {{cite book |last=Eunson |first=Eric |year=1998 |title=Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy |publisher=Stenlake Publishing |location=[[Ochiltree]] |isbn=1840330511}}
* {{cite book |last=Eunson |first=Eric |year=1998 |title=Old Kirkcaldy: Central, North and West |publisher=Stenlake Publishing |location=Ochiltree |isbn=184033052X}}
* {{cite book |author=Fife Council |year=2000 |title=Kirkcaldy's History, Its Places and Its Famous People |publisher=Fife Council |location=Kirkcaldy}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2007 |title=High Street: Port Brae to Nicol Street |edition=7th edition |isbn=0946294720}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2007 |title=Kirkcaldy Remembered |edition=2nd edition |publisher=Nonsuch Publishing |isbn=9781845883867}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2005 |title=Kirkcaldy: A History and Celebration |publisher=Francis Firth Collection |isbn=1845677498}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2002 |title=Pathhead and Ravenscraig Castle |isbn=094629447X}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2000 |title=Kirkcaldy's Famous Folk 1 |edition=1st edition |isbn=0946294445}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=2000 |title=Town Centre Walkabout |isbn=0946294232}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=1999 |title=Kirkcaldy's Famous Folk 3 |edition=1st edition |isbn=0946294240}}
* {{cite book |author=Kirkcaldy Civic Society |year=1999 |title=Back O' The Toon |isbn=0946294143}}
* {{cite book |last=Lamont-Brown |first=Raymond |year=2002 |title=Fife in History and Legend |isbn=0859765679 |location=[[Edinburgh]] |publisher=John Donald}}
* {{cite book |last=MacBean |first=L. |title=Kirkcaldy Burgh Records |year=1908 |publisher=Fifeshire Advertiser |location=Kirkcaldy |oclc=40435665}}
* {{cite book |last=McKay |first=Shirley |year=2003 |publisher=Black & White |location=Edinburgh |title=The Wee Book of Fife |isbn=1845020324}}
* {{cite book |year=1994 |title=The Fife Journal |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |last=Omand |first=Donald |year=2000 |title=The Fife Book
|publisher=Birlinn Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1841582743}}
* {{cite book |last=Pride |first=Glen L. |year=1998 |title=Kingdom of Fife |edition=2nd edition |publisher=Rutland Press |location=Edinburgh |isbn=1873190492}}
* {{cite book |last=Pearson |first=John M |year=1993 |title=Around Kirkcaldy |edition=1st edition |publisher=Levenmouth Printers |isbn=0951913433}}
* {{cite book |author=Torrie and Coleman |year=1995 |title=Historic Kirkcaldy |publisher=Historic Scotland with Scottish Cultural Press |isbn=1898218382}}
* {{cite book |author=Wemyss Environmental Educational Centre |year=1990 |title=Kirkcaldy Town House |isbn=1870275284}}

== Further reading ==
=== Town rivalry, Kirkcaldy vs Glenrothes ===
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1019&ArticleID=851234 ''Glenrothes Could Become Top Town'']"
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1015&ArticleID=853517 ''Town Wars: the gloves are off!'']"
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1019&ArticleID=984001 ''The Future - A Merged Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy'']"
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1019&ArticleID=855237 ''Kirkcaldy Hits Back in Furious Row'']"

=== Economy and employment ===
* "[http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2005/05/19/newsstory7145791t0.asp ''Job Figures Shock for Kirkcaldy and Dundee'']"
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1015&ArticleID=805894 ''Are We Really Such a Poor Town?'']"
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=4924&ArticleID=1830343 ''200 Jobs: Come and Get Them!'']
* "[http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=4924&ArticleID=1992915 ''Schemes Where Poverty is Rife and 50% Are Out of Work'']

== External links ==
* [http://www.kirkcaldycivicsociety.co.uk Kirkcaldy Civic Society]
* [http://www.aboutkirkcaldy.com About Kirkcaldy]
* [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy on FifeDirect]
* [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/kirkcaldyrenaissance Kirkcaldy Renaissance on FifeDirect]
* [http://www.kirkcaldytowncentre.co.uk/ Kirkcaldy Town Centre Management]
* [http://kirkcaldy.myquestion.net Langtoun Online]
* [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/uploadfiles/publications/c64_RevisedKirkcaldy_Apr07.pdf Kirkcaldy Economic Profile]
* [http://www.kirkcaldybands.com Tribute site to the Kirkcaldy Alternative Music Scene of the 1980s]
* [http://www.thefifepost.com The Fife Post]
* [http://www.kirkcaldyrenaissance.co.uk/heritage.htm Kirkcaldy Renaissance]
* [http://kirkcaldylinksmarket.fotopic.net kirkcaldy links market]
* [http://www.mercat-centre.co.uk Mercat Shopping Centre]
* [http://www.the-postings.co.uk/index.html The Postings Shopping Centre]
* [http://www.kirkcaldygolfclub.co.uk/ Kirkcaldy Golf Club]

[[Category:Towns in Fife]]
[[Category:Districts of Scotland]]
[[Category:Kirkcaldy]]

[[de:Kirkcaldy]]
[[es:Kirkcaldy]]
[[fr:Kirkcaldy]]
[[gd:Cathair Challdainn]]
[[it:Kirkcaldy]]
[[ms:Kirkcaldy]]
[[nl:Kirkcaldy]]
[[no:Kirkcaldy]]
[[pl:Kirkcaldy]]
[[pt:Kirkcaldy]]
[[sco:Kirkcaudy]]
[[sv:Kirkcaldy]]

Latest revision as of 19:03, 11 October 2008

Redirect to:

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kirkcaldy&oldid=244619441"