1876.—THE OLD TOWN-
HOUSE.—The last town council meeting was held in the
old Town House, on
Dec. 13, 1875;
operations for the removal of the building began on
Jan. 21, 1876, and it was entirely cleared away by
June, when the New Town House buildings were
commenced. For view of the Town House just removed,
see Annals of Dunfermline, dates 1795, 1769, and
1793. The old private houses on the west side of the
kirkgate, and south of the Town House, began to be
taken down at the same time. These houses, five in
number, were very common place ones, excepting the one
in the centre of the group, which was pended or arched
in the under apartment and until 1824, had a pended
door way entrance to the Kirkgate; from the time
immemorial, this house was known as “the Danish
Ambassador’s House.” (MS Note)
LITERATURE.—“Lord
Musings, by Henry Syme,
Dunfermline, Printed
and published by A. Romanes, Press Office, New Row.”
This is an elegantly got up 12mo of 252 pages, and
contains 109 pieces.
ORDINATION.—The
Rev. William George was ordained minister of
Chalmers Street U.P.
Church on 28th March, 1876
VICTORIA STEAM
POWER WEAVING FACTORY.—This factory was erected in
Grantsbank Street in 1876, and employs about 750
operatives.
ST. ANDREW’S FREE
CHURCH.—The Rev, David Imrie was inducted minister of
this church on
20th
April, 1876. He succeeded the Rev. Andrew Bryde, who
was inducted in1856.
ST. MARGARET’S
HALL.—The foundation stone of this ornate and
commodious hall was laid in June, 1806, and finished
in April, 1878.
THE MEMORIAL TABLET
OF LADY AUGUSTA STANLEY.—The memorial of this
excellent and pious lady was erected by her husband,
the dean of
Westminster, on the west wall of the south transept of
the Abbey Church, on the 12th August, 1876.
“It is of
Carrara marble, 6
feet high, and 3 feet 3 inches broad, beautifully
chiseled by the iron of Miss Grant. The likeness, in
relievo, of the deceased lady is considered a very
correct one. She is represented in the attitude of
devotion; the whole expression of the form and
features is most impressive. Under the figure in the
following inscription:--‘To the dear memory of Augusta
Elizabeth Frederica Bruce, fifth daughter of Thomas,
Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, and beloved wife of
Arthur Penryn Stanley, Dean of Westminster;’ and to
the right and left of the figure are sets of pious
notanda.” (Dunfermline Press, 12th August,
1876)
NEW TOWN
HOUSE.—The foundation stone of the building was laid
on Oct. 11,
1876. A grand Masonic procession took place, and
orations were delivered on the occasion. The
foundation stone, according to our note, is located
near the foot of the Steeple door (top of Kirkgate),
north foot of the door, on a level with the first
floor. The new town house, in November, 1878, is
still in an unfinished state. It is thought that it
will not be ready for business until about the month
of March, 1879. (MS)
THE ERSKINE AND
GILLESPIE MONUMENTS.—These monuments were erected
between August 25th and
September 6th,
1876.
The monument
place over the grave of Erskine, at the south east
corner of the old church yard, is in the form of a
sarcophagus, and measures 6 feet 6 inches in height
and 8 feet by 3 feet 6 inches at the base. The work
is purely classic, and presents a very elegant design;
the lower part of the work, which forms the pedestal,
rises from a moulded basement, and is enriched with
carved rustic coignes, from which are projected
inscription panels. The sarcophagus rests upon a
square block, consisting of moulded base, cornice, and
die; the cornice and base have carved mouldings. On
the four sides die moulded panels have been introduced
and each bearing bas-reliefs, on which are
inscriptions relating to the character and work of
Erskine, and also of his successors, the Rev. John
Smith, Rev. James Husband, D.D., and the Rev. Robert
Brow, of St. Margaret’s Church. On the south side of
the die, and immediately above the panel, there is a
beautiful alto relievo, showing and arrangement of
drapery disposed in easy folds over a clasped Bible,
and a number of other books and manuscripts; while at
the top appears a laurel wreath, entertwined with an
oak branch. The bas-relief on the north side shows a
rustic cross and palm
branch, which are most effectively arranged. The two
panels at the end bear the words, “Erected by the
United Presbyterian Presbytery of Dunfermline, 1876;”
and on the east end there is the following text of
Scripture, which was on the former stone—“Remember
then which had the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the Word of God; whose faith follow considering
the end of their conversation; Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. xiii. 7, 8). The
south panel bears the following inscription:--“In
memory of the Rev. Ralph Erskine; born 18th
of March, 1685; ordained a Parish Minister of
Dunfermline 17th
August, 1711; left the Established Church and joined
the Secession, 18th February, 1737. He was
Minister of Queen Ann Street Church from the formation
in 1740 till his death in 1752, in the 68th
years of his age, and 42nd of his
Ministry.” The panel on the north side has on it the
following inscription:--“In memory of the rev. John
Smith, Minister of the Gospel, first at Jedburgh,
afterwards in Dunfermline, who died 7th
December, 1780, in the 58th year of his
age, and the 36th of his Ministry. Also,
in memory of the Rev. James Husband, D.D., minister of
the Gospel in Dunfermline, who died 17th
May, 1821, in the 70th year of his age, and
46th of his Ministry. And of the Rev.
Robert Brown, Minister of the Congregation of St.
Margaret’s; ordained 17th May, 1826; died
19th April, 1828, in the 30th
year of his age and the 2nd of his
Ministry.”
The Gillespie
Monument is erected in the wall of the north aisle of
the nave of the Abbey Church; it consists of a tablet
of polished Sicilian marble, and measures 8 feet by 2
feet 3 inches and bears the following
inscription:--“In memory of the Rev. Thomas Gillespie;
born at Clearburn, Duddingston, 1708; ordained by Mr.
Doddridge at Northampton, and inducted as Parish
Minister of Carnock, 1741; deposed by the General
Assembly for refusing to take part in the forced
settlement of a Minister at Inverkeithing, 1752, he
formed a congregation in Dunfermline in the same
year. He was the founder of the
Relief Church. Died
19th January, 1774.”
The
Erskine Monument is
composed of Binney freestone. Both monuments have
been executed, with great artistic skill, by Messrs.
Stewart, M’Glashan, and Son, Edinburgh.
BURGH LIST OF
VOTERS FOR 1876;--There were in the Burgh of
Dunfermline, on
1st
October, 1876, 2,501 voters. In the first ward, 618;
second ward, 590; third ward, 562; and fourth ward,
731. (Dunfermline Press)
THE BRANCH BANK OF
THE BRITISH LINEN COMPANY in the High Street (foot of
Douglas Street) was built this year, and the business
transferred to it from their old premises in Canmore
Street on 18th September—John Landale,
agent. This is a very handsome building and a great
ornament to the Burgh.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Kenneth Mathieson, Esq., re-elected
Provost, November, 1876. (Burgh Records)
THE Pittencrieff
and Milesmark
Schools were erected during this year. (MS)
1877.—NUMBER OF
EMPLOYEES AT THE FACTORIES.—Early in January, 1877, it
was ascertained that there were 5,930 operatives
connected with the eleven factories in town. A great
many of the workers come from adjacent places, within
four miles of
Dunfermline. (MS Note)
A BONDED WAREHOUSE,
Carnegie Street, was erected by Messrs. Bruce and
Glen, merchants,
Dunfermline, during
1876, and was opened by charter, or warrant, in April,
1877. The building is 154 feet long by 40 in breadth,
and consists of two flats; the lower one is the bonded
warehouse, the upper is used as a public hall,
gymnasium, &c.
DUNFERMLINE
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.—At the end of the 16th
year of the existence of this society (1877), it was
ascertained by the committee of management that the
transactions for this year amounted to £52,431 8s. 5d.
being as increase of £45,959 8s. 9d. above that of the
first year. (An. Dunf. dates 1861, 1866, 1867.)
MINIATURE VIEW OF
DUNFERMLINE SOLD FOR £400.—A small water-colour
painting of
Dunfermline, by the celebrated water-colour painter
Turner, occupying the space of only 4 in. by 3 ½ was
put up at a public sale in London, in June this year,
and bought £400! (Newsp.)
THE CARNEGIE BATHS
OPENED.—“On 12th
June, 1877, these splendid baths, situated in School
End Street, were publicly opened. They were erected
at the sole expense of Andrew Carnegie, Esq., a native
of the city, but now of New York, and were by him
bequeathed in free gift to his fellow-citizens. The
building cost about £5000. Mr. Carnegie being at that
time in Dunfermline, the opportunity was embraced of
having the Baths opened by the donor. He,
accordingly, on the day specified, along with the
Provost, Magistrates, Town Council, and other
citizens, repaired to the Baths, formally opened the
same, and handed them over to the authorities ‘for the
benefit of the inhabitants for ever—they keeping them
in good working order in all time coming.’ The Baths
were opened for bathing, &c., on the 1st
September.” (Newspaper.)
FREEDOM OF THE CITY
CONFERRED ON MR. ANDREW CARNEGIE.—Immediately after
the ceremony of opening the Baths, on 12th
June, Mr. Carnegie had the honour of the freedom of
the City conferred on him, in the Council Chamber,
Bruce Street, amid the applause and congratulations of
the burgesses and citizens. (Newspaper)
NEW WATER SCHEME—Glensherup
Burn.—“The first sod of the new water-works was cut,
lifted, and tilted by Kenneth Mathieson, Esq.,
Provost, at Glensherup, on 29th June, 1877,
in presence of a deputation, consisting of several
members of the Town Council, the engineers,
contractors,” &c. (Newspaper) The Glensherup
Reservoir is about 17 miles
north west of
Dunfermline.
MEMORIAL
WINDOW.—Early in the month of August a new memorial
stained glass window was erected on the south side of
the Old Abbey
Church to the memory of the late James Douglas, Esq.,
and Helen Black, his wife. The inscription on it is
as follows:--“In memory of James Douglas, Esq., and
Helen Black, his wife. Erected by David Douglas,
Esq., writer to the signet, 1877.”
PITFIRRANE AND
KEAVIL ESTATES SOLD.—Lawrence Dalgleish, Esq., of
Dalbeath, purchased the estates of Pitfirrane and
Keavil in August, 1877, for £132,500. Pitfirrane is
mentioned in the Chartulary of Dunfermline Abbey under
date 1363, and the Halket family have been possessors
of the estate of Pitfirrane for upwards of 470 years.
(See Dunf. Press of
1st Sept.,
1877, and An. Dunf. pp. 152, 153.)
LIST OF BURGH
VOTERS.—The new list of voters in the Burgh, made out
in September, 1877, has the following totals:--voters
in the first ward 500; second ward, 570; third ward,
530; fourth ward, 683; total number of voters, 2,
382. (Dunf. Press,
3rd Nov.,
1877.)
SEWAGE WORKS.—The
works for conveying the sewage of
Dunfermline to
Charlestown commenced in May, 1876, and were completed
about the end of September, 1877, at the cost of about
£10,000.
THE
Dunfermline and
Edinburgh Railway was opened for traffic on 1st
November, 1877. The station is at Comely Park,
Dunfermline. There was no public demonstration at the
opening, as no one seemed to take any interest in the
matter. This may be explained, however, in
consequence of the disheartening turn things had taken
some time prior to the completion of the railway.
THE following
extract shows the balance-sheet of the National
Security Savings Bank,
Dunfermline, for year
ending Nov. 20, 1877:--
The total
balances due to depositors amounted to
£101,789 14 7
The total
funds amounted to
101,818
10 7
Cash Surplus £28 16 0
Number of
depositors 3,322
Transactions during the year, viz:--
Receipts 5,098
Payments 3,150
Total 8,241
Amount
deposited during the year, including
interest added to depositors, amounted
to £23,533 16 11
Repayments
20,148 13 8
Increase for this
year 3,385
3 3
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—James Walls, Esq., was elected Provost,
9th
Nov. 1877. (Burgh Records.)
1878.—ST.
MARGARET’S HALL ORGAN.—A bazaar was held in St.
Margaret’s Hall, on 23rd, 24th,
and 27th
April, 1878, to raise funds for erecting an organ. In
the hall there were stalls containing sundry articles
superintended by ladies, who had the art of extracting
from their sale the handsome sum of £1,851 7s. 8 ½d.
which sum includes what was drawn from the takes at
the exhibitions of the model room—Punch and the
Performing Elephant. On the 23rd the
bazaar was opened by Mr. Campbell-Bannerman, M.P.; on
the 24th, by the Right Hon. William P.
Adam, M.P. and on the 27th, by Provost
Walls.
THE NAMES OF THE
STREETS ALTERED.—By order of the Town Council, the
names of the following streets were altered, viz:--The
place formerly known as Martyr’s Place, to be
henceforth called Holyrood Place; South Chapel street,
to be called Randolph Street (after the great Randolph
of Bannockburn renown); School End Street, to be
called Bath Street; and Knabble Street, Carnegie
Street.
THE
TOWN-HILL CHURCH was
founded in the summer of 1877, and opened for divine
service in May, 1878. (MS Note)
THE Dunfermline
Tanworks were destroyed by fire on
13th July,
1878. The damages amounted to £14,000.
COIN FOUND.—A
silver penny of Edward I of
England (1272-1307)
was found, in a worn out condition, in the grounds of
Mr. George Robertson, Comely Park, Dunfermline. It is
probably a relic of one of the visits of that monarch
to Dunfermline, between 1290 and 1304.
POLLING PLACES IN
FIFE.—on 22nd August this year the Sheriff
of the County
of Fife legalized a new arrangement in the polling
places in Fife. Dunfermline was constituted the
polling place for the parishes in Dunfermline,
Inverkeithing, and Dalgetty.
GLENSHERUP WATER,
was brought into the Burgh, on
6th Sept.
1878, direct from Glensherup. It is to be hoped that
no “water-famine” will again occur in Dunfermline for
at least a hundred years to come.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
IN DUNFERMLINE.—According to a printed note, dated
7th
September, 1878, there were on the School Board roll
2,963 pupils, of whom where were 2,552 in actual
attendance. This is about 1 pupil for every 6 of the
population of the Burgh. (Dunf. Press, 7th
September, 1878)
THE Foundation
stone of the
Forth Bridge was laid, on Inch Garvie, on 30th
September, 1878. (Newspaper)
ST. MARGARET’S HALL
ORGAN.—This splendid organ was erected in St.
Margaret’s Hall during the months of August and
September, 1878. a grand concert was given on Tuesday
evening, 1st October, when the inauguration
of the organ took place. Concerning the construction
of the organ, the Dunfermline Press of 31st
August says:--
The organ
was erected by Messrs. T. C. Lewis & Co. Brixton,
London, and is
of a very superior character. Placed in the space
reserved for the purpose, the organ greatly improves
the interior aspect of the hall. It measures 24 feet
in height, and 18 feet by 10 feet otherwise. It
contains 26 stops and 1,522 pipes—the metal used being
what is called “spotted metal.” The fittings include
various important improvements, specially introduced
by the builders, and the motive blowing power is
supplied by the ingenious hydraulic engine patented by
Mr. Joy, of Leeds. The case of the organ, which is
composed of pitch pine, is tastefully decorated with
moulded panels.
CITY ARMS
HOTEL.—Since this
Inn was built (about
the end of the last century) it has been known by a
variety of names, such a “The New Inn,” “Maclean’s
Inn.” “Dow’s Inn,” “Hutton’s Inn,” “Milne’s Hotel,”
&c. The present proprietor, Mr. Laurence Anderson, in
order to give the hotel a permanent designation, has
just appropriately named it “The City Arms Hotel.”
POST OFFICE.—The
number of letters, circulars, post cards, and
newspapers, which passed through Dunfermline Post
Office during one week lately, were found to be as
follows:--Letters, 11,072; circulars, 3157; post
cards, 1891; newspapers, 151—total 17,630.
CITY OF GLASGOW
BANK—Bankruptcy.—The branch of this unfortunate bank,
established in Dunfermline in January, 1873, ceased to
exist on October 2, 1878, in consequence of the
disastrous failure of the head bank in Glasgow on that
day.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—James Walls, Esq., was re-elected Provost
on the 9th of November. (Burgh Records.)
END OF “THE ANNALS OF
DUNFERMLINE”
