74th Year! 
74th Year!
The Whole Story of The Famous Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline
(and the Cinemas of Dunfermline & Rosyth)
74th Year! |
| Features of Dunfermline City Buildings etc This page will display some notable features to be seen in Dunfermline City such as historically important buildings due to their architecture, use or associations with important people. Dunfermline City's 'Blue Plaques'
Dunfermline City's 'Blue Plaques'
These commemorative plaques were installed in a project called the 'Dunfermline City Trail' and was supported by Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, Fife Council, Fife Environment Trust and Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board around about the year 2005? Thirty-three plaques were installed and appeared in an eponymous full colour leaflet but only the twenty-eight you see photographed here still exist in-place. It is to be hoped that they will be replaced soon. The other five were:
The Dunfermline City Trail plaques are presented here alphabetically: The texts here are extracts from the brochure together with other local information. (More photographs still to follow) Note all photographs are © Ghoulz unless otherwise stated.
Abbey Park House
This fine house, built c1810 for James and George Spence, became the headquarters of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Carnegie Hero Fund trust in 1952. The Trust had been set up by Andrew Carnegie in 1903 with the task of dispersing the huge endowment fund which he gave to his home town. During the second world war the house was used to accommodate WRNs.
Abbot House This 15th century house (built by the Abbots of Dunfermline for Abbot Richard de Bothwell c1450) was the only domestic building to survive the great fire of Dunfermline in 1624. It has since been a private mansion, an iron foundry, an art school and is currently owned & managed as a heritage centre & cafe for the Dunfermline Heritage Trust with many exhibits depicting the many historical stages of Dunfermline's history. During 1941-45 the east wing was used the Headquarters of the Air Training Corps Squadron 1145.
Andrew Carnegie Statue This bronze statue (9 1/2 feet tall) erected to Dunfermline's most famous son during his lifetime and was paid for by public subscription.
Carnegie Birthplace
On 25th November 1835 Andrew Carnegie was born in this humble 17th century weaver's cottage. The Carnegie family lived in one room upstairs and another family lived in the adjoining cottage. The adjacent Memorial Hall (architect James Shearer) was added in 1928.
Carnegie Clinic
Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy to his home town included the funding of this Scottish College of Hygiene and Physical Training. It was built in 1909-12 by the architects H&D Barclay in a mix of Renaissance, Scottish Baroque and Jacobean styles and extended at a cost of £20,000 in 1911. The building was requisitioned by the Army during the 1914/18 war.
Carnegie Centre
Built in 'Free Renaissance' style by Hippolyte J Blanc in 1902-05 at a cost of some £45,000, this centre was gifted by Andrew Carnegie and incorporated a swimming pool, gymnasium, billiard hall and opulent turkish baths. Thew two bronze panels which flank the entrance bear the inscriptions 'In Infant Purdor' (Purity in Childhood) and in Viro Firtus' (Moral Strength in Manhood) symbolising the original aims of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust in erecting the baths and gymnasium. It was completely renovated & modernised in 1979-82 at a cost of approx £1.8M for Phase 1. Phase 2 completed in 1982 at a cost of £1.4M followed by Phase 3 in 1991 for a further £1.2M. It is currently under going an other extensive refurbishment.
Carnegie Hall
A smaller version of its New York namesake (which was built in 1891) the Carnegie Hall was commissioned by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust in Classical Modern style and designed by local architects Muirhead and Rutherford (who also designed the Kinema in 1938). It was the last public building to be gifted to Dunfermline by Andrew Carnegie's endowment and cost £30,000. Louise Carnegie attended the sod cutting ceremony but was not at the opening on 6th October 1937 with a programme of musical recitals. Originally seating 640, this was reduced to 512 in 2007. Children's entertainment was added to the programme and as other venues faded in Dunfermline, the Carnegie Hall became the main theatre for variety and amateur drama. The stage area was badly damage by fire in 1980 and cost £23,000 to repair over seven months. The wooden Annex is demolished in 1985 and replaced with a brick replacement.
Carnegie Library
Andrew Carnegie funded 2811 free libraries around the world. This was the very first of them, opened in 1883 at a total cost of £8000 and with 11,926 books. The architect JC Walker (who also designed the City Chambers below) designed the building in Domestic Tudor style, James Shearer extended the building in 1914-21 and it was further extended in 1993. During the second world war the basement was used by Civil Defence units. In 1996 the stock of books was reported to be 125,000 in number.
City Chambers
This landmark building was designed by JC Walker in 1866-79. Its 38 meters (117 feet) high tower and French Gothic Baronial turrets reflect the prosperity that the weaving industry was bringing to Dunfermline at that time. The four-faced clock was a late design improvement, superseding a smaller two-faced predecessor. Supporting one of the towers on the east face of the building is the carving of a man, said to be of a Burgh official who gave the Stone Mason a hard time. Since the official was known to be a drinker of strong ale & whiskey, he was depicted as having a permanent hangover.
Donald Fountain
Dunfermline Abbey Church This church was built in 1818-21 by William Burn, on the site of part of the ruined Abbey, it is the burial place of Scottish hero King Robert the Bruce, whose name is commemorated atop the imposing tower.
Dunfermline Abbey Nave This 12th century nave is the oldest part of the Abbey Church. The Abbey was virtually destroyed in 1560 during the reformation but during the next 200 years, the tower, steeple and supporting buttresses that can be seen today were constructed.
Dunfermline United Reform Church (Canmore Congregational Church)
Built in 1841-2 at an estimated cost of £1200, this church by architect John Baird of Glasgow is in Gothic style.
Fire Station
This striking Modernist building was designed in 1934 by James Shearer to replace its predecessor in Campbell Street and is one of the most architecturally important fire stations in the country. It cost £11,000 was opened in 1936 and closed in 2011.
Glen Pavilion This 'Art Deco' style building was designed by John Fraser (who was also associated with the design of Dunfermline’s Masonic Hall, the Cinema House, Glen Pavilion and The Alhambra Theatre amongst others) stands on the site of an earlier Tea House. It was built in two sections: the New Tea House (1927) and the Music Pavilion / Bandstand (1933/35). The building was requisitioned for the war effort in 1940 and Polish troops billeted there. A bar was added in 1974/5.
Guildhall
The Guildhall was built in 1807-11 by local merchants and subsequently used as a hotel (The Spire Inn 1816-1845), Police station, Post Office, Sheriff Court and offices. Its Symetrical Classical design (by Archibald Elliot) and 43 metre (132 feet) high spire, added in 1811 (by public subscription because there was no money left) make it a local landmark. It returned to its original use as a public house as 'Shenanigans' and other sundry small retail outlets in 1985, however in 1991 fires force closure and two years later it reopens as a Job Centre.
Holy Trinity Church
The Edinburgh architect R Rowland Anderson designed this church in simple late Gothic style. It dates from 1891 and was funded largely by local mill owner, Erskine Beveridge.
Louise Carnegie Gates
These gates were erected in 1929, as a tribute to Andrew Carnegie's widow and were restored in 2003. The neo-Baroque design was by Jameson and Arnott and the ornate ironwork by Thomas Haddey.
Malcolm Canmore's Tower (ruins)
Malcolm Canmore, the first King of Scotland, traditionally chose an easily defended site on which to build a tower house (originally of wood) in the late 1060s. The name 'Dunfermline' means 'fortress by the crooked stream'.
Mercat Cross
The market cross (Mercat in the Scots language) was Dunfermline's main meeting place. In the days before newspapers and television, official proclamations were made here atop the a stone platform. The first Mercat Cross dates from 1396 while this present cross dates (in part) from 1626 when it was re-erected after the Great Fire of Dunfermline in 1624 and consists of a stepped octagonal base with a cylindrical column, finished with a Unicorn atop a square carved stone with the Royal and Burgh Coats of Arms. It now resides approximately in its original position at the junction with Crosswynd having been moved several times to accommodate road changes etc. In 1752 it was built into the wall of an adjacent building, in 1868 it was re-erected in a corner near to the Guildhall and moved closer still in 1924, in 1985 it was temporarily moved to Maygate and in 1992 replaced to its original and current position.
Music Institute (Hawthornbank / Benachie House)
This was a 19th century dwelling-house (built 1890s for Andrew Wallace - Coalmaster) before it was purchased by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust in 1933 (for £5500) and converted into a Music Institute for the benefit of Dunfermline's citizens.
The Pends This gatehouse (aka the South Port) linked the Abbey guest house with church and monk's quarters. Much later, the building housed Dunfermline's first Damask weaving loom, set up by James Blake in 1718 in a room above. Damask linen became Dunfermline's main industry for the next 200 years.
Pilmuir Works
The impressive Italianate frontage of this building concealed Dunfermline's first power loom linen factory, opened in 1849 and the first of eleven huge Damask weaving mills in the city. The new warehouse was designed by T. Hyslop Ure in 1901. Bought by Hay & Robertson in 1926 and used as a hostel for HM Dockyard workers during the second world war. It was later acquired in 1947 by Dunlop for weaving tyre fabric reinforcing material and cord. It now awaits conversion to flats and townhouses.
St Andrew's Erskine Church
This building was designed by David Whyte in 1798-00. The statue (by Alexander H Ritchie 1849) is of Ralph Erskine, the famous minister of the early 18th century, who revived the ecclesiastic life of Dunfermline Abbey before joining the Secessionist movement. It was sold in 1996 and used as an extensive indoor children's play area with adventure playground / climbing frames and cafe.
St Margaret's RC Church The original plans for this church (by R Rowland Anderson 1896) were in traditional 12th century style and incorporated a huge circular tower, but lack of funds meant that this feature was never built.
St Margaret's Works
Hundreds of employees, mostly women, worked here in the Hay & Robertson Damask linen mill during its heyday. The works were designed by H&D Barclay in 1900 and extended in 1913. In 1926 Hay & Robertson acquired the adjacent Pilmuir Works and build the interconnecting fly-over bridge between the two which is said locally to have a vague resemblance to the Bridge of Sighs in Venice! Later acquired by Castleblair Ltd.
Victoria Works
Behind this Victorian office frontage (designed by Robertson and Orchar in 1876 for Inglis & Co.) lay an enormous linen weaving mill, converted to carry out embroidery in 1928 following the decline of the linen industry. Owners included Wilson & Wightman 1928, Glazin & Berry 1961 & Castleblair Ltd c1990.
Viewfield Baptist Church
This church in what is known as 'Gothic Revival' style, is the work of architect Peter L Henderson and was built in 1882-84 at a cost of £5379.
Dunfermline City's Miscellaneous Plaques These come in all shapes & sizes and contain information about historically important public buildings with an interesting past, while others commemorate noteworthy people from Dunfermline's illustrious past. (There's many more to come and I would be grateful if you could inform me of any others via my 'Feedback' page. Thank you.)
Dunfermline City's Decorative Stonework
Dunfermline City's Historic Post Boxes Dunfermline still has examples of Post Boxes from the periods of every monarch since Victoria
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