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Limekilns
A coastal settlement of W Fife, situated on the Firth of Forth to the west of Rosyth. Its harbour was developed as a port by the medieval merchants of Dunfermline who exported lime, salt and coal and imported wood, wine, and glassware here. Brucehaven Harbour was built much later in c.1750 especially for the coal trade. Its oldest building is the 16th-century King's Cellar in Academy Square, originally built by the monks of Dunfermline in the 14th century for storing wine and other imported goods. The village, which is also associated with brewing and the manufacture of soap and rope, was designated a Conservation Area in 1984. The classical fronted Limekilns Parish Church was built in 1825 and to the west are lime kilns built into the cliff face c.1780.
Lochgelly
A former coal mining town in W Fife, situated on a ridge between Loch Ore and Loch Gelly. Situated on the railway line linking Dunfermline with Dundee, Lochgelly was once a small agricultural market centre. It prospered as a mining town between the granting of mineral rights to the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company in the 1830s and the closure of local pits in the 1960s. Lochgelly is the highest town in Fife and was designated a burgh in 1876. 'The Lochgelly' was the name once given to the locally-manufactured leather belt or tawse used to beat school children. Lochgelly has a modern community high school built in 1986, a community centre (1976), an 18-hole golf course and an industrial estate (Cartmore) with industries that include engineering, sawmilling, the manufacture of animal feed and rubber goods, and the supply of building materials.
Lochore
A former mining town in W Fife which takes its name from the adjacent 260-acre loch which was partially drained in the1790s. Before its development as a mining town Lochore lay on a major route linking the Firth of Forth with Perth and formed part of Lochoreshire in the ancient province of Fothrif.
Low Valleyfield
A village in W Fife, situated on the Firth of Forth one mile east of Culross and west of the Bluther Burn. Formerly part of the Valleyfield Estate, it is older than the 20th-century mining village of High Valleyfield which lies to the north. The nearby Valleyfield colliery, which operated between 1908 and 1978, was the scene of a mining disaster in 1939 when 35 miners lost their lives. Valleyfield Woodland Park lies to the east (see Valleyfield Wood).
Lower Largo
A resort village in the East Neuk of Fife, situated adjacent to Lundin Links at the foot of a cliff on Largo Bay. It was for centuries a prosperous fishing village noted for its manufacture of nets and knitwear. At the east end of the village Temple Hill is said to mark the site of land owned by the medieval Knights Templar who were brought to Scotland in the 12th century by David I. Daniel Defoe visited Lower Largo in 1706 and was inspired to write The Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe after visiting the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk who was marooned on the island of Juan Fernandez for 4 years. There is a statue commemorating 'Robinson Crusoe' on the site of the house where Selkirk was born in 1676. Known fully as Seatown of Largo, its harbour was linked by steamboat to Newhaven on the south coast of the Firth of Forth during the 19th century. Lower Largo with its fine sandy beach eventually became a popular tourist centre after the arrival of the railway in 1856. Lower Largo was designated a conservation area in 1978.
Lumphinnans
A former mining town in W Fife, situated between Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly. The lands of Lumphinnans were first mentioned in a charter of 1242, but the town owes its existence to the development of the local mines by the Cowdenbeath Colliery Co.
Lundin Links
A resort and dormitory town in the East Neuk of Fife, situated on Largo Bay adjacent to Lower Largo. It largely developed as a 19th century suburban extension of Lower Largo accommodating holiday makers, but takes its name from the Lundin family who were granted land here in the 12th century. In addition to a fine beach, Lundin Links has tennis courts, bowling greens, a putting green and 18-hole and 9-hole golf courses. Within the grounds of the Lundin Ladies Golf Club are located the three Lundin Links standing stones which date from the 2nd millennium BC.
Markinch
A small town in central Fife 2 miles (3 km) east of Glenrothes and 6 miles (9 km) north of Kirkcaldy. Markinch is said to have been capital of Fife when it was one of the seven provinces of Pictland and in medieval times it was the burgh of barony of Dalgynch. Terraces on Markinch Hill are thought to be either medieval or Roman in origin and on the northern outskirts of the town beside the East Lodge of Balbirnie House stands the ancient Celtic Stob Cross which may have marked the limits of sanctuary of Markinch Church. The parish church stands on the site of a preaching station said to have been established towards the end of the 6th century by St Drostan, a nephew of St Columba. It overlooks the centre of Markinch which was designated a conservation area in 1973. There is a Tudor Italianate railway station dating from the opening of the first railway through Fife in1847 and a town house built in 1899. The town has football, bowling, tennis and curling clubs and two recreation parks, one of which is dedicated to Provost John Dixon who presented it to the burgh in 1919. The population of Markinch reached a peak of 6,800 in 1901 as a result of the development of papermaking, textile, coal mining, distilling and building industries. Papermaking is still an important local employer along with a wide range of industries mainly located on the industrial estates of neighbouring Glenrothes.
Methil
A town in S Fife, situated near the mouth of the River Leven on the Firth of Forth between Buckhaven and Leven. The town forms the core of the industrial communities of Leven, Innerleven, Kirkland, Aberhill, Methilhill, Denbeath, Muiredge and Buckhaven and owes its modern development to the docks which were established in the 1870s for the export of Fife coal. Lower Methil Heritage Centre (1995) features a changing programme of exhibitions focusing on the town's local industrial history. In addition to its three docks, Methil is the site of a power station and an industrial estate with industries producing, machinery, clothing, bricks, plastic piping, animal feed and fertilisers.
Methilhill
A community at the western edge of the Buckhaven-Methil-Leven urban area in S Fife. Situated to the south of the River Leven, Methilhill has a primary school, bowling green and community centre.
Milton of Balgonie
A village in S central Fife, situated on the River Leven 2 miles (3 km) south of Markinch. It grew up as a riverside mill town near Balgonie Castle, its population in the 18th and 19th centuries engaging in coal mining, weaving, spinning and brick making. In addition to a meal mill and two spinning mills, a flax mill, employing 265 people in 1841, operated from 1806 to 1885. There is a Miners' Institute (1926), a primary school (1823), a church (1836) and a playing field. To the south of the river lie the foundations of Balfour House which was the birthplace of James Beaton, and Mary Beaton who was one of the 'Four Maries' of Mary Queen of Scots.
Newburgh
A town in NW Fife, situated on the River Tay. Under the patronage of the Abbey of Lindores, whose ruins stand to the east, Newburgh was created a burgh of barony by Alexander III. It was confirmed as a royal burgh in 1631 and developed as a port and market town for the surrounding area. During the 18th century the town was one of the two main ports in Fife handling flax and in the19th century the town prospered as a centre of salmon fishing and linen, jute and linoleum manufactures. Today, industry includes civil engineering, the manufacture of clothing and the extraction of aggregates at the nearby Clatchard Quarry. There is a small industrial estate to the east of the village. The Laing Museum, first opened in 1896, was gifted to the town by Alexander Laing (1808-1892) who had made a collection of local and foreign antiquities. Designated a conservation area in 1969, Newburgh has a bowling club and a sailing club.
Newmills
A village in W Fife, situated on the Firth of Forth between the Bluther Burn and Torryburn. It looks out over Torry Bay and takes its name from an important mill that once stood on the burn here. Operated by monks in medieval times, the mill dominated the local grain trade. On its main street are the 19th-century castellated gateway, flanking arches and Gothic lodge that were once the impressive entrance to the former Torrie Estate.
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