In the modest seaside town of Burntisland in Fife in the early 1780s lived a girl who would become the pre-eminent thinker in science and mathematics of her day, known and feted throughout Europe. Eventually a school, an Oxford College, an island, even a crater on the moon would all be named for her. But first Mary Somerville had to negotiate her way through a society that did not expect
Thieves of Dunfermline is a light hearted, fast paced hour’s entertainment inspired by the events and people of Dunfermline’s past. It will be performed from 3-7 December in the intimate setting of The Long Gallery in Abbot House, Dunfermline by a talented cast of local musicians and performers including Fife Provost Jim Leishman in his first acting role. Some of the stories, which are told through drama, humour and cracking
If you go down to Valleyfield Woods in Fife you’ll find a charming woodland with twisting walks, a tumbling burn and, in spring, carpets of snowdrops and bluebells. Look closer however and you’ll find that you are walking in the ghostly footprint of a very different environment – once so vividly present and now almost entirely vanished. A fine classical mansion stood here, grand enough to cast Downton in the
by Fife Psychogeographical Collective Today’s post is a brilliant reminder not to judge a place by its house prices. The Fife Psychogeographical Collective take a walk around from the former mining communities of Lochgelly and Lumphinnans to Cowdenbeath and uncover some of the area’s fascinating stories, stories of intellectual endeavour, political radicalism and high achieving women. This is an abridged version of an article that appeared in Fife Psychogeography in
Balintore Castle near Kirriemuir in Angus – a little fixer upper taken on by David Johnston. The Baronial style castle is A listed and was designed by architect William Burn. Built in 1860, it was abondoned to dry rot in the 1960s and lay empty until 2007. Now Johnston is painstakingly returning the building to its former Victorian splendour and detailing the process in his fascinating blog. David explains his motivation for embarking