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Kirkcaldy

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Description of the parish in 1852

" Kirkcaldy is a royal burgh and a populous thriving seaport. From the narrow dimensions on which the town stands, the inhabitants have had to build their houses in a continuous line along the shore giving rise to the name “the lang toun of Kirkcaldy”. The number of vessels belonging to the port at present is 74 with an aggregate burthen of 9956 tons. The principal imports are flax and grain. Vessels from here have been employed in the Davis Strait whale fishery for many years, and 2 vessels are at present so engaged. The trade of Kirkcaldy is similar to that of Dundee - spinning flax and weaving coarse linen goods. There is also a large floorcloth manufactory, brewing, ironfounding, machine making, and a considerable corn and meal trade. As well as the parish church, there are a free church and chapels for united presbyterians, baptists and independents. " edited from Slater's Directory published 1852.

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The parish includes much of the present-day town of Kirkcaldy; other parts are in Abbotshall, Dysart and Kinghorn parishes.

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Archives & Libraries

Kirkcaldy Galleries has a large collection of genealogy and local history materials.

The ScotlandsPlaces website lets users search across national databases by geographical location. It includes, amongst other material,

  • catalogue entries for maps and plans held by the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh; some maps and plans can be viewed
  • photos and details of historical buildings and archaeological sites recorded by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh
  • 17th and 18th century tax rolls
  • Ordnance Survey [place] Name Books
  • an opportunity to transcribe thousands of historic documents

The National Collection of Aerial Photography website has photographs of Kirkcaldy taken in the 1940s.

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Bibliography

A very good description is to be found in the relevant chapter in History of the County of Fife: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time by John M Leighton, published 1840, online at Google Books.

Old Dysart and East Kirkcaldy and Old Kirkcaldy - Central, North & West (Stenlake Publishing) contain many photographs and full descriptions.

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Business & Commerce Records

Wemyss ware pottery was made in Kirkcaldy from 1882 and continues to be made in Fife although now it is produced in Ceres [click on 'About us' then 'History'].

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Cemeteries

There are 3 cemeteries and a crematorium in Kirkcaldy parish. There are others in the town, in Abbotshall and Dysart parishes.

1. Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Churchyard, Kirk Wynd, Kirkcaldy (grid ref. NT 281917; GPS: 56.11245 -3.158828):

  • The pre-1855 monumental inscriptions are listed in "Fifeshire Monumental Inscriptions (pre-1855) vol. 1 South east parishes" by John Fowler Mitchell & Sheila Mitchell, published by the Scottish Genealogy Society. ISBN 0901061948
  • The lair registers for 1767-1972 are held by the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (CH2/636/28,29 and 30). The entries for 1767-1854 have been transcribed and published by the Fife Family History Society. An index to the register of burials contained within the Kirk Session Records (CH2/636/28-29) for 1855 - 1972 has been published by the Fife Family History Society in their Publication 21. There is a complete listing of all burials from 1767-1854 on the Records pages of the Fife Family History Society.
  • Transcripts of many of the older stones were made by Robert Monteith in An Theater of Mortality, 1713. They are included in Publication 37, Monumental Notes by Erskine Beveridge and Robert Monteith, published by the Fife Family History Society. Montieth's book is available at the Internet Archive texts.
  • A CD with photographs of the stones and transcriptions is available from Scottish Monumental Inscriptions or from The Parish Chest.

2. Bennochy Cemetery, BalsusneyRoad, Kirkcaldy (grid ref. NT 275919; GPS: 56.115336 -3.165034):

  • The pre-1855 monumental inscriptions are listed in "Fifeshire Monumental Inscriptions (pre-1855) vol. 1 South east parishes" by John Fowler Mitchell & Sheila Mitchell, published by the Scottish Genealogy Society. ISBN 0901061948
  • The current lair registers (dating from 1860) are administered by Fife Council, Bereavement Services Central, Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6HQ. Tel. 01592 260277. Fax 01592 203438.
  • There is a listing of grave locations in Fife of holders of the Victoria Cross.
  • A CD with photographs of the stones and transcriptions is available from Scottish Monumental Inscriptions or from The Parish Chest.

3. Hayfield Cemetery, Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy (grid ref. NT 277933; GPS: 56.126269 -3.164659):

  • The current lair registers (dating from 1939) are administered by Fife Council, Bereavement Services Central, Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6HQ. Tel. 01592 260277. Fax 01592 203438.
  • A CD with photographs of the stones and transcriptions is available from Scottish Monumental Inscriptions or from The Parish Chest.

4. Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy (grid ref. NT 274939; GPS: 56.132972 -3.171000):

  • Opened in 1959.
  • The current registers (dating from 1959) are administered by Fife Council, Bereavement Services Central, Kirkcaldy Crematorium, Rosemount Avenue, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6HQ. Tel. 01592 260277. Fax 01592 203438.

Kirkcaldy Central Library has a large collection of transcripts, indexes and manuscript volumes of Kirkcaldy burials.

A selection of interesting inscriptions and photographs are included in the booklet Guide to Kirkcaldy Graveyards, published by Kirkcaldy Civic Society, 1996 (ISBN 1946294038).

War graves can be seen at the Scottish Wargraves Project and war memorials can be seen at the Scottish War Memorials Project.

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Census

The original 1841 census returns were lost in transit to Edinburgh.

Parish / district reference number for 1851 - 1901 censuses: 442 (see also Civil Registration). The ScotlandsPeople website has a street index to the 1911 census.

The 1851 return can be searched on the FreeCEN website.

The 1851 census has been indexed by the Tay Valley Family History Society.

Some census records on microfilm may be consulted in  LDS Family Search Centres around the world.

LDS Library Film Numbers:

 184118511861187118811891
Kirkcaldy-1042269103830,
index to streets on 104116
103993,
index to streets on 104117
203526, 203527,
index to streets on 203392
208760, 208761, 208762,
index to streets on 208606
(Data provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Further information on the main Fife page.

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Church History

Kirkcaldy - Church History - links and information

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Church Records

Kirkcaldy - Church Records - links and information

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Civil Registration

Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths began in Scotland on 1st January 1855. Full information on the main Fife page.

Registration districts covering this parish:

Registration districtnumberstart dateend date
Kirkcaldy burgh442/118551855
Kirkcaldy landward442/218551855
Kirkcaldy44218561874
Kirkcaldy and Abbotshall44218751919
Dysart42619011930
Kirkcaldy44219201971
Kirkcaldy42119722002
Fife4212003 

Registration districts did not necessarily coincide exactly with parishes. In the 20th century especially, there were frequent changes in registration districts. Kirkcaldy registration district included part of Abbotshall parish until 1874, thereafter the whole of Abbotshall parish was included. Kirkcaldy registration district also included part of Kinghorn parish.

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Court Records

At the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh:

  • B/41
    Kirkcaldy Burgh Records
    Kirkcaldy burgh records, 1595-1927, including: Protocol book, 1679 (inc sasines, 1539-1607); Register of deeds, 1673-1871.

At the Fife Council Archive Centre, Kirkcaldy:

  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy Burgh records
    Burgh court minute books, 1567-1913 (with gaps); Juvenile court and police court records, 1932-1970; Dean of Guild court minute book, 1878-1889 and registers, 1938-1964; Licensing court registers, 1765-1975 (with gaps).

Content headings for Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court are on the Court Records page.

On the Records pages of the Fife Family History Society website there is an index to Kirkcaldy Burgh Register of Deeds (1716-1884).

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Description & Travel

Kirkcaldy town centreOrdnance Survey Grid ReferenceGPSPost codeLat. 56°6'38"N
NT 27891456.109880
-3.162524
KY1 1XNLon. 3°9'45"W

Kirkcaldy Civic Society provide lots of information about the town.

Surrounding parishes: Abbotshall, Dysart, Auchterderran.

You can see pictures of Kirkcaldy which are provided by:

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Directories

The parish entry in Pigot's National Commercial Directory for the whole of Scotland, 1837, is online at Google Books.

Westwood's Parochial Directory for the Counties of Fife and Kinross for 1862 and 1866 are online at Google Books. On the Records pages of the Fife Family History Society website there is a transcription of the 1862 edition.

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Gazetteers

Several old gazetteers are available. They all contain descriptions of the parish and many are also worth searching for entries of places within the parish.

  • David Webster's Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, published 1819, online at Google Books.
  • Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, published 1846, online at British History Online.
  • Barbieri's Descriptive and Historical Gazetteer of the Counties of Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan, published 1857, is at Google Books.
  • Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4) and John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887), are on A Vision of Britain (click on "Historical places and writing").
  • Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland(1892-6) on Electric Scotland
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Genealogy

A page of information about some local ship-owning families is available on the Records pages of the Fife Family History Society.

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Historical Geography

On 15th May 1891, two detached parts of Abbotshall (both surrounded by Kirkcaldy parish) were transferred to Kirkcaldy parish. They comprised the following subjects: Smeaton, Smeaton Row and part of East Smeaton Farm.

In 1901, the parishes of Abbotshall, Dysart & Kirkcaldy, plus part of the parish of Kinghorn (Invertiel), were united to form the parish of Kirkcaldy & Dysart.

In 1930, the burgh of Dysart was combined with the burgh of Kirkcaldy.

A Vision of Britain provides historical descriptions, population & housing statistics, historic boundaries and maps.

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History

Notices from the Local Records of Dysart,a compilation from various sources covering both parish and burgh matters from 1534 to 1697, published in 1853, is available online at the Internet Archive. It includes references to matters in this parish.

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Land & Property

Details of historic buildings and archaeological sites in this parish held by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh, are catalogued at ScotlandsPlaces. In the results, click RCAHMS. Unfortunately, not all entries have digital images.

At the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh:

  • VR50
    Valuation Rolls: Dysart Burgh
    1855-1957; the Roll from 1957 is included in the Valuation Roll for the County of Fife
  • VR101
    Valuation Rolls: Fife
    1855-1975; covers the part of the parish outwith the Burgh
  • B/41
    Kirkcaldy Burgh Records
    Protocol book, 1679 (inc sasines, 1539-1607); Register of sasines, 1650-1927; Register of sasines minutes, 1825-1927; Indexes to register of sasines, 1595-1927.

At the Fife Council Archive Centre, Kirkcaldy:

  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy Burgh records
    Kirkcaldy Burgh valuation rolls, 1904-1958.
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Maps

Historic maps:

Present-day maps:

  • On-line maps:
  • Paper maps:
    • Ordnance Survey Landranger (scale 1:50000 -  about 1 inch to 1 mile) sheets 59 - St Andrews, 66 - Edinburgh
    • Ordnance Survey Explorer (larger scale 1:25000 -  about 2 and a half inches to 1 mile) sheet 367 - Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy & Glenrothes south

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference NT268936 (Lat/Lon: 56.129343, -3.179535), Kirkcaldy which are provided by:

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Medical Records

Hospital records (mostly of an administrative nature) are held by the Fife Council Archive Centre. The following hospitals are included: Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital 1891-1948. Patient records are closed for 100 years.

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Military History

The Register of the Fife Fallen in the Great War, vol 1: Kirkcaldy & Dysart Fallen, 1914-1919 has been published and is available from the Fife Family History Society and the Tay Valley Family History Society.

The Kirkcaldy [Boer] War Album with photographs of over 200 Fife men 1900-1902 is online at Ancestry.co.uk.

War graves can be seen at the Scottish Wargraves Project and war memorials can be seen at the Scottish War Memorials Project.

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Obituaries

Andrew Campbell has produced Fife Deaths from Newspapers 1822-1854 - a compilation of deaths recorded in local newspapers. Copies of this index are held by the Fife libraries and the Family History Societies.

Fife Deaths Abroad 1855-1900 - a compilation of overseas deaths recorded in Fife newspapers - has been produced by Andrew Campbell of Fife Family History Society. The Society have re-published it in their Publications Series, 29.

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Occupations

A list of Kirkcaldy shoemakers, 1718 - 1854, extracted from the Kirkcaldy Shoemakers' Accounts Book , held by Kirkcaldy Museum, has been published by the Fife Family History Society in Publication 13 - Trade Incorporation Records.

A list of Kirkcaldy wrights, 1753 - 1845, extracted from a list of members of the Kirkcaldy Wright Incorporation Benefit Society , held by Kirkcaldy Central Library, has been published by the Fife Family History Society in Publication 14 - Trade Incorporation Records.

Records of Kirkcaldy Burgh Police Officers are held at the Fife Council Archive Centre.

Sailors on board ships registered at Kirkcaldy in 1851 are listed on CD: Scotland South-East Seamen Crew Lists, 1851 available from Family History Indexes.

The parish is included in Andrew Campbell's compilation of Fife Shopkeepers and Traders 1820-1870 taken from newspapers and directories. It is available in most Fife reference libraries, in the libraries of the family history societies, and at the Manuscript Department of the Special Collections Department of St Andrews University Library. It is also available as Fife Traders and Shopkeepers on CD from Fife Family History Society.

There is a series of articles about many Fife family businesses in Fife Family History Society's Journal, New Series 10.

At the FifeCouncil Archive Centre, Markinch:

  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy Burgh records
    Craft Incorporations records, 1612-1792; Burgess roll, 1810-1965.
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

The relief of paupers after 1845 was carried out by the Parochial Board and later by the Parish Council. Their records are at the Fife Council Archive Centre. See Public Records below.

Peter Higginbotham's website has a lot of information about Kirkcaldy combination poorhouse.

Poorhouses - Scotland

Kirkcaldy Combination - Kirkcaldy & Dysart Poorhouse, Kinghorn,  re‑named the Abden home by 1939, the plans for this poorhouse were drawn up in 1849 by William Lambie Moffatt.

A description, photographs and map are included here

It has an impressive site on the cliff tops overlooking the Firth of Forth, though the position was very isolated.

From 1930, when it became a public assistance institution, it was known as Abden Home, and remained so known into the 1980s. It has since been converted into private flats.
[Sources: Scottish Record Office (now National Records of Scotland), plans, RHP 30864/1‑28.]

Records are held by Onfife.

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Population

YearPopulation 
17552296 
18013248 
18515719 
190114175 * boundary changed
195150519 * boundary changed

There is a page with census statistics from 1755 to 1961 here.

See also A Vision of Britain and Histpop for population statistics.

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Probate Records

Probate records are 'Confirmations' in Scotland.

Prior to 1824, wills, testaments & inventories of residents of Kirkcaldy may be found in either the St Andrews Commissariot (CC20) or the Edinburgh Commissariot (CC8) records. From 1824 to 1960, commissary business was conducted by the Sheriff Court of Fife at Cupar (SC20). From 1960, it has been conducted at Kirkcaldy (SC23) Sheriff Court.

Indexes and finding aids are given on the main Fife page.

Local sources worth searching for deeds include St Andrews Commissary Court, Cupar Sheriff Court and Kirkcaldy Burgh Register of Deeds.

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Public Records

Parochial Boards and their successors, Parish Councils, administered many local functions including poor relief.

At the Fife Council Archive Centre, Kirkcaldy:

  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy Parochial Board / Parish Council
    Minutes, 1843-1901
  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy and Dysart Parish Council
    Minutes, 1901-1930
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Schools

School Board records and / or school logbooks are held at the Fife Council Archive Centre. Some schools were in Dysart parish. Kirkcaldy records:

At the Fife Council Archive Centre, Kirkcaldy:

  • Dunnikier Primary School
    Log books, 1873-1947.
  • Dunnikier Infants School
    Log books, 1900-1956.
  • Kirkcaldy East School
    Log books, 1873-1926.
  • Fair Isle Primary School
    Log books, 1989-2000.
  • Kirkcaldy High School
    Log books, 1906-1936.
  • Kirkcaldy High School Elementary Departments
    Log books, 1904-1946.
  • Kirkcaldy High School Primary Department
    Log books, 1946-1947.
  • Kirkcaldy North Primary School
    Log books, 1907-1972; Admissions Registers, 1934-2001.
  • Viewforth Continuation School
    Log books, 1908-1938.
  • Kirkcaldy West Primary School
    Log books, 1873-1908.
  • Kirkcaldy West Infants School
    Log books, 1877-1930.
  • Kirkcaldy Burgh School Board
    Minutes, 1873-1919.
  • Kirkcaldy and Dysart School Board
    Minutes, 1910-1919.

Entries less than 50 years old may contain sensitive personal information and are not on open access. If you are a former pupil you are entitled to see your own entry. Please contact the Archivist for further details.

Education statistics for Fife schools in 1891-2 list the following board schools in the parish:

School BoardSchoolAccommodation for scholarsAverage attendance
Kirkcaldy (Burgh)Burgh School340236
East819790
Linktown, Philip's233229
Philip's228158
West930855
Kirkcaldy (Landward & Abbotshall)Chapel149106
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Statistics

"Statistical accounts" giving fascinating insights into the local topography and history, social and economic conditions, and even the daily lives of people, were written by the parish ministers in the 1790s and the 1840s. For more information see the main Fife pages

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Taxation

At the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh:

  • E326
    Assessed Taxes Schedules, 1748-1802
    Kirkcaldy Royal Burgh:
    • Window tax, May 1753-Apr 1798
    • Commutation tax, 1784-1798
    • Inhabited house tax, 1778-1798
    • Shop tax, 1787-1788
    • Female servant tax, 1785-1792

The hearth tax, clock & watch tax, male servants tax, female servants tax, and farm horse tax are all on ScotlandsPlaces.

See also the Early Taxation Records page.

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Town Records

Towns were usually referred to as Burghs in Scotland.

At the National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh:

  • B/41
    Kirkcaldy Burgh Records
    Kirkcaldy burgh records, 1595-1927, including: Protocol book, 1679 (inc sasines, 1539-1607); Register of sasines, 1650-1927; Register of sasines minutes, 1825-1927; Presentment books, 1866-1927; Indexes to register of sasines, 1595-1927; Register of deeds, 1673-1871.

At the Fife Council Archive Centre, Kirkcaldy:

  • B/Kdy
    Kirkcaldy Burgh records
    Town council minutes, 1663-1793, 1843-1975; Burgh court minute books, 1567-1913 (with gaps); Juvenile court and police court records, 1932-1970; Burgh Trustees minutes and accounts, 1811-1872; Police Commissioners minutes, 1873-1899; Harbour Commission minutes, 1829-1904; Kirkcaldy and Dysart Water Commission minutes, 1867-1930; Local Authority minutes and letter books, 1865-1876; Abbotshall Parochial Board minutes and letter books, 1846-1901; Kirkcaldy Parochial Board / Parish Council minutes, 1843-1901; Kirkcaldy and Dysart Parish Council minutes, 1901-1930; Dean of Guild court minute book, 1878-1889 and registers, 1938-1964; Licensing court registers, 1765-1975 (with gaps); Craft Incorporations records, 1612-1792; Burgess roll, 1810-1965; accounts, 1698-1974 (with gaps); Kirkcaldy Burgh valuation rolls, 1904-1958.

On the Records pages of the Fife Family History Society website there is an index to Kirkcaldy Burgh Register of Deeds (1673-1871).