Burntisland - Old Photographs

Old Photographs

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Broadly, 'Old Photos' (this page) are pre-1985, and 'Recent Photos' are 1985 on.

The photos are grouped in the following categories -

School Photos People Streets & Buildings

Beach, Links & Views Docks, Harbour & Ships Miscellaneous

To view a photograph below,click on the link and the picture will load. I have tried to strike a balance between fast loading and picture quality, and most of them should load fairly quickly. When you've viewed a picture, please use your 'Back' button to return to this page. There are also a large number of old photographs on other pages of this web site.

Many thanks to everyone who sent or gave me copies of their old photos and postcards. They are identified below by their full names or initials, and they are Stuart Alexander (SA); the late Bob Angles (BA); John Angles (JA); David Barrand (DB); Robert Bett (RB); Allan Brown (AB); collection of the late Annie Christie, courtesy of Clark Christie and Chic Hepburn (CC/CH); Chris Claydon (CCl); David Robertson Collin (DRC); Brian Dewar (BD); Margaret Douglas (MD1); Murray Duncan (MD2); the late James Ewan (JE); Neil Ewan (NE); Michael & Jennifer Griffiths Edwards (MJGE); Alex Ferguson (AF); Janet Henderson (JH); Susan Jarvis (SJ); George Johnston (GJ); Jim Joyce (JJ); Charles Kilgour (CK); Faye Lane (née Brand) (FL); Keddie Law (KL); Dave Lawson (DL); Helen MacDonald (HM); Gillian Macgregor (GM); Theresa McDougall (TM); Tom Plummer (TP); Isabelle Procter (IP); Tom Reid (TR); Denise Richmond (DR); Pablo Romero (PR); Eric Scotland (ES); Alan Smart (AS); Grant Staines (GS); Jimmy Stuart (JS); Brenda Tait (BT); David Tod (DT); Duncan Wardle (DW); Les White (LW); Brian Whitelaw (BW); Hamish Williamson (HW); Eric Wolske (EW); and David Young (DY). The photos which are not attributed are my own. Thanks also to John Burnett for helpful information.

School Photos The Friends Reunited site also has a good collection of Burntisland school photos (both Primary and Secondary).
With the school photos, I have used the descriptions as supplied by the people who were kind enough to send me the photos, but these can be a little confusing to those without personal knowledge of the schools. I am therefore providing the following brief historical notes. Burntisland School Board, established in 1873, erected the first building on the Ferguson Place site. It opened in 1876. A second building was added in 1901, when Burntisland Higher Grade School (a basic secondary school) was launched. A third building was added at the rear of the site in 1928. The 1901 building (which is the eastern building facing Ferguson Place) and the 1928 building still exist in their original form. The 1876 building was seriously damaged by fire in 1913. It was speedily rebuilt, and significantly improved at the same time. In due course the two schools on the campus became the primary and secondary departments of Burntisland Junior Secondary School. Attendance at the secondary department was decided on the basis of performance at the Qualifying Examination (equivalent to the Eleven Plus) in Primary 7. Those who passed went on to Kirkcaldy High School, while those who were unsuccessful remained at Burntisland Junior Secondary School, moving from the primary to the secondary department. The opening of the new Balwearie Junior Secondary School in Kirkcaldy in 1964 led to the closure of the secondary department of Burntisland Junior Secondary School in that year. The primary department of Burntisland Junior Secondary School then became Burntisland Primary School. From 1964, those secondary pupils who would in the past have attended Burntisland Junior Secondary School went to Balwearie Junior Secondary School, with the others continuing to go to Kirkcaldy High School. In 1972, Balwearie High School opened as a fully comprehensive secondary school, and from that date it took almost all Burntisland secondary pupils (but not those who were already attending Kirkcaldy High School). St Marie's RC Primary School and St Andrew's RC High School, both in Kirkcaldy, were (and continue to be) options for Roman Catholic pupils. The 1901, 1913 and 1928 buildings are still in use. It is not clear how much of the 1876 building was retained in the 1913 redevelopment, but the western single storey parts between the janitor's house and the main building appear to be much the same as they were before the fire. A new nursery school has recently been opened on the campus. At the time of writing (November 2008), a proposed £3m redevelopment of the other school buildings has been put on hold, pending an examination of the possibility of building a completely new school. There was also a separate Episcopal School in Burntisland, latterly housed in the former Burgh School building at Mount Pleasant. It was a primary school, with the pupils' subsequent secondary education being as described above. As the Episcopal School building latterly had spare capacity, it was sometimes used to house overflow classes from Burntisland Junior Secondary School. The Episcopal School closed in 1962, with the pupils transferring to the school at Ferguson Place. The building at Mount Pleasant was demolished around 1971.
Burntisland Primary School pupils (early to mid 1930s) From Duncan Wardle, with notes.		Burntisland Junior Secondary School (Primary Department pupils, about 1949) From Allan Brown.
Burntisland Primary 1a pupils (1950-51) From George Johnston and Keddie Law, with names.		Burntisland Primary 1b pupils (1950-51) From George Johnston and Keddie Law, with names.
Burntisland Primary 7a pupils (1956-57) From Alan Smart and Keddie Law; with names.		Burntisland Primary 7b pupils (1956-57) From George Johnston and Keddie Law, with names.
Burntisland Junior Secondary School (1951-52) 1 From Grant Staines, who is back row, extreme right.		Burntisland Junior Secondary School (1957-58) From Jim Joyce; with names.
Burntisland Junior Secondary School (1951-52) 2 From Eric Scotland; with names.		Burntisland Secondary School pupils (about 1924-25) Original from Isabelle Procter with notes; edited version by Keddie Law.
Burntisland Episcopal School pupils (about 1955) 1 From Gillian Macgregor.		Burntisland Secondary School pupils (1950) From Jimmy Stuart, Oshawa, Canada; with names.
Burntisland Episcopal School pupils (about 1955) 2 From Susan Jarvis (née Webster).		Burntisland Primary School pupils (about 1964-66) From Murray Duncan; his brother David is front row, extreme left.
Burntisland Primary School pupils (about 1944-45) From Hamish Williamson, who is front row, extreme left.		Burntisland Primary School pupils (1972) From Brenda Tait; taken 9 June 1972; with names.
Burntisland Primary School pupils (1970) From Brenda Tait; taken 8 June 1970; with names.		Burntisland Secondary School (about 1947) From Neil and James Ewan.
Dollar Road school building A rare photo of the old infant and primary school building in Dollar Road. TM.		Burntisland Primary School pupils (about 1953-54) FL.
Dollar Road pupils (1970-71) From Robert Bett,		Burntisland Primary School pupils (about 1966) From Charles Kilgour; with names.
Burntisland Primary School girls (about 1949), plus two snapshots With Margot Morrison, her school class, and friends. EW.		Infant School pupils, Dollar Road (1961) From Brian Whitelaw, who is middle row, second from the right. BW.

Burntisland School c1896 Headmaster and staff.		Burntisland School c1900 Headmaster and Janitor.
Burntisland School c1905 1 Headmaster and Pupil Teachers.		Burntisland School c1905 2 Headmaster and pupils in the new Higher Grade School science lab.
Burntisland School c1901 First Assistant Teacher Nellie Campbell with her class.

People
Burntisland Co-op staff, horses and wagons A collection of eight old photos with notes by Alex Ferguson. AF.		Staff of Robertson's Kirkton Stores c1954-55 With notes by Les White and comments by Stuart Alexander and George Page White. LW.
George Barrand with the Co-op Bakery horse and van Probably early 1950s. From George's son, David, who lives in Australia. DB.		The cast of "Jan of Windmill Land" Probably outside the Music Hall. 1929. JH. With notes by Wendy Hurley.
Motor cycling with the Binn House in the background (1923) The Aitken family, who owned a confectionery shop in the High Street. KL.		Burntisland Pipe Band 1 The Pipe Band in Rossend Terrace; date unknown. DL.
The summer fair Here featuring Buffalo Bill Kayes. Photo by Andrew Young.		Burntisland Pipe Band 2 The Pipe Band in Rossend Terrace; date unknown. DL.
The Robertsons on the promenade (c1904) DRC.		Burntisland Pipe Band 3 KL.
Crowning of the Summer Queen (about 1957) SJ.		Burntisland Pipe Band 4 Marching along Kinghorn Road. KL.
Street parade (early 1950s) 1 Isa Duncan's Dancing Troupe. FL.		Burntisland Pipe Band 5 Photographed in Cowdenbeath. KL.
Street parade (early 1950s) 2 Cadets' float. FL.		A public proclamation by the Provost Provost Ferguson and the Town Councillors of c1904.
Street parade (early 1950s) 3 Float. FL.		Dick Crescent & Rossend Avenue post war celebrations 1 BA and JA.
Street parade (early 1950s) 4 Tom Brand, Fishmonger. FL.		Dick Crescent & Rossend Avenue post war celebrations 2 With notes by Stuart Alexander. SA.
Inside the aluminium works CC/CH.		Burntisland Cricket Club in 1909 BD.
British Aluminium Company workers KL.		G. Mitchell, notable Burntisland cricketer With notes by Keddie Law. KL.
Burntisland laundry ladies and van CC/CH.		The King's visit to Burntisland (c1950-51) With notes by Allan Brown. AB.
Crowning of the Summer Queen, early 1960s 12 snapshots. CCl.

Streets and Buildings
The Port (circa 1906) Good detail of the Porte Buildings and those opposite. KL.		The Co-op buildings in the High Street Probably mid to late 1960s. With notes by Keddie Law. KL.
Burntisland High Street (probably 1960s) Four snapshots from Tom Plummer's collection.		Craigholm Crescent and Links Posted in 1905 to Mrs Decker, Paarl, Cape Colony. IP.
The High Street and Harbour Place KL.		Craigholm Crescent Posted in 1908. The Crescent is now part of Kinghorn Road. HM.
Harbour Place 1 A good view of the buildings and adjacent railway sidings. KL.		Buccleuch Place and Craigholm Crescent Now part of Kinghorn Road. KL.
Harbour Place 2 Harbour Place with the west end of the High Street in the background.		Cromwell Road c1913 KL.
The west end of the High Street HM.		Bentfield c1915 Now part of Kinghorn Road. KL.
The High Street and public library Posted in May 1907, 4 months before the library opening. HM.		The East Porte 1 Taken c1960. MD1.
The High Street DT.		The East Porte 2 The war memorial can be seen to the left of the lamp standard.
The old swimming pool 1 Missed by many, but now replaced by the Beacon Centre. KL.		The East Porte 3 Posted in 1936. Taken from just inside the entrance to the Links. HM.
The old swimming pool 2 MD1.		Robertson's boot and shoe shop Now The Cleaning Centre in the High Street. DRC.
The old swimming pool 3 Taken in 1985. With comments by Tom Reid. TR.		The Binn Hill and Binn House The Binn House was demolished in the early 1970s. DT.
The old swimming pool 4 With notes by Keddie Law. KL.		The Sea Mill The old mill was operated by tidal waters. KL.
Rossend Castle entrance DT.		The Porte junction and Cromwell Road BD.
Rossend Castle 1 DT.		Cowdenbeath Road and surroundings c1964 With notes by Keddie Law. KL.
Rossend Castle 2 KL.		A cottage at Newbigging Farm Probably early 20th century. DY.
Rossend Castle 3 BD.		Ferguson Place KL.
The Parish Church DT.		Dick Terrace Early 20th century. Now part of Aberdour Road. MJGE.
James Park With notes by Keddie Law. KL.

The Beach, Links, and Other Views
The Toll Park Taken in 1968. KL.		Burntisland beach 1 MD1.
View from the Binn 1 Taken in 1968. With notes by Keddie Law. KL.		Burntisland beach 2 DT.
View from the Binn 2 Taken in 1968. KL.		Burntisland beach 3 Plenty of rowing boats to choose from!
The Links 1 MD1, with notes by KL.		Burntisland beach 4 DT.
The Links 2 Posted in 1907. IP.		The beach tearoom and baths The tearoom is now a private house. DT.
The Links 3 Taken in 1964. KL.		The Lammerlaws DT.
The Links 4 Probably early 20th century. KL.		The Putting Green 1 Postmarked 1958. KL.
The Links and East Porte Taken c1964. KL.		The Putting Green 2 Also showing Kinghorn Road, Craigkennochie Terrace, and the Erskine Church. KL.
Burntisland from the golf course Posted in 1957. KL.		The beach and pleasure boats c1961 With notes by Keddie Law. KL.
The Binn and the Beach Taken in 1985. With comments by Tom Reid. TR.		Golfers on the Links and Craigkennochie Terrace With notes on golf by Keddie Law. KL.
Burntisland from the Lammerlaws BD.		Fishing village near Lammerlaws With notes by Keddie Law.

Docks, Harbour and Ships
The M.V. Sincerity in the East Dock One of the bauxite ships, taken by First Officer Pablo Romero in 1965. PR.		Burntisland docks 1
The West Dock 1		Burntisland docks 2 Taken c1984. With notes by Derek Veale. KL.
The West Dock 2 KL.		Burntisland docks 3 (with other features) An aerial view (probably c1984) with notes by Keddie Law. KL.
The West Dock 3 The West Dock, c1910. KL.		The P.S. Fair Maid Excursion steamer which served Burntisland from 1927. DR.
The S.S. William Muir Burntisland/Granton passenger ferry. With notes by Keddie Law. KL.

Miscellaneous
Bowling Green and Tennis Court Posted in 1911 to Miss Maggie Paterson, 16 Parliament Square, Newhaven. IP.		View of the Kirkton Posted in 1910 to Miss Maggie Paterson, 16 Parliament Square, Newhaven. IP.
Doyle's Holiday Camp at Kingswood Later known as Linwell Chalets. Five photos from the Doyle era (1950s/1960s). TM.		The old cricket ground The Binn House is also in the picture. MD1.
The British Aluminium Works, circa 1938 With notes on the aluminium works by Keddie Law. KL.		A steam hauled train on the embankment Probably dating from the 1950s.
A British Aluminium Company locomotive With Willie Wishart, Micheal McDonagh and Willie Law. KL.		An old postcard with 5 views High Street, Castle gateway, beach, West Haugh, docks. KL.
The British Aluminium factory and a freight train Probably dating from the 1960s.		The approach to the old station KL.

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