Template:Infobox Scotland place with map
Kirkcaldy (IPA pronunciation: [kɪr'kɑdi]) is the largest town in Fife, Scotland. The population of the town according to the 2001 Census stands at 46,912.[1]. Kirkcaldy is known as The Lang Toun (Long Town) in Scots. The name 'The Lang Toun' refered to Kirkcaldy's existence built around the esplanade overlooking the sea. The town has since developed extensively right up to Chapel and all the way down to Southerton and Seafield Towers. The name Kirkcaldy is now generally believed to derive from the Welsh words caer, meaning fort, and caled, meaning hard, and the Gaelic word dun, also meaning fort [2], hence the modern Gaelic Cathair Challdainn. Other theories involving the Scots word kirk meaning church and the Culdees are less favoured now.
The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. The former burghs of Dysart, Linktown and Pathhead, and the villages of Sinclairtown and Gallatown are now incorporated into Kirkcaldy.
Kirkcaldy's size reflects its historical importance as the largest east coast settlement between Edinburgh and Dundee, on a sheltered Firth of Forth, giving it for many years a very large fishing fleet, with a hinterland of some of Scotland's richest farmland and mineral wealth in coal. Kirkcaldy Harbour has since been boarded up with a small housing development with flats being built on the former site as well. The last ship to enter the harbour was in 1991. The Harbour Master's House had to be demolished following a fatal fire which destroyed the building two years ago.[citation needed]
Kirkcaldy was famous throughout much of the 19th and 20th Centuries for linoleum manufacturing, notably Nairns, linked with Dundee jute imports; linen produced from local flax; and for its annual week-long Links Market - one of Europe's longest street fairs - that celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2004. The town still has one of the longest developed sea-fronts in Europe, overlooking the Firth of Forth. In the 17th century it boasted one of the earliest Latvian consulates, reflecting centuries of trade with Scandinavia, the Baltic States and The Netherlands.
History
It was gifted to the monks of Dunfermline Abbey in 1364, on condition of a mutual protection pact against sea-raiders, who had already ravaged the East Neuk. The town's status as a royal burgh was confirmed by Charles I (1625-49) in 1644. Kirkcaldy grew up around its harbour near the mouth of the East Burn and expanded rapidly in the 19th century with the development of textile, linoleum and coal industries.
It was the administrative centre of Kirkcaldy District from 1975 to 1996.
Kirkcaldy town centre was designated a conservation area in 1980 and amongst many interesting buildings are the Old Kirk (Old Parish Church) with its late medieval tower, 15th-century Ravenscraig Castle, 17th-century Sailor's Walk, Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery (1925), the Adam Smith Centre (1894-99), the Nordic style Town House designed in 1937 by David Carr, Dunnikier House (built in the 1790s and now a hotel), Balwearie Community School dating from the 1960s, and St Brycedale Church (1877-81) which rises to 60 m (200 feet) and takes its name from Kirkcaldy's patron saint.
Famous people
In addition to the "Father of Modern Economics" Adam Smith (1723-90), the "Demarcator of Standard Time" (Universal Standard Time) Sandford Fleming (1827-1915), and one of Scotland's most famous architects, Robert Adam (1728-92), Kirkcaldy has been the birthplace of a great many famous sons and daughters.
Reformation figures Henry Balnaves and George Gillespie both hailed from the town as did, in more recent times, Frederick Coutts, 8th General of the Salvation Army. John Philip, a missionary to South Africa was born in Kirkcaldy in 1775. In politics, Kirkcaldy counts sixth Governor-General of Australia, Ronald Munro-Ferguson and David Steel, the former leader of the Liberal Party, among its sons. The current British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown (1951-), although born in Glasgow, moved to Kirkcaldy when he was three years old[3], and is the present UK Parliamentary Constituency's MP. In sport, twice World darts champion Jocky Wilson was born in the town and lives in the Lauder Road area. Also, racing driver Peter Dumbreck was born and grew up in the Dysart area. From popular culture, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman comes from Kirkcaldy.
Val McDermid, journalist and author (titles include: Wire in the Blood and Distant Echo) was born and raised in Kirkcaldy, though her books' liner notes refer only to a 'small Scottish mining town'. Child author Marjorie Fleming ('Pet Marjorie') (1803-1811) was born, lived and died in Kirkcaldy.
Amateur phenologist David Grisenthwaite lives in the area.
Colin Cameron, a professional footballer and Scottish internationalist was also born in the Linktown area of Kirkcaldy, starting his career with Raith Rovers F.C..
Sport
The local senior football team in the town is Raith Rovers F.C. who play at Stark's Park. The club formed in 1883. They went full time in 1990 under then manager Frank Connor, and managed to reach the Scottish Premier League in both the 1992-1993 season and again from 1995-1997. They also won a shock 6-5 result on penalties over Celtic at the 1994 Coca Cola League Cup. In the subsequent UEFA cup run, Bayern Munich visited Stark's Park and although the Rovers lost this leg 0-2 they famously but briefly took a 1-0 lead in the return match (finally losing 4-1 on aggregate). Since the Rovers, like many other similar teams, were still operating an all-standing ground they could not comply with government policy formulated in the light of the Taylor Report of 1990. Raith by winning the Coca Cola Cup and playing in the UEFA cup prompted the money needed to build Stark's Park as an all-seater ground with a North and a South stand. It was ready for the 1995/1996 season, and Bayern Munich were invited to play in the first match in the redeveloped ground; a narrow win ensured victory for the Rovers. The ground currently holds just over 10 000. Raith had decided to move to Chapel Level with the then proposed Retail Park, since the ground had no room to expand out either direction especially on the east end known as the Railway Stand, but it was denied. After they were relegated from the top division, they also struggled to succeed in the First Division. In 2002/2003 they dropped to the Second Division for the first time since 1987. They did return to the First but languished at the bottom for the whole season. They are currently playing in the Second Division, striving for promotion. Raith also operate an under 19s team.
Kirkcaldy has a local junior side, known as Kirkcaldy YM (Young Men) who play in the Fife League.
Kirkcaldy also has an active rugby team, Kirkcaldy RFC, who currently play in the BT Premiership 3 league from their small ground situated in the Beveridge Park. They have managed to gain promotion from Premiership 3 as leaders at the end of the 1996/1997 season and promoted to Premiership 1 in 1999, playing the top rugby sides such as Boroughmuir, Watsonians, Glasgow Hawks, Currie and Hawick. Their player Matthew Harvey has had several appearances for Scotland's under 21s.
The oldest existing ice hockey team in the United Kingdom, the Fife Flyers, are based in the town, playing at the Fife Ice Arena on Rosslyn Street. They played in the now defunct British National League alongside teams in Guildford, Milton Keynes, Slough, Dundee and Paisley. In 2005, they had to find another league after the British National League was disbanded. They are scheduled to move from their current venue when the new Ice Arena is built in Kirkcaldy.
Golf Courses
Kirkcaldy has two golf courses. Kirkcaldy Golf Club commonly known as Balwearie course was established in 1904 and originally designed by Old Tom Morris. It is an 18-hole course in 150-acres of parkland. The course is maintained on a regular basis, has a clubhouse which serves meals, a bar with alcoholic beverages and a small golf shop. There is also a small putting green for practise prior to the first hole.
Dunnikier Park Golf Course opened in 1963 as an 18 hole parkland course to the north of the town. It is adjacent to Dunnikier House Hotel. The course is one of few that is owned by Fife Council.
Education
Further Education
Adam Smith College which was formed in August 2005 following the combining of Fife College and Glenrothes College has two main campuses in Kirkcaldy, the main one being the St. Brycedale Campus and the other known as Nairn Campus. They provide training and education for over 15,000 people. Actors Ewan McGregor, Dougray Scott and Shirley Henderson, DJ Edith Bowman and the artist Jack Vettriano are some of the famous people that have attended the College.
The University of Dundee School of Nursing and Midwifery has a campus in Kirkcaldy, near the Railway Station.
High Schools
Balwearie High School
Balwearie located on Balwearie Gardens originally opened in 1964 as a junior secondary for those who did not pass their eleven plus exam. The School became comprehensive in 1974. The 'Wizard of Balwearie', Michael Scot, is associated in local tradition with a castle in the countryside to the west of the school. Balwearie has become and remains one of the biggest High Schools in Scotland with an intake of around 1600 pupils, it is the 3rd biggest in Fife and 8th biggest in Scotland[citation needed]. The School even operates an adjacent DSE department on the top car park. The last few years has seen the school strive to reduce its large intake of pupils, since the buildings are not capable enough to hold them all[citation needed]. The catchment areas are: Kirkcaldy West, Dunnikier, Burntisland, Kinghorn and Strathallan.
Kirkcaldy High School
Kirkcaldy is located on Dunnikier Way. Kirkcaldy was the main high school for pupils that were able to pass their eleven plus exam. Kirkcaldy High School was extended and the new buildings opened in 1993. The High School also operated a junior building, for junior pupils in Templehall, until the building was disused. The catchment areas are: Capshard, Torbain, Valley, Cardenden, Fair Isle and Dunearn (which used to be spilt between Kirkcaldy and Balwearie, depending on which side of the hill you lived, is now entirely catchment area for Kirkcaldy because of Balwearie's focus on Strathallen and the downgrading of pupil numbers entering the School).
St Andrews R C High School
St Andrews is located on Overton Road, off Overton Roundabout on Dunnikier Way. The catchment areas are: St Maries R C, St Pauls R C (Glenrothes).
Viewforth High School
Viewforth is located on Loughborough Road. The catchment areas are: Pathhead, Kirkcaldy North, Sinclairtown and Dysart. Viewforth was founded in the 1910s and has been an important part of the local community of East Kirkcaldy since then. There were however plans to replace the school two years ago as the current buildings are no longer suitable for teaching. Viewforth has been viewed by some[citation needed] as an alternative secondary in comparison to Balwearie and Kirkcaldy, where classes are small and pupils can have better relations with their studies and teachers.
Primary Schools
- Capshard
- Dunearn
- Dunnikier
- Dysart
- Fair Isle
- Kirkcaldy North
- Kirkcaldy West
- Pathhead
- Strathallan (opened in January 2007, it is the newest addition in Kirkcaldy)
- Sinclairtown
- St Maries R C
- Torbain
- Valley
Shopping and Leisure
Kirkcaldy Town Centre
The Mercat Shopping Centre (from the Scots for market and commonly known as just The Mercat) opened in 1973 and is located in the town centre. A major extension was completed in 1986. The old roof was torn out and replaced by a white panel in 1998 to bring the centre up to date, also including a new logo which comprised of two seagulls, one red and one blue merging with red for The Mercat and blue for Shopping Centre.
Store units in the Mercat include Marks and Spencer, BHS, Woolworths, TKMaxx, MK one, BB's Coffee and Muffins, Wimpy, Greggs, The Present Shop, The Works, HMV, Game and Superdrug. The main entrance on the High Street has a small shopping precinct surrounding the centre including Argos and the adjacent Officers Club. The centre also has its own car park, built in 1986, located off the esplanade and opposite Tolbooth Street, which has a hairdresser and the Green Parrot Cafe.
Kirkcaldy's High Street became partly pedestrianised in 1991. Main stores include WHSmith, two branches of Next, Alliance and Leicester, New Look, Desire by Debenhams, Waterstones, Bank of Scotland Halifax and McDonalds. Whytehouse Avenue (where the A listed Whyte's of Kirkcaldy house is located behind the shops) contains a few local stores, likewise Whytescauseway with One Move estate agent at the corner. Kirk Wynd has the Fife Free Press offices, a Wetherspoons Pub (The Robert Nairn) and a Pancake Place. All these streets are close to the main bus station.
Kirkcaldy also has another small shopping centre on Hill Street, known as The Postings and dominated by Kirkcaldy's sole Tesco store. The Postings also leads out on the stances for Kirkcaldy's bus station.
From a side exit of the Mercat, access is gained to the main entrance of the swimming pool and then via a small walkway to the Thistle Street Car Park (currently being considered for demolition for redevelopment of the site).
Kirkcaldy's swimming pool opened in 1972. Facilities include a small pool for infants, a medium-sized pool and a large pool with a diving board. There is also a small cafe. A new swimming pool in nearby Burntisland called The Beacon opened in 1997 on Lammerlaws Road. Since then, the Burntisland pool has become more popular than the one in Kirkcaldy.
There is much talk about demolition and replacement of the swimming pool by one with upgraded facilities, although nothing is currently planned.
Kirkcaldy Town Centre Future
There have been many plans to develop the neglected east of Kirkcaldy High Street, both suffering from a lack of shops and also out of the way of the main shopping area.
A plan was lodged to build a new mall along the waterfront across the Esplanade and 70m out into the Firth of Forth, extending from the West End to the harbour [4][5]. This application was refused planning permission in 2006 for a number of reasons such as: it was out of context and character with the existing townscape, poor pedestrian linkages would not have allowed the development to complement the existing centre and the applicants failed to demonstrate that the environmental impacts of the development were acceptable.[6].
The West End High Street area has, however, had new paving, litter bins and some shop units painted vibrant colours, such as orange and turquoise. This was completed in February/March 2005.
Retail Park
Kirkcaldy has been home to Fife Central Retail Park (now just known as Central) since J Sainsbury's and McDonalds, the first two tenants, opened their doors in April 1997. The land was previously occupied by Chapel Farm.
The Retail Park is situated off the (A92), and lies off Chapel Roundabout, built specifically for the centre. The largest retail park in Fife, shops include a Sainsbury's supermarket, McDonalds Drive-Thru, KFC, Pizza Hut, Boots, Currys, Comet, Next and Homebase. The retail park has become more successful than originally foreseen, leading to traffic congestion.[citation needed]
Still in the planning stages, a new road will be built to connect the Retail Park with the new housing estates of Rowanbrae and Hollybrae (built at the bottom end of the farm). Plans to add more units to the park have been lodged. These are expected to mainly attract outlets which stock bulky items less suited to the town centre. A new B & Q store and Tesco Extra have been cited. Several units will need to be demolished for this to happen.
There was also a plan to build another retail park behind the Hospital on part of the site of the former Nairn's factory on Nairn Street. This would have been close to where the new Victoria Gate housing development is now sited. The park, had it gone ahead, would have been anchored by Morrisons, but the plan failed to appeal, especially since it could take trade away from their Glenrothes branch on Flemington Road.
The Kirkcaldy development plan may see a second retail park in the town in the future, without the backing of Fife Council.
Proposed Leisure Park
Kirkcaldy may soon be home to a leisure centre on Haig Park at the back of a Caravan Park on Dunnikier Way. There is a process going on at the moment - digging out coal in the area - before the building work will commence. The centre is scheduled, when open, to contain a new swimming pool, cinema, bowling alley and at least two restaurants.
Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery
The Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery is located on War Memorial Gardens, behind the main Railway Station, and was donated to the town in 1928 by John Nairn the linoleum magnate. The art gallery contains many famous paintings by the Glasgow Boys and by Scottish Colourists such as Samuel Peploe and John Duncan Fergusson.
Kirkcaldy Central Library
The Central Library is housed in the same building as the Museum and Art Gallery. It has a children's section, adult's section and a reference library. There is also a portrait of John Nairn, who gifted the library to the town, located in the adult's section.
Proposed Move
There was a plan to move the Kirkcaldy Central Library which had, some say[7], outgrown the available space in the building. If this had gone ahead the Museum and Art Gallery was to have expanded in to the space thus vacated. One potential new ___location was a derelict piece of land upon which a part of the Nairn's factory on Nairn Street once stood. Nothing has come of this plan as yet.
Adam Smith Theatre
Kirkcaldy's local theatre, the Adam Smith Theatre is located on Bennochy Road. Built in 1902, it was originally known as the Adam Smith Halls. In 1973 it underwent a major redevelopment, radically altering the internal layout. It is often referred to locally as the Adam Smith Centre.
Over the years, it has hosted regular appearances of the Birmingham Stage Company; annual Christmas Pantomimes; plays and stand-up comedians, such as Tony Robinson's 'I have a cunning plan' tour, Glasgow based Billy Connolly, Tommy Cooper and Jim Davidson. The Theatre is also the home to KADS (Kirkcaldy Amature Dramatic Society) who perform musicals every year. Their previous productions have been Chess and Cabaret.
Other famous names who appeared on the stage include the late Leslie Crowther, Barbara Dickson, Edinburgh King's Theatre Dame Allan Stewart and Des O'Connor.
The theatre is the main Kirkcaldy venue in the annual Fife Festival of Music, held in late January and early February. The aim is to encourage all types of musicianship, inviting participation of local violinists, singers, school choirs and instrumental groups.
Many workshops for adults and children are held, including acting, aerobics and yoga. It is also a popular venue for Scottish Slimmers.
In recent years, fewer productions have come here and it has established itself as more of a general entertainment facility, including use of the main auditorium as the town's only cinema facility.
Public parks
The most well-known public park in Kirkcaldy is Beveridge Park, which was built as a tribute to the late wife of Michael Beveridge. Beveridge Park operates a boating ride, a small skateboard park, bowling green and crazy golf. It is also a place people use for dog walking.
Ravencraig Park and Castle is located in Dysart with good access to Dysart Habour.
Dunnikier Park is located within the vicinity of Dunnikier House Hotel.
Kirkcaldy railway station
Kirkcaldy railway station is located on Forth Avenue, close to the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Forth Avenue Industrial Estate.
There are two main entrances into the station, either by the side entrance at the end of the road by Kirkcaldy Library and Art Gallery or the main entrance avoiding the station building on Forth Avenue. Passengers use a tunnel to move between both platforms.
This existing station has resided here since 1987, since a fire destroyed the original building. There also used to be other stations located in Dysart and Sinclairtown.
The station had until recently, a dilemma concerning the availability of enough car parking spaces. A large piece of overgrown and neglected grassy field was developed into a new car park extension with clear daylight fluorescent lighting. The new car park opened in November 2006, but can only be accessed by the Forth Avenue main entrance.
Sinclairtown Station possible reopening
There has been a consideration in the last five years to reopen Sinclairtown Station and the branch line, however it remains to be seen, either now or in the future when it will occur.
Kirkcaldy Town Hall
Kirkcaldy has a town hall located on Hunter Street with a distinct green copper spire with a clock face. The building showcases many European country flags on the exterior, which include the German, Swiss, Swedish, St Andrews Cross or Saltire (Scottish Flag) and the Union Jack. There was a slight accident during the New Year storms of 2007 when the weather vane was in danger of falling off, leaving the building unsafe for days.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court
Kirkcaldy has a sheriff court for the whole of the Kirkcaldy district area (including Glenrothes). The court is situated at the top of Whytescauseway.
Forth Park Hospital
Forth Park is the current maternity hospital in Kirkcaldy, outwith the Victoria Hospital. Forth Park is situated at the corner of Bennochy Road/Forth Park Avenue at the Bennochy Road/Hendry Road roundabout.
Forth Park which has had a presence in Kirkcaldy for a long time, will close in 2010, when the new Victoria Maternity development will open.
Victoria Hospital
Kirkcaldy is home to Victoria Hospital on Hayfield Road, lying next to what is now the Victoria Gate Housing Development, along from Hayfield Industrial Estate. The Hospital also operates Whytesman's Brae, on the other side, which is primarily catering for the elderly.
The Hospital has been a vital part of Kirkcaldy's history; some parts still retain their 60s office block style. The Hospital caters for Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Levenmouth areas.
There has been recently a shortage and demand for more car parking spaces. An adjacent empty field is being developed for additional car parking.
The hospital also nearly lost its A & E Department, where services on top were also going to be downgraded and moved to Queen Margaret in Dunfermline. The town has managed to safeguard the hospital, including A & E which was saved from closure, to become the main hospital for Fife.
The hospital also has a Maggie's Centre for cancer sufferers, designed by Zaha Hadid, her only completed building to date in the United Kingdom.
The hospital is in the process of a major extension of a new wing and maternity unit, which is due to start soon, which will include an emergency care centre, maternity unit, critical care, coronary care, an ultrasound scanner and 11 new operating theatres. This is expected to be completed at the beginning of next decade (2010).
Media
Kirkcaldy has a weekly newspaper, known as The Fife Free Press, which is published every Thursday.
Kirkcaldy also a local supplement which is delivered through the letterboxes, known as Fife Herald and Post.
Victoria Hospital, even has its own radio station broadcasting throughout the main building, Whyteman's Brae and the hospice, known as Classic VRN, which since 2002, has been on round the clock.
The local radio station for the Kirkcaldy Area is Kingdom FM, operating in 98.2 and 97.1 frequencies, from the small village of Markinch on the North of Glenrothes which started in 1998.
Forth FM from Edinburgh covers the South Fife area as well and was the main radio station, prior to Kingdom FM.
Politics & Regional Information
Political subdivisions
From 1975 Kirkcaldy gave its name to a local government district in the Fife region of Scotland. Since 1996 it has been included in the Fife unitary area. (See: Subdivisions of Scotland)
Constituencies
There is a Kirkcaldy constituency of the Scottish Parliament. Kirkcaldy is now part of the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency of the UK Parliament in 2005, which replaced the old Kirkcaldy constituency.
The current Kirkcaldy MSP is Marilyn Livingstone for the Labour Party, serving from 1999, the year of the birth of the Scottish Parliament.
The current Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP is Gordon Brown serving from 2005. Dr Lewis Moonie formerly held the seat for eighteen years, before becoming a life peer in the House of Lords.
Fife Constabulary
The police station in Kirkcaldy, built in the same style as the nearby Adam Smith Theatre and older buildings of the Adam Smith College, is near the centre of town situated on St. Brycedale Avenue.
Twin towns
Kirkcaldy is twinned with Ingolstadt, Germany. Ingolstadt is an industrial town in Bavaria, Germany with a population of 121,000; it is the home of the Audi Car Plant.
Religion
Kirkcaldy has a large number of churches, the oldest, the Old Parish Church, dating back to the late 16th Century. The larger church next door (on the other side of Kirk Wynd), St. Brycedale Church, now known as St Bryce's Kirk was opened in 1881. St. Bryce himself was at one time Bishop of Tours, in France, and it is thought that the town of Falkirk owes its name to him, being derived by way of Gaelic and Anglo-saxon from Eglwys Brioc (church of Bryce), Bryce having travelled to Central Scotland in the early 5th Century. [8]
Churches
| Name | Address | Postcode |
|---|---|---|
| Abbotshall Church | Abbotshall Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5PH |
| Kirkcaldy Old Kirk (Old Parish Church) | 2 Townsend Place Kirkcaldy | KY1 1HB |
| Linktown Church | Nicol Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1NY |
| Newcraigs Evangelical Church | Forres Drive Kirkcaldy | KY2 6YL |
| Pathhead Baptist | Anderson Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 2AQ |
| Pathhead Parish Church | Church Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 2AJ |
| Rhema Church | 131 Links Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1QL |
| St Bryce Kirk (St Brycedale merged with the Old Kirk to safeguard their future) | St Brycedale Avenue Kirkcaldy | KY1 1ET |
| St John's Church Of Scotland | Meldrum Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5LE |
| St Maries Church | 101 Dunnikier Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5AP |
| Templehall Parish Church | Beauly Place Kirkcaldy | KY2 6EX |
| The Church of Christ | Hayfield Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 5DG |
| The Coptic Orthodox Church Of Scotland | Links Street Kirkcaldy | KY1 1QE |
| Whytecauseway Baptist Church | 94 Barry Road Kirkcaldy | KY2 6JL |
Church associations
At one time the 4th Kirkcaldy Company of the Boys Brigade was the largest company in this organisation.
Areas
Areas of Kirkcaldy include:
Balsusney
Bennochy
Bennochy is an area which stretches around Bennochy Road and Forth Park Avenue. The Steadings Restaurant and Forth Park Maternity Hospital are both present here.
Boreland
Boreland is a small residential area located on the North Side of Kirkcaldy.
Chapel
Used to be a small village among farm land, when Kirkcaldy didn't extend at the bottom of Chapel Level. Chapel still retains its village appearance with houses, a shop and a scout hall being the main attractions.
Dunnikier
A housing estate built on a former coal pit at the bottom end of Chapel Level, completed in five stages from 1972 to 1987 with Rosemount Avenue the first built and Camperdown Place the last. It is the home of Capshard Primary School on Barry Road, a local SPAR store and newsagent on Ralston Drive. The streets are named after Scottish Golf Courses such as Linn Golf Course, Rosemount Golf Course, Barry Golf course and Turnberry. It has declined as the number one spot for private housing since the building of new housing estates in Southerton, Raith and Oriel Road areas. However, since 2003, much new building has taken place to the west of the existing streets.
Dysart
It is the home of Ravenscraig Park and Ravenscraig Castle. Formerly a small town, Dysart has been absorbed into Kirkcaldy since 1930 and it is also the home of a new industrial estate on the outskirts.
Gallatown
Hayfield
Linktown
Site of the annual Links Market.
Longbraes
Merchant's City[citation needed]
This area, around the old harbour, has recently undergone extensive development and refurbishment. The Merchant's House and many buildings of historical importance are nearby. This area is now part of a conservation area, requiring special planning permission so that the amenity of the area is not affected by inappropriate building.
Newliston
Overton
Pathhead
Pathead is a rather poor area which is around Overton Road. Kirkcaldy Pottery was famous for being made here and in Dysart before the World War 2. Pathead also gained attention when the area's primary school went up in flames and the new school took four years to build.
Raith
Raith is a small rather expensive residential area close to Raith House.
Sauchenbush
Sinclairtown
Smeaton
This area is located near to the Victoria Hospital. All of the streets in this area are named after trees - examples include Chestnut Avenue and Veronica Crescent. The houses are of good construct - all being either semi-detached or short terraced. Despite this some behaviour problems among local youths, exacerbated by Fife Council's decision to site several residential units for disturbed children, are evident and the area suffers from high levels of unemployment, drug abuse and vandalism [9].
Templehall
A large post war housing estate. Formerly all municipal housing, the process of gentrification has begun even here with new houses for sale being built on the site of the former High School.
Valley
Valley is a small area, dominated by blocks of flats.
Wemyssfield
Wemyssfield is an area around the bottom end of Abbotshall Road, very close to the town centre. The Adam Smith Theatre and Kirkcaldy's Library headquarters are based here.