Coordinates: 56°04′19″N 3°26′21″W / 56.07192°N 3.43930°W / 56.07192; -3.43930

Dunfermline
Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phàrlain[1]
Scots: Dunfaurlin[2]
Auld Grey Toun[3]
Top: Town skyline, Top Left: Dunfermline High Street, Bottom Left: Andrew Carnegie House, Right: Dunfermline City Chambers, Bottom: Italian Garden, Pittencrieff Park
Dunfermline  Dunfermline shown within Fife
Area	7.07 sq mi (18.3 km2)
Population	46,430 [4]
- Density	1,498 /sq mi (578 /km2)
OS grid reference	NT105875
Council area	Fife
Lieutenancy area	Fife
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DUNFERMLINE
Postcode district	KY11, KY12
Dialling code	01383
Police	Fife
Fire	Fife
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Dunfermline and West Fife
Scottish Parliament	Dunfermline West
	Mid Scotland and Fife
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Dunfermline ( listen (help·info); Scots: Dunfaurlin, Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phàrlain) is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground 3 miles (4.8 km) from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. The town’s name comes from the Gaelic words "dun" (meaning "fortified hill"), "fearam" (crooked) and "linn" (stream). The area around Dunfermline became home to the first settlers in the Neolithic period, but did not gain recognition, until the Bronze Age as a place of importance. The town was first recorded in the 11th century, with the marriage of Malcolm III, King of Scotland and Saint Margaret at the church in Dunfermline. As his Queen consort, Margaret established a new church dedicated to the Holy Trinity which evolved into an Abbey under their son, David I in 1128. The graveyard of this abbey would become the burial place for many of Scotland’s kings and queens.

The town is a major service centre for west Fife. Dunfermline retains much of its historic significance and provides numerous retail and leisure facilities. Carnegie College also have a campus at Halbeath. Employment is focused in the service sector, with the largest employer being BSKYB. Other large employers in the town include Amazon (on-line retailer), HBOS (finance), Taylor Wimpey (housebuilder), Dunfermline Building Society (finance) and CR Smith (window manufacturers).

History[link]

Remains of Malcolm Canmore's Tower

There have been various interpretations of the name, "Dunfermline".^[5] The first element, "dun" translated from Gaelic, has been accepted as a (fortified) hill, which it is assumed to be referring to the rocky outcrop as the site of Malcolm Canmore's tower in Pittencrieff Glen (now Pittencrieff Park).^[6] The rest of the name is problematic.^[6] The second element, "the ferm" may have been an alternative name for the tower burn according to a medieval record published in 1455 and that together with the Lyne Burn to the south, suggest the site of a fortification between these two watercourses.^[5][6]

The first record of a settlement in the Dunfermline area was in the Neolithic period. This evidence includes finds of a stone axe; some flint arrowheads and a carved stone ball which was found near the town.^[7] A cropmark which is understood to have been used as a possible mortuary enclosure has been found at Deanpark House, also near the town. By the time of the Bronze Age, the area was beginning to show some importance. Important finds included a bronze axe in Wellwood and a gold torc from the Parish Churchyard.^[7] Cist burials from the Bronze Age have also been discovered at both Crossford and Masterton, the latter of which contains a pair of armlets, a bronze dagger and a set necklace believed to have complemented a double burial.^[7]

The first historic record for Dunfermline was made in the 11th century.^[8] According to the fourteenth-century chronicler, John of Fordun, Malcolm III, King of Scotland (reign 1058–93) married his second bride, the Anglo-Hungarian princess, Saint Margaret at the church in Dunfermline between 1068 and 1070;^[9] the ceremony was performed by Forhad, the last Celtic bishop of St Andrews.^[8][10]

The nave from the reign of David I at Dunfermline Abbey

Malcolm III established Dunfermline as a new seat for royal power in the mid-11th century and initiated changes that eventually made the township the de facto capital of Scotland for much of the period until the assassination of James I in 1437.^[11] Following her marriage to King Malcolm III, Queen Margaret encouraged her husband to convert the small culdee chapel into a church for Benedictine monks.^[11] The existing culdee church, was no longer able to meet the demand for its growing congregation; because of a large increase in the population of Dunfermline from the arrival of English nobility coming into Scotland.^[12] The founding of this new church of Dunfermline was inaugurated around 1072, but was not recorded in the town's records.^[12]

David I, King of Scotland (reign 1124–53) would later grant this church dedicated to the Holy Trinity to "unam mansuram in burgo meo de Dunfermlyn" which translates into "a house or dwelling place in my burgh of Dunfermline".^[8][13] The foundations of the church evolved into an Abbey in 1128, under the reign of their son, David I.^[11][14] Dunfermline Abbey would play a major role in the general romanisation of religion throughout the kingdom. At the peak of its power the abbey controlled four burghs, three courts of regality and a large portfolio of lands from Moray in the north down into Berwickshire.^[11] Dunfermline had become a burgh between 1124 and 1127, if not before this time.^[8][13] The royal palace was also connected to the abbey and the first known documentation of the Auld Alliance was signed there on 23 October 1295.

The Union of the Crowns ended the town's royal connections when James VI relocated the Scottish Court to London in 1603.^[15] The Reformation of 1560 had previously meant a loss of the Dunfermline's ecclesiastical importance. On 25 May 1624, a fire engulfed around three-quarters of the medieval-renaissance burgh.^[15][16] Some of the surviving buildings of the fire were the palace, the abbey and the Abbot's House.^[11][17]

Erskine Beveridge company offices, now converted into flats

The decline in the fortunes of Dunfermline lasted until the introduction of a linen industry in the early 18th century.^[18] One reason for which the town became a centre for linen was there was enough water to power the mills and nearby ports along the Fife Coast. These ports also did trade with the Baltic and Low Countries.^[18] Another reason was through an act of industrial espionage in 1709 by a weaver known as James Blake who gained access to the workshops of a damask linen factory in Edinburgh by pretending to act like a simpleton in order to find out and memorise the formula.^[18][19] On his return to his home town in 1718, Blake established a damask linen industry in the town.^[18] The largest of these factories was St Leonard's Mill which was established by Erskine Beveridge in 1851. A warehouse and office block was later added around 1869. Other linen factories were built on land to both the north and south ends of the burgh.^[20] During the mid-19th century, powerloom weaving started to replace linen damask. The latter did not survive, going into decline straight after the end of First World War.^[17] In 1909 the Royal Navy established Scotland's only Royal Naval Dockyard at nearby Rosyth. Post-war housing began in the late 1940s with the construction of temporary prefabs and Swedish timber houses around areas such as Kingseat and Townhill. Additional provisions were made for electricity, water and sewage systems. Council housing was focused towards Abbeyview, on a 240-acre (97 ha) site on Aberdour Road; Touch, to the south of Garvock Hill; Bellyeoman and Baldridgeburn. Private housing became focused to the north of Garvock Hill and on the site of West Pitcorthie Farm.^[21]

Today, Dunfermline is the main centre for the West Fife area, and is also considered to be a dormitory town for Edinburgh.^[17][22][23] The town has shopping facilities, a major public park, a main college campus at Halbeath and an-out-of-town leisure park with a multiplex cinema and a number of restaurants. The online retailer Amazon.com has opened a major distribution centre in the Duloch Park area of Dunfermline.

Governance[link]

City Chambers

Dunfermline obtained royal burgh status until this was abolished in 1975, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 in favour of a three-tier regions and districts. The royal burgh merged into Dunfermline District, which was one of three districts within the Fife region serving the town and West Fife from Kincardine to Aberdour.^[24] The district council was abolished in 1996, under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994,^[25] when the region became a unitary council area. The new unitary Fife Council, adopted the areas of the former districts as council management areas, and created area committees to represent each.

Today, Dunfermline is represented by several tiers of elected government. Abbeyview, Bellyeoman, Carnock and Gowkhall, Central Dunfermline, Izatt Avenue & Nethertown and Touch and Garvock Community Councils form the lowest tier of governance whose statutory role is to communicate local opinion to local and central government.^[26] Fife Council, the unitary local authority for Dunfermline is based in Glenrothes who are the executive, deliberative and legislative body responsible for local governance.^[27] Dunfermline has retained some importance as an administrative centre with the Council's principle west Fife office based at New City House. Councillor meetings, including the City of Dunfermline Area Committee, take place in the Dunfermline City Chambers.

Dunfermline forms part of the county constituency of Dunfermline and West Fife. The Dunfermline and West Fife UK (or Westminster) constituency, created in 2005 when the previous seats Dunfermline East and Dunfermline West were abolished, elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system. The seat was won at the 2010 general election by Thomas Docherty of the Labour Party.^[28] Previously, the seat had been held by Willie Rennie for the Liberal Democrats since the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election in 2006. For the purposes of the Scottish Parliament, Dunfermline forms part of the Dunfermline constituency. The Dunfermline Scottish Parliament (or Holyrood) constituency created in 2011, following a review of Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries is one of nine within the Mid Scotland and Fife electorical region.^[29] Each constituency elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post system of election. The seat was won at 2011 Scottish Parliament elections by Bill Walker for the SNP.^[30]

At EU level, Dunfermline is part of the pan-Scotland European Parliament constituency which elects seven Members of the European Parliament (MEP)s using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.^[31] Scotland returned two Labour MEPs, two SNP MEPs, one Conservative and Unionist MEP and one Liberal Democrat MEP, to the European Parliament.^[31]

Geography[link]

Dunfermline is at 56°04′17″N 3°27′42″W / 56.07139°N 3.46167°W / 56.07139; -3.46167 on the coastal fringe of Fife.^[5] The medieval town rose from approximately 51 metres (167 ft) above sea level in the south, where Nethertown Broad Street can now be found; 69 metres (226 ft)–67 metres (220 ft) west to east along what is now Priory Lane; to 90 metres (300 ft)–101 metres (331 ft) up the High Street, from west to east; to 92 metres (302 ft)–105 metres (344 ft)&106 metres (348 ft) between Bruce Street and Queen Anne Street from south to north.^[13][32]

Panorama of Dunfermline seen from the town's eastern expansion area

Temperatures in Dunfermline, much like the rest of Scotland, are relatively moderate given its northern latitude. Fife is a peninsula, between the Firth of Tay to the north, Firth of Forth to the south and the North Sea to the east. Summers are relatively cool and the warming of the water over the summer, results in warm winters. Average annual temperatures in Dunfermline range from a maximum of 18 °C (64 °F) to a minimum of 9 °C (48 °F).^[33]

Demographics[link]

According to the 2001 census, Dunfermline had a total population of 39,229.^[34] There are 17,235 households in Dunfermline, 48.4% were married couples living together, 32.4% were one-person households, 8.9% were co-habiting couples and 9.7% were lone parents.^[36] The population of Dunfermline is estimated to have grown to around 46,430 in 2008.^[4] The demographic make-up of the population is much in line with the rest of Scotland. The age group from 30 to 44 forms the largest portion of the population (23%).^[34] The median age of males and females living in Dunfermline was 36 and 39 years respectively, compared to 37 and 39 years for those in the whole of Scotland.^[34]

The place of birth of the town's residents was 96.99% United Kingdom (including 87.02% from Scotland), 0.25% Republic of Ireland, 1.06% from other European Union countries, and 1.71% from elsewhere in the world.^[34] The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 46.65% in full-time employment, 12.54% in part-time employment, 4.51% self-employed, 4.21% unemployed, 2.75% students with jobs, 2.11% students without jobs, 13.57% retired, 4.92% looking after home or family, 5.97% permanently sick or disabled, and 2.78% economically inactive for other reasons.^[37]

Economy[link]

Industry in Dunfermline was concentrated to the north of the town centre with textiles being particularly important to the town's economy. Following the two world wars, Dunfermline's traditional industries declined. However a number of new engineering, defence and electronics companies developed in the town in industrial estates located in the south at Pitreavie, and to the west at Elgin Street. After the end of the Second World War traditional industries, particularly linen and coal mining became obsolete in the town and many factories ceased production. Manufacturing in the town rejuvenated by the early 1960s when Monotype Corporation opened a new factory in Halbeath.^[38] The completion of the Pitreavie Industrial Estate (now known as the Pitreavie Business Park) opened in the mid-1970s, following the arrival of Philips and the re-location of the offices of the Dunfermline Press. Smaller industrial estates were focused on Dickson Street, Halbeath Drive and Primrose Lane.^[38] A number of engineering, defence and electronics companies developed in the town in industrial estates located to the south at Pitreavie, and to the west at Elgin Street.^[38]

Kingsgate Shopping Centre

The Dunfermline area has Fife's second largest concentration of employment providing approximately 27,000 jobs in 2009. The local economy relies most on jobs within retail and the public sector. There are also moderate instances of employment in finance, manufacturing, food services and accommodation.^[39] In November 2011, online retailer Amazon.com opened a new 1,000,000 sq ft (93,000 m²) fullfillment warehouse in the east of the town adjacent to the M90 motorway. This development has created over 750 jobs and is the company's largest warehouse in the UK.^[40][41] The Newcastle based, Shepherd Offshore Group also plan to erect a renewables hub near the Halbeath Interchange, off the M90 on a 15 acres (61,000 m²) former Hyndai/Motorola 'white elephant' factory.^[42][43] The demolition of the factory began in early 2011 with an expected date for completion at the end of the year. A masterplan is being created for the site identifying significant investment and development opportunities with the potential to create a substantial number of new jobs.^[42][44]

Dunfermline is the principal shopping centre serving the western area of Fife and is region's second largest town centre in terms of floorspace.^[45] Retailing accounts for 18% of the total number of jobs in the town.^[39] A BID (Business Improvement District) scheme for the city centre has been in operation since 2009.^[46][47] The majority of shops and retail services in Dunfermline are concentrated in the town centre along a high street. The Kingsgate Shopping Centre is located on the pedestrianised section of the High Street giving Dunfermline a mix of modern and traditional shops.^[48][49] A major extension of the Kingsgate Shopping Centre was completed in 2008 improving and expanding the retail offer in the town by attracting a major department store brand and range of other smaller retailers.^[48][49] Other retail areas in Dunfermline exist at Carnegie Drive Retail Park to the north of the town centre and Halbeath Retail Park to the east of the town.^[46] A large neighbourhood centre with one of the towns major supermarkets was also built as part of the eastern expansion area of Dunfermline. The Fife Leisure Park, constructed in 1999 is adjacent to the M90 at Halbeath on the eastern outskirks of Dunfermline. The leisure park has a large cinema, a health club, bowling alley and a number of restaurants.^[50]

Landmarks and notable buildings[link]

Dunfermline Palace and Abbey

The Category A listed^[51] Dunfermline Abbey on the Kirkgate is one of the best examples of Scoto-Norman monastic architecture.^[52] The Abbey built between 1128 and 1150, under David I was a reconstruction of the Benedictine chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity, founded by his mother, Queen Margaret.^[14][53] Despite much of the monastic buildings being destroyed by the troops of Edward I in 1303, there are substantial remains with the lower stories of the dormitory and latrine blocks on the east side of the cloister being the earliest surviving parts, dating back to the early 13th century.^[14][54] The eastern section of the abbey was re-built as a parish church between 1818 and 1821.^[14]

The main Dunfermline War Memorial on Monastery Street was unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Fife, Sir Ralph Anstruther in 1925. A Second World War Memorial and garden of remembrance were added in 1958 on a site assumed to have been home to the Apiaries of the Monastery. The memorial lists 632 of those killed in the First World War and another 275 in the Second World War.^[55]

To the north of the abbey, on the corner of Maygate and Abbot Street is the Category A listed^[56] Abbot House.^[57] This is the oldest secular building still standing in Dunfermline.^[58][59] The house was originally built in the mid-fifteenth century as a residence for Abbot Richard Bothwell and this role continued until Commendator George Durie left to move into new apartments at the Palace in 1540.^[57][60] Along Abbot Street is the Category B listed^[61] Dunfermline Carnegie library which was built between 1881–1883.^[62][63] This library was the first in the world to be funded via donations by philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. A total of 2,811 free public libraries were eventually built altogether.^[62] At the top of Moodie Street is the Category B listed^[64] handloom weavers' cottage, the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie which dates from the early 18th century.^[65][66] An adjacent memorial hall was added to the birthplace in 1928.^[67]

Abbot House (rear view)

The Category A listed^[68] Guildhall on the High Street was erected in 1807 by the guilds of the local merchants who were ambitious for Dunfermline to become the county town of Fife.^[58] Lack of funds forced the building to be sold, but in 1811 funds were available to add the 132 foot (40 m) high steeple.^[58] At the west end of the High Street is the Category A listed^[69] City Chambers built between 1876–1879 with its 117 foot (36 m) high central clock tower and turrets.^[70]

In the car park between Bruce Street and Chambers Street is St Margaret's Cave, a place where she would retreat to pray in peace and quiet.^[70] The cave was re-opened in 1993 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of her death.^[70][71] The entrance to Pittencrieff Park at the bottom of Bridge Street is enhanced by the Category A listed^[72] Louise Carnegie Memorial Gates which were opened on 28 June 1929.^[73] The gates which were named after the wife of Andrew Carnegie lead up a to a bronze statue of Andrew Carnegie which was unveiled in 1914 to a crowd of 20,000.^[70][73]

Pittencrieff House Museum

In the subsequent development of the modern park, the Category A listed^[74] Pittencrieff House, built around 1610 for Sir William Clerk of Penicuik, was designed as a centre piece.^[75][76] Two of the bedrooms were converted to create two long galleries for museum and art exhibition space in a restoration programme undertaken by Sir Robert Lorimar between 1911 and 1913.^[75] Work on the building was completed in 2010 to repair and reharl the property, restoring the original ochre-coloured limewash exterior. The project was funded through the £1.7 million Dunfermline Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) under a partnership between Fife Council and Historic Scotland.^[77]

A number of stately homes also exist on the outskirks of the town. The Category A listed^[78] Pitfirrane Castle, to the west of Dunfermline, was once the seat of the Halkett family.^[79][80] The castle which dates from the 16th century, was purchased by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust in 1951 for the use as a clubhouse for Dunfermline Golf Club.^[80] To the south of Dunfermline is the Category A listed Hill House^[81] and Pitreavie Castle.^[82] Both dating from the mid-17th century, Hill House was built as a residence for William Monteith of Randford and Pitreavie Castle as a manor house by Sir Hendry Wardlaw.^[83][84] To the south-west of Dunfermline is the Category A listed^[85] Logie House, built as an Edwardian residence and seat for the Hunt family.^[86]

Culture[link]

Louise Carnegie Memorial Gates, leading into Pittencrieff Park

Pittencrieff Park forms the western boundary of the town centre covering 76 acres (310,000 m²). It was gifted by Andrew Carnegie to the people of Dunfermline in 1903.^[73][87] The park is known locally as the Glen and was created from the estate of Pittencrieff and the lands of the house, owned by the Lairds of Pittencrieff.^[73][87] A £1.4 million project to regenerate, restore and re-establish the park began in 2009 and is ongoing.^[88][89] In December 2011 Pittencrieff Park was awarded £710,000 through the Heritage Lottery Fund's Parks for People programme for essential maintenance work. A previous award of £27,000 was made under this scheme in 2010.^[88] The work will include the restoration of historic buildings and bridges; new lighting and the refurbishment of the greenhouse to create a classroom.^[90][91] A separate £1 million project will revamp and extend the Glen Pavilion to provide a new 120 seat cafe and linking corridor to the rear of the building.^[90]

The Bruce Festival is an annual attraction held in Pittencrieff Park since 2006. The festival which promotes Robert The Bruce's links to Dunfermline centres around a medieval village and is home to a food fayre, battle reenactments and displays of arts and crafts.^[92][93]

The Andrew Carnegie birthplace museum dedicated to the life and work of the well-known businessman and philanthropist is on the southern gateway of the town centre. Annual heritage walks organised by the museum take place each summer.^[94] Carnegie donated significant funds to his native town to provide first-class facilities way ahead of what any town of its size was able to offer, prior to the First World War. These included swimming baths built in 1877; replacement baths built at Pilmuir Street in 1901; the Carnegie library in 1883; the founding of the Scottish College of Hygiene and Physical Training in 1905 and the provision of free school clinics in 1906.^[62] Andrew Carnegie House at the edge of Pittencrieff Park which was built in 2008 now serves as the headquarters of Carnegie Dunfermline Trust; the Carnegie Hero Fund; the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust.^[95][96]

Despite its rich history, Dunfermline has not had a proper museum for a number of years.^[97] Plans are in progress to create a £10 million Museum and Art Gallery for the town on land between a disued Victorian bank and the existing Carnegie library building.^[97][98] Both the library and former bank buildings will be redeveloped with a new extension creating a substantial development which will include the museum, art gallery, archive and library space.^[98] Fife Council have pledged £6.8 million towards the project with a further £2.8 million of the costs being met by the Heritage Lottery Fund.^[97]

Dunfermline has also been bequeathed two theatres, Carnegie Hall on East Port and the Alhambra on Canmore Street. Carnegie Hall hosts a range of theatrical and musical productions including an annual Christmas show. The Music Institute, adjacent to the Hall also provides workshops, classes and children's groups.^[99] The Alhambra, which opened in 1922, originally served as a dual-purpose role hosting both theatrical productions and films. In 2008, the theatre re-opened as a theatre and live music venue.^[100]

East End Park, the home of Dunfermline Athletic FC

Local groups include the Dunfermline Folk Club, Dunfermline Abbey Choir and Dunfermline district pipe band. Dunfermline is home to professional football, rugby and cricket teams.^[101] The senior football team, Dunfermline Athletic play their games at East End Park in the Scottish Premier League.^[102] The team have became famous for winning the Scottish Cup twice in the 1960s (1961 and 1968) gaining a reputation as a side for competitive football in both England and mainland Europe.^[101] The senior rugby team, Dunfermline RFC play their games at McKane Park in the National League Division 1.^[101][103]

There is also a cricket club based at Carnegie Cricket Ground, an athletics ground at Pitreavie and three golf courses (Dunfermline, Canmore and Pitreavie).^[101] Carnegie Leisure Centre (originally Carnegie swimming baths) is the main sports centre. A £17.2 million major refurbishment and extension to the centre was completed in November 2011. The work has included the conversion of a 25 yard Edwardian training pool into a modern 25 metre 6 lane, deck level pool with movable floor; an improved entrance and reception area with a new cafe and a new state-of-the-art gym with 80 stations.^[104]

Education[link]

Dunfermline has four secondary schools and fourteen primary schools.^[105][106] Other educational facilities include a private school and a school for children with learning difficulties. Dunfermline High School is the oldest secondary in the town, having originated in 1816 on what is now Queen Anne Street.^[107] The school which serves both the southern and western parts of the town as well as Rosyth and Kincardine has occupied a site on St Leonard's Street since 1939.^[108][109] A new £40 million Dunfermline High School, to be built in three phases, on the school's playing fields is set for completion by August 2012.^[110][111] Once the new building is occupied, the old school is expected to be demolished for new playing fields in 2013.^[111] Queen Anne High School is located in Wellwood towards the northwest area of the town. Woodmill High School, originally a junior secondary, was upgraded to a High School in 1972.^[112] The school was first established in Priory Lane before moving to a new building on Shields Road in 1960 and serves the eastern side of the town as well as the villages of Crombie, Limekilns and North Queensferry.^[112][113] St Columba's High, which opened in 1969 is one of two Roman Catholic secondary schools in Fife. The school caters for pupils living in West Fife from Kincardine in the west to Cowdenbeath in the east.^[112]

Further education is provided by Carnegie College who have their main campus at Halbeath.^[112] Other campuses include a construction centre in Cowdenbeath and smaller facilities in other West Fife towns and villages.^[114][115] The college was originally founded as Lauder Technical School in 1899 and funded by Andrew Carnegie who named it after his uncle, George Lauder who had been an campaigner for free technical education.^[116] A textile school, founded in 1910 and also funded by Carnegie later merged with the technical school in 1927.^[116] The school became known as a technical college in 1951 and the name was then shortened to Lauder College in the late 20th century before adopting its present name in 2007.^[116][117] The college is a partner of the Dunfermline Business Centre and provides courses catering to over 10,000 students annually.^[112][118]

Public Services[link]

Waste management is handled by the local authority, Fife Council. There is a kerbside recycling scheme in operation in the town. A three-bin collection is in place for the majority of residents living within Fife.^[119] Dunfermline has one recycling centre and several recycling points, all operated by the local authority, Fife Council.^[120][121] The range of items which are accepted include cardboard, paper, gas bottles, glass, fridges and freezers, small electrical appliances and vehicle oil.^[120] Non-hazardous waste is sent to landfill at Lochhead, near the town and Lower Melville Wood, near Ladybank.^[122]

Healthcare is supplied by NHS Fife who have their headquarters at Hayfield House in Kirkcaldy. The Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline serves as the accident and emergency hospital in the town.^[123]

Statutory emergency fire and rescue service in the town is provided by the Fife Fire and Rescue Service. The nearest station is at the Pitreavie Industrial Estate.^[124] Home office policing in Dunfermline is operated by Fife Constabulary. The headquarters of the Dunfermline area is on 2 Holyrood Place, close to the town centre.^[125] Dunfermline is also served under the East Central Region which covers Tayside, Forth Valley and the Kingdom of Fife of the Scottish Ambulance Service.^[126] There are two ambulance stations in the town; one on Keir Hardie Terrace and the other at the Queen Margaret Hospital on Whitefield Road.^[127]

Transport[link]

Dunfermline Town Railway Station

Dunfermline is served by the A907 which meets the M90 and A92 to the east of the town at Halbeath Interchange. This connects the town to Perth to the north, Edinburgh to the south and Kirkcaldy to the east. The main routes through the town are Halbeath Road and Carnegie Drive (A907) from east to west.^[128]

The main bus terminus is located on a site to the north of the town centre which provides seating, toilets and a cafe.^[129] Two railway stations serve the town – Dunfermline Town to the south of the town centre and Dunfermline Queen Margaret to the east of the town close to Queen Margaret Hospital.^[130][131] Nearby stations also exist at Rosyth, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay to the south of the town.

The nearest major international airport to Dunfermline is Edinburgh Airport, 13 miles (21 km) miles south of Dunfermline. Smaller municipal airports are also located nearby at Glenrothes 18 miles (29 km), Cumbernauld 25 miles (40 km) and Perth 32 miles (51 km).

A continental ferry service, operated by Norfolkline, runs from a terminal at nearby Rosyth.^[132]

Notable people[link]

Display in the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum

Dunfermline's most famous son is the entrepreneur and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie who was born in the town in 1835. Among the gifts he gave to his home town, include a free library and public swimming baths. Most important of all, was the donation of the Pittencrieff Estate which he had purchased in 1903 to be converted into Pittencrieff Park.

A number of British monarchs were born in Dunfermline Palace. These include David II of Scotland (reign 1329-71), the son of Robert The Bruce in 1324^[133]; James I of Scotland (reign 1406-37) in late 1394^[134] and Charles I of England, King of England, Scotland and Ireland (reign 1625-49) in 1600.^[135][136] James VI and I, the King of England, Scotland and Ireland and his wife, Anne of Denmark, the daughter of Frederick II of Denmark also lived at the Palace until the Union of the Crowns in 1603.^[137]

General John Forbes who fought the French in the French and Indian War to capture Fort Duquesne and establishing the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States was brought up in his family's ancestral home of Pittencrieff House (now within Pittencrieff Park).^[138][139]

In popular culture, the singer Barbara Dickson; Dan McCafferty and Peter Agnew from the Scottish rock band Nazareth; Ian Anderson the singer of the British progressive rock band Jethro Tull and Moira Shearer, ballerina and actress^[140] were all born in the town. Manny Charlton the producer of Nazareth emigrated to the town with his family in the 1960s and Stuart Adamson, rock guitarist with the Skids and frontman with Big Country was brought up in nearby Crossgates.^[141] In literature, the critically acclaimed author, Iain Banks; poet and novelist, John Burnside; Robert Gilfillan and Robert Henryson who wrote about life in the royal burgh in the 15th century have connections. In Sport, Harry Lind of Dunfermline RFC who was capped sixteen times for the Scotland national rugby team and Jim Greenwood who played for Dunfermline RFC, Scotland and British and Irish Lions come from the town. Billy Liddell who played his entire career with Liverpool F.C. was born in nearby Townhill.^[142]

Twin cities[link]

• Logroño, Spain
• Sarasota, Florida
• Trondheim, Norway (since 1945)^[143]
• Wilhelmshaven, Germany
• Vichy, France
• Albufeira, Portugal

See also[link]

References[link]

Notes[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Brown, Michael (2000). James I (Stewart Dynasty in Scotland). Tuckwell Press Ltd. ISBN 1-86232-105-1. 
• Cavendish, Richard (2007). Kings & Queens: The Concise Guide. David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-2376-2. 
• Dennison, Patricia; Stronach, Simon (2007). Historic Dunfermline: Archeology and Development. Dunfermline Burgh Survey, Community Project. ISBN 978-0-9557-2440-4. 
• Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects (DHCP) (2009). Your Guide to Dunfermline. Levenmouth Printers Ltd. ASIN B002RHBZBC. 
• Dunlop, Eileen (2005). Queen Margaret of Scotland. NSME. ISBN 1-901663-92-2. 
• Durie, Bruce (2010). Dunfermline: Britain in Old Photographs. The History Press. ISBN 0-7524-5573-7. 
• Fawcett, Richard (2005). Royal Dunfermline. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. ISBN 978-0-9039-0334-9. 
• Fawcett, Richard (1996). Medieval Abbeys and Churches in Fife. Fife Regional Council. ISBN 1-872162-07-X. 
• Hendrie, William F. (2002). Old Dunfermline. Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-84033-194-1. 
• Lamont-Brown, Raymond (2002). Fife in History and Legend. Edinburgh: John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-567-9. 
• McEwan, Bert (2009). Dunfermline: The Post-War Years (2nd ed.). Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-407-8. 
• MacKay, James (1997). Little Boss: Life of Andrew Carnegie. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-85158-832-9. 
• Omand, Donald (2000). The Fife Book. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-274-3. 
• Pearson, John (2000). Around Dunfermline (2nd ed.). John Pearson. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/0-9519134-4-4|0-9519134-4-4]]. 
• Pride, Glen L. (1999). The Kingdom of Fife (2nd ed.). ISBN 1-873190-49-2. 
• Taylor, Simon; Márkus, Gilbert (2006). The Place-Names of Fife, Volume One. Donington: Shaun Tyas. ISBN 1-900289-77-6. 

External links[link]

• Undiscovered Scotland on Dunfermline
• Dunfermline Photo Gallery - Dunfermline Photo Gallery
• Dunfermline Music Scene Website, dedicated to Dunfermline Music
• Dunfermline Website
• The Annals of Dunfermline 1096-1745
• Dunfermline Guide website- a guide to Dunfermline
• Dunfermline online website - Dunfermline on the web since 1996
• Early Carnegie Libraries - featuring the world's first Carnegie Library in Dunfermline
• National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE (selection of archive films about Dunfermline)