The historic Royal Burgh of Kinghorn lies on the golden coastline of the Kingdom
of Fife. Its picturesque sheltered bay and beach nestles below the hillsides that
once provided the town with its water and, when local industry developed, the source
of power to drive the machinery of the flax mills.
The meaning of the name Kinghorn,
or Kin-gorn, as it was previously known, are lost in history. Some say that it derives
from the Gaelic, ‘head of the muddy ground’ or the more romantic ‘blue headland’.
What is known is that the town’s name was included in the title of the earldom of
Strathmore and Kinghorne. It was created a royal burgh in 1285, and the former castle
was frequently visited by the Scottish Court. The Kings castle, controlling the sea
way, probably stood on the headland above Pettycur, one of the few places on the
coast with an uninterrupted view from the Queens Ferry narrows to the North Sea.
A later structure, Glamis Tower, stood just behind the High Street. Unfortunately
both buildings have totally disappeared and the sites built over in modern times.
It
was to Kinghorn and his new, young wife that Alexander III was making his way on
a dark and stormy night when his horse stumbled and he was found at the foot of the
cliffs at ‘Kings Wud end’.
His grand daughter, the Maid of Norway, died on the journey
to Scotland and, with no heir to the throne, Scotland was torn apart by civil war
and a series of wars with England.
Heritage
Built in 1826 by Thomas Hamilton on the original site of St. Leonard’s Tower. The
Town Hall originally housed the Town Gaol, each of the two cells being massively
fitted with iron clad doors. Conversion of the building by FHBT (with assistance
from Historic Scotland) is just about complete, the roof being a fantastic work of
art and the interior is now complete and the building featured in the annual Doors
Open Day. The lower floor are to be offices for Fife Historic Buildings Trust and
exhibition space for the Historical Society and the upper two floors will be a Holiday
Flat for rent.
On 19th March, 1286 Scottish history was drastically changed when Alexander III fell
to his death when his horse stumbled on a dark and stormy night on the cliffs above
Kinghorn Ness near Pettycur. The Golden Age when Scotland enjoyed peace and prosperity
came to an abrupt end, especially when his heir, the Maid of Norway, died shortly
afterwards. The nation was now in turmoil, with 13 claimants to the throne, including
Robert Bruce. The Memorial, on the road between Kinghorn and Burntisland, was erected
in 1886 to Scotland’s last Celtic King, and its complex design is Victorian in style.
Kinghorn Parish Church
Kinghorn Parish Church, standing above the harbour, was largely reconstructed in
1774 with further additions in 1894 when the bell tower was added. At the east end
are the remains of what is thought to be the church consecrated by David de Bernham,
Bishop of St. Andrews in 1243. As with many churches built by the sea, there is a
Sailor’s Aisle with the entrance to the shore, dating from 1609 and surviving from
an earlier church. The hereditary lairds of Kinghorn, the Boswells of Balmuto, have
been associated with the Parish for a long time. In March 1822, a relative, Sir Alexander
Boswell of Auchinlect, died at Balmuto House from wounds received in a duel at Auchtertool
- the one of the last duels fought in Scotland.
Kinghorn Deeds 1682-1839. Very interesting deed information at the Fife Council
archive in Carleton House, Markinch.
