In John Jackson and Sons, Coachbuilders, George Beattie continues his series on Dunfermline’s industrial and commercial past, this time with the history of a 20th Century firm. The article includes a fascinating selection of photographs of the staff, premises and some of the vehicles the company built.
Doubts Cast over Bruce Seals
In her article on the “Cokete Seal”, published in June, Jean Barclay described this interesting item, which is being held from being exported, due to it’s potential historic importance. A recent article in the Dunfermline Press points out some uncertainty among experts about it’s age, but lets us know the latest position from the authorities. An update can now be seen at the end of the article THE CHEQUERED HISTORY OF DUNFERMLINE`S COKETE SEAL.
Re-burial of King Robert the Bruce
It is well known that King Robert the Bruce is buried in Dunfermline Abbey, but the story of the discovery of his remains in the 19th Century and the ceremonies surrounding his re-burial are not so well known. In “Robert the Bruce Buried Again” Sue Mowat presents to us a fascinating newspaper article from the time and tells us about the large gathering of Scotland’s “great and good” who were present on the day.
Dunfermline’s Cokete Seal
In “The Chequered History of Dunfermline’s Cokete Seal“, Dr. Jean Barclay reports on the current status of a remarkable object surviving from the reign of King Robert the Bruce.
The Dunfermline Foundry
by George Beattie The Dunfermline Foundry Company had its origins in the Maygate, Dunfermline, when, in 1815, Robert Campbell commenced ironfounding on a small scale in the smithy premises of Tam Thomson.1 “Viagraphy Dunfermlynensis” speaks of Fishmarket Close (later known as Music Hall Lane) which ran from Abbot Street up to High Street and states:- “At the corner angle of the east side of this close with Abbot Street there is a house once used as a smithy and, according to a letter written about 30 years ago, ‘This smeddie is notibil as being the first place whair in 1816 a foundrie on a sma skale was begun be Mr Cambil and as the first of the kind ever attempit in Dunfermline.’ Abbot Street, of course, is a continuation of Maygate and both above entries appear to be referring to the same enterprise. Henderson further reports2 that in 1816:- ‘Mr Campbell abandoned his founding premises in the Maygate, and commenced “the Dunfermline Foundry”, in Clayacres, on a large scale. Fifteen hands were employed’. Clayacres was the name given to the area surrounding the street now known as Foundry Street (almost certainly named after the Dunfermline Foundry). The exact location of the foundry is shown on the O.S. map of 1854. Mr Campbell appears to have traded successfully until 1842 when the business ran into financial difficulties, resulting in Campbell being declared bankrupt, with creditors meetings being held in the Spire…