The DHS has recently received an email describing a new website about Scotland's architecture, it reads as follows "Your programme of talks and visits prompted me to introduce Scotland’s Architecture, a free, independent, developing resource about Scotland’s buildings and places. I thought its Dunfermline material might offer useful background for members exploring the city’s architectural history. The Dunfermline page brings together a map, local context and two source-linked accounts: Dunfermline Abbey and Palace, including the surviving Romanesque nave, and Carnegie Library & Galleries, tracing the historic library’s growth through to Richard Murphy Architects’ 2017 addition. The library account also looks at the changing levels and framed views towards the Abbey. Coverage is selective and still developing, rather than a complete inventory." Scotland’s Architecture is an independent public-history guide to the buildings, structures, landscapes and designed places that shape Scotland. It explains buildings and places through local history, geography, maps, archives, newspapers, historic books and accounts of people’s homes, work and community life. Celebrated monuments appear alongside libraries, mills, bridges, churches, houses, streets, public buildings and other places that help explain how Scotland has changed.
A Nineteenth Century Stationer, Bookseller and Printer
As many articles in our industrial and commercial series have shown, medium sized towns such as Dunfermline, supported all sorts of businesses and activities which have now long been centralised at a national or international level. To brewing, engineering, food processing, clothing and transport we can now add printing and bookselling. In "The Millers of Bridge Street", Jean Barclay relates the history of a family who played an important part in the life of Dunfermline for two generations.
January 2023 Meeting
19th Jan 2023 at 7:30 pm This month, the Dunfermline Historical Society is holding a musical evening of Burns songs and other folk songs. We are delighted to have visiting us again John Blackwood and Kinrick as well as Fiona Forbes from Sangsters. As usual we meet at the Abbey Church Halls in Abbey Park Place and all are welcome.
Coronavirus – Message from the Secretary
Dunfermline Historical Society July 2020 Greetings to all Dunfermline Historical Society members! July this year finds us all in a very odd place! I’m sure you would agree, since March, life has been very strange indeed! Hopefully all DHS members have been able to keep safe during this long and somewhat isolating time. As I’m sure you remember, in March the DHS Committee decided to cancel all remaining meetings for season 2019-20, also the trip to Thirlestane Castle which was planned for June this year. At that time this pandemic was in its early stages and no-one was quite sure of the best way forward, however, as events unfurled, we realised we had made the right decision by cancelling our meetings. Despite the fact there have been no DHS group meetings since February, DHS business has not stopped, and the Committee has continued to hold meetings using Skype sessions. Through these sessions we are able to monitor changing circumstances and discuss the way forward for the Society. There is, however, continuing uncertainty about when and how things can return to normal. As a result the Committee has taken another decision, namely that no DHS group meetings will be held this year of 2020. This, unfortunately, also includes our 50th anniversary celebration, which was due to be held at the Pitbauchlie House Hotel on the evening of our scheduled October meeting, Thursday 15th of that month. Present thinking is that we may not reconvene until either March or April 2021 at the...
Photo of Mary Thomson
When writing the article about Mary Thomson and the Female Industrial School, a great deal of searching was done to try and find a photograph of Mary or some of her pupils but with no success. This photograph was found in the Journal Almanac 1913, a copy of which is in the Local History Section of Dunfermline Library. Mary retired in 1881 and this picture was probably taken around that time. It is extremely grainy in appearance but perhaps someone has the original print in their photo album? If so please contact the website.