Gowkhall
Encyclopedia
Gowkhall is a hamlet located in Fife
Scotland
, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Dunfermline
. The nearest village of size is Carnock
half a mile to the west, which provides both church and primary school.
Military Survey maps of Scotland 1747-55 the village does not appear to be marked. However in John Ainslie' mapping of Fife in 1775 it is, showing the large Clunie estate to immediate East of the village. In the later John Thomson's Atlas of Scotland 1832 it is clearly marked as Gowkhall, with the centre of the village being where the modern day junction between Clune Road and Dean Ridge occurs. However, by the Ordnance Survey
map of 1898 the village is known as Balclune with no mention of Gowkhall, the name Gowkhall returns in the next (3rd) edition of the Ordnance Survey Maps 1903.
Historical maps are available free of charge online via the National Library of Scotland
website, although reproduction here is not possible under copyright.
The name Clune is repeatedly associated, through various tales, with a Clunic Monk, or Knight Templar who used to reside in the area. One reference refers to unspecified sources telling that the Knight was known to wear "black frock, a pelisse, a hood of lamb's wool, red hose, a white woollen tunic, and black scapular - the latter sometimes white, and at other times red.". The fables tell of this clunic being "hospitable to strangers, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and gave drink to those who were athirst, and performed his duty.". Certainly the name Clunie has persisted with the area and continues to this day, the lands now consider to be Wester Clune Farm used to reside in the Clunie Estate, shown in maps of 1776.
Gowkhall officially broke with the Clune Estate on the 22nd October 1747 when Professor Erskine of Carnock acquired from James Henderson of Clune "the Room of land of the lands of Clune called Gowkhall" (G.R.S. 69)
Gowkhall is reputed to have been a very attractive village in the early days and a one time native of the village is known to have been John Millar who is known to have spent the majority of his life teaching in London at a "Ragged School". Some lines of poetry are associated with him.
Gowkhall did at one time boast its own pub, called the Bamboo Inn currently known as Bamboo Cottage. This was closed down due to a "fatal incident" in the late 19th century resulting the licensee losing his license. The name Bamboo Inn is of unknown origin and a local bridge is also referred to as Bamboo Bridge. One source refers to the name "Bambow" in place of Bamboo, but no reference is provided to indicate if this was the original form. Gowkhall used to be famed for the number of wells that had been sunk in the village and in the early 19th century consisted mainly of hand weaving cottages. These cottages were demolished in the late 19th century and the stones used to build the impressive wall surrounding Luscar House, the Luskar Dyke.
A curling pond was also located in Gowkhall, on the Western edge. Reports suggest the access steps up to the road through the dyke still exist.
The grounds of Luscar House built in 1838 by two of Scotland leading architects (David Bryce
) of the time border the village. This house was in later years a residential care home. This category B listed building was largely destroyed by fire in 2001, following planning refusal to allow conversion into a hotel. In 2003 the house succumbed to demolition without planning consent. The stables being converted into modern living accommodation, legal proceedings followed resulting a controversially small fine (£300) being levied on the persons responsible.
Services run from Dunfermline bus station serving Carnock, Oakley, Fife
and Saline, Fife
.
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground 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. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
. The nearest village of size is Carnock
Carnock
Carnock is a village located in Fife, Scotland, approximately northwest of Dunfermline and 1 mile east of Oakley, Fife. The village is said to be named for St. Cearnock, a disciple of St. Ninian...
half a mile to the west, which provides both church and primary school.
Alternate names
Gowkhall seems to have had at least two names in the past. In the William RoyWilliam Roy
Major-General William Roy FRS was a Scottish military engineer, surveyor, and antiquarian. He was an innovator who applied new scientific discoveries and newly emerging technologies to the accurate geodetic mapping of Great Britain....
Military Survey maps of Scotland 1747-55 the village does not appear to be marked. However in John Ainslie' mapping of Fife in 1775 it is, showing the large Clunie estate to immediate East of the village. In the later John Thomson's Atlas of Scotland 1832 it is clearly marked as Gowkhall, with the centre of the village being where the modern day junction between Clune Road and Dean Ridge occurs. However, by the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
map of 1898 the village is known as Balclune with no mention of Gowkhall, the name Gowkhall returns in the next (3rd) edition of the Ordnance Survey Maps 1903.
Historical maps are available free of charge online via the National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland
The National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
website, although reproduction here is not possible under copyright.
Modern Day
The hamlet of Gowkhall comes under the authority of the Carnock and Gowkhall Community Council making use of the primary school in Carnock. No public amenities exist in Gowkhall itself.History
Gowkhall historically is considered to have resided in the Lands of Clune, which in modern terms refers to the Wester Clune Farm. The Clune lands were originally in the barony of Pittencrieff and the parish of Dunfermline. The lands were laterly transferred into the parish of Carnock. References have been found back to 14th February 1441:
"Instrument of Sasine in favour of David Hakat of lands of Clwno, lying in the barony of Pettyncref and sheriffdom of Fife, conform to his charter."
('Pitfirrane Writs', 30)
The name Clune is repeatedly associated, through various tales, with a Clunic Monk, or Knight Templar who used to reside in the area. One reference refers to unspecified sources telling that the Knight was known to wear "black frock, a pelisse, a hood of lamb's wool, red hose, a white woollen tunic, and black scapular - the latter sometimes white, and at other times red.". The fables tell of this clunic being "hospitable to strangers, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and gave drink to those who were athirst, and performed his duty.". Certainly the name Clunie has persisted with the area and continues to this day, the lands now consider to be Wester Clune Farm used to reside in the Clunie Estate, shown in maps of 1776.
Gowkhall officially broke with the Clune Estate on the 22nd October 1747 when Professor Erskine of Carnock acquired from James Henderson of Clune "the Room of land of the lands of Clune called Gowkhall" (G.R.S. 69)
Gowkhall is reputed to have been a very attractive village in the early days and a one time native of the village is known to have been John Millar who is known to have spent the majority of his life teaching in London at a "Ragged School". Some lines of poetry are associated with him.
Oh worthy folk o' auld Gowkha'
Though neither great, nor grand, nor braw
Yet kindly folk were ye
And mony a face, I mind it still
While fancy sits upon your hill
And looks wi' mem'ry's e'e.
John Millar (date unknown)
Gowkhall did at one time boast its own pub, called the Bamboo Inn currently known as Bamboo Cottage. This was closed down due to a "fatal incident" in the late 19th century resulting the licensee losing his license. The name Bamboo Inn is of unknown origin and a local bridge is also referred to as Bamboo Bridge. One source refers to the name "Bambow" in place of Bamboo, but no reference is provided to indicate if this was the original form. Gowkhall used to be famed for the number of wells that had been sunk in the village and in the early 19th century consisted mainly of hand weaving cottages. These cottages were demolished in the late 19th century and the stones used to build the impressive wall surrounding Luscar House, the Luskar Dyke.
A curling pond was also located in Gowkhall, on the Western edge. Reports suggest the access steps up to the road through the dyke still exist.
The grounds of Luscar House built in 1838 by two of Scotland leading architects (David Bryce
David Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
) of the time border the village. This house was in later years a residential care home. This category B listed building was largely destroyed by fire in 2001, following planning refusal to allow conversion into a hotel. In 2003 the house succumbed to demolition without planning consent. The stables being converted into modern living accommodation, legal proceedings followed resulting a controversially small fine (£300) being levied on the persons responsible.
Transport
The village has two bus stops.- Eastbound Traveline code : 34325427
- Westbound Traveline Code : 34325432
Services run from Dunfermline bus station serving Carnock, Oakley, Fife
Oakley, Fife
Oakley is a village in Fife, Scotland located at the mutual border of Carnock and Culross parishes, Fife, about W by N of Dunfermline on the A 907....
and Saline, Fife
Saline, Fife
Saline is a village in Fife, Scotland, some to the north-west of Dunfermline.At the 2001 Census the population was 1188, a decline from the 1235 recorded in the 1991 Census...
.