Leslie, Fife
Encyclopedia
Leslie is a large village on the northern tip of the River Leven Valley, to the west of Glenrothes
in Fife
. According to the population estimates (2006), the village has a population of 3,092. The village was granted burgh of barony status by James II
in 1458 for George Leslie
who became the first Earl of Rothes
. Later, this was upgraded to a police burgh
in 1865.
Leslie is a linear settlement with the historic High Street
as its main focus. A large proportion of housing in Leslie is traditional however there are concentrations of more contemporary housing in the west of the village. The high street contains a number of community facilities including shops, pubs, restaurants and a dentist. Leslie also has a primary school which is located in the west of the village. The former Fettykill Paper mill
lies within the leven valley to the south and historic Leslie House, former stately home of the Earls of Rothes, sits in large grounds to the south-east of the village within Riverside Park.
Little is known about the history of Leslie before 1300. The village which bears the name of the Leslie family area descended from Bartolf or Bartholomew who was a Hungarian
or maybe Flemish
tradesman, who according to legend arrived in Scotland
with Queen Margaret
, the sister of Edgar the Ætheling in 1057. Finding favour with Queen Margaret
's husband, Malcolm III, Bartolf became the governor of Edinburgh Castle
and was knighted and granted with lands in Garroch in Aberdeenshire
, making his residence at Leslie. A charter by William the Lion between 1172 and 1190, granted the lands of Aberdeenshire
who were owned by Bartholomew to be passed down to his descendent. In 1283, Norman de Leslie (the fourth descendent of Bartholomew) was granted the lands 'Fettykill' or 'Fythkill' from Alexander III
. A settlement also known as 'Fettykill' began to develop around these lands. In 1455, the settlement was renamed '"Leslie"' after Sir George Leslie
. Burgh of Barony status followed in 1458 being awarded by James II
after Sir George Leslie
who became 1st Earl of Rothes (a title which came from the family owning land at Rothes, near Elgin
). During this time, the family started to become
prominent in Scottish
affairs. John Leslie, the then Earl of Rothes, was awarded the title of Lord High Chancellor to Charles II
in 1667 and then became known as the Duke of Rothes in 1680. Leslie House was built for the Duke of Rothes between 1667 and 1674 and this became the seat of the Rothes family. The house which was dubbed Villa De Rothes was the centre of life in the village and once rivalled Holyrood Palace
for both size and glamour. When a fire destroyed the building in 1743, the north, east and south wings were demolished. Only the west wing was retained and this was reconstructed between 1745 and 1747.
Glenrothes
Glenrothes is a large town situated in the heart of Fife, in east-central Scotland. It is located approximately from both Edinburgh, which lies to the south and Dundee to the north. The town had an estimated population of 38,750 in 2008, making Glenrothes the third largest settlement in Fife...
in 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...
. According to the population estimates (2006), the village has a population of 3,092. The village was granted burgh of barony status by James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
in 1458 for George Leslie
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman.Created Lord Leslie in 1445, the title of Earl of Rothes was created in 1458 in the Peerage of Scotland for him.-References:*Dictionary of National Biography...
who became the first Earl of Rothes
Earl of Rothes
Earl of Rothes is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for George Leslie, 1st Lord Leslie. He had already been created Lord Leslie in 1445, also in the Peerage of Scotland. His grandson, the third Earl, having only succeeded his elder brother in March 1513, was killed at the...
. Later, this was upgraded to a police burgh
Police burgh
A police burgh was a Scottish burgh which had adopted a “police system” for governing the town. They existed from 1833 to 1975.-The 1833 act:The first police burghs were created under the Burgh Police Act, 1833...
in 1865.
Leslie is a linear settlement with the historic High Street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
as its main focus. A large proportion of housing in Leslie is traditional however there are concentrations of more contemporary housing in the west of the village. The high street contains a number of community facilities including shops, pubs, restaurants and a dentist. Leslie also has a primary school which is located in the west of the village. The former Fettykill Paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
lies within the leven valley to the south and historic Leslie House, former stately home of the Earls of Rothes, sits in large grounds to the south-east of the village within Riverside Park.
History
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
or maybe Flemish
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
tradesman, who according to legend arrived in 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...
with Queen Margaret
Saint Margaret of Scotland
Saint Margaret of Scotland , also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Born in exile in Hungary, she was the sister of Edgar Ætheling, the short-ruling and uncrowned Anglo-Saxon King of England...
, the sister of Edgar the Ætheling in 1057. Finding favour with Queen Margaret
Saint Margaret of Scotland
Saint Margaret of Scotland , also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Born in exile in Hungary, she was the sister of Edgar Ætheling, the short-ruling and uncrowned Anglo-Saxon King of England...
's husband, Malcolm III, Bartolf became the governor of Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
and was knighted and granted with lands in Garroch in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, making his residence at Leslie. A charter by William the Lion between 1172 and 1190, granted the lands of Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
who were owned by Bartholomew to be passed down to his descendent. In 1283, Norman de Leslie (the fourth descendent of Bartholomew) was granted the lands 'Fettykill' or 'Fythkill' from Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
. A settlement also known as 'Fettykill' began to develop around these lands. In 1455, the settlement was renamed '"Leslie"' after Sir George Leslie
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman.Created Lord Leslie in 1445, the title of Earl of Rothes was created in 1458 in the Peerage of Scotland for him.-References:*Dictionary of National Biography...
. Burgh of Barony status followed in 1458 being awarded by James II
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
after Sir George Leslie
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes
George Leslie, 1st Earl of Rothes was a Scottish nobleman.Created Lord Leslie in 1445, the title of Earl of Rothes was created in 1458 in the Peerage of Scotland for him.-References:*Dictionary of National Biography...
who became 1st Earl of Rothes (a title which came from the family owning land at Rothes, near Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
). During this time, the family started to become
prominent in Scottish
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...
affairs. John Leslie, the then Earl of Rothes, was awarded the title of Lord High Chancellor to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in 1667 and then became known as the Duke of Rothes in 1680. Leslie House was built for the Duke of Rothes between 1667 and 1674 and this became the seat of the Rothes family. The house which was dubbed Villa De Rothes was the centre of life in the village and once rivalled Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle...
for both size and glamour. When a fire destroyed the building in 1743, the north, east and south wings were demolished. Only the west wing was retained and this was reconstructed between 1745 and 1747.