Markinch
Encyclopedia
Markinch is a small town situated in the heart of Fife
, in the eastern central lowlands of Scotland. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town
has a population of 2,420. Markinch sits immediately east of Fife's administrative centre and former new town, Glenrothes
.
The town is built on the top and sides of a low ridge, which, according to tradition, was once an island in a lake. This is supposed to explain the derivation of the name Markinch. The height of this ridge is greater at its northern and southern extremities than at the centre. The northern was at one time occupied by a Culdee cell; and the southern, known as Markinch Hill, has six terraces, each 20 feet broad, and rising one above the other, cut out from it. By some, these terraces have been ascribed to the Romans, while others have thought it probable that they were intended for an amphitheatre, from which games, etc., engaged in below, might easily be viewed. It is now hardly possible to make out the terraces, owing to the ridge being overgrown with trees, planted by the late General Balfour. When the parish church was built is unknown; it was, however, enlarged and repaired in 1806, and has now 1050 sittings. The Free church was renovated, and two stained-glass windows were inserted, in 1883; and there was also a U.P. church.
During the industrial revolution
in the middle of the 19th century, the village started to adapt to spinning and weaving production. The use of water wheels of the corn and meal mills encouraged new industries to begin along the River Leven on land between Auchmuty (now part of Glenrothes
) and Milton of Balgonie
in the form of paper mills, bleach mills and ironworks. Papermaking was an important local employer based on the town's close proximity to the River Leven, until one of the two paper mills in the town, Sappi Graphics, closed down a few years ago. The Tullis Russell paper mill, however, is still in operation with a 600 strong labour workforce. Markinch's former Haig’s Whisky bottling plant is now used as a business park and is split into small units. This is where Fife radio station Kingdom FM
is based. Haig’s used to be a major employer in the town and many local residents still have connections with the firm, now absorbed into Diageo
.
'preaching box' of 1786, the adjoining tower is medieval, and may date to the late 11th-early 12th centuries. Of exceptionally fine masonry, it is very similar to the tower of St. Rule's Church in St Andrews
, and may be a copy of it on a smaller scale. It is crowned by a rather incongruous small Classical spire added in 1807.
, and parks. Markinch's park is dedicated to Provost John Dixon who presented it to the burgh in 1919. The much larger Balbirnie Park, formerly the property of the Balfour family, lies nearby to the northeast. The park includes a golf course, Balbirnie House Hotel, formerly the Balfour family's home and subsequently the headquarters of Glenrothes
Development Corporation, before its latest reincarnation, and craft centre. The popular Markinch Highland Games
are held in John Dixon
park. Dougray Scott
has previously opened the games. The Constituency office of Tricia Marwick, Scottish National Party, Member of the Scottish Parliament, is in the village.
Markinch has good transport links being well linked to Dundee
, Aberdeen
and Edinburgh
via rail. Markinch Interchange lies on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
connecting Perth, Scotland
and Inverness
the latter via the Highland railway line. The station has recently been upgraded with a new station building, longer platforms, and park and ride
facilities. Regular bus services link the station with Glenrothes and Leven Town Centres.
The station was once a terminus of a branch line, which ran through the land now occupied by Glenrothes between Leslie
and Markinch. The line was closed to passengers in 1935, but remained open to freight until 1967. The former branchline now forms part of the Fife Cycle Network and has been named Böblingen
Way, after Glenrothes' German Twin Town. Another section of the branch line which linked to Tullis Russell paper mill was still in use until the early 1990s, but this has now also been removed and converted into a cycleway linking to Glenrothes.
Markinch has frequent bus services to Glenrothes and Levenmouth provided by a number of bus service providers.
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...
, in the eastern central lowlands of Scotland. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town
has a population of 2,420. Markinch sits immediately east of Fife's administrative centre and former new town, Glenrothes
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...
.
History
Much of the early history of the town is unknown. The earliest record of a settlement is Balfarg stone circle, which is said to date back to 3,000BC from the neolithic period. Under the original name of Dalgynch, the town has been considered by some to have served as the Pictish capital of Fife. Terraces on Markinch Hill are thought to be either medieval or Roman in origin and on the northern outskirts of the town beside the East Lodge of Balbirnie House stands the ancient Celtic Stob Cross which may have marked the limits of sanctuary of Markinch Church.The town is built on the top and sides of a low ridge, which, according to tradition, was once an island in a lake. This is supposed to explain the derivation of the name Markinch. The height of this ridge is greater at its northern and southern extremities than at the centre. The northern was at one time occupied by a Culdee cell; and the southern, known as Markinch Hill, has six terraces, each 20 feet broad, and rising one above the other, cut out from it. By some, these terraces have been ascribed to the Romans, while others have thought it probable that they were intended for an amphitheatre, from which games, etc., engaged in below, might easily be viewed. It is now hardly possible to make out the terraces, owing to the ridge being overgrown with trees, planted by the late General Balfour. When the parish church was built is unknown; it was, however, enlarged and repaired in 1806, and has now 1050 sittings. The Free church was renovated, and two stained-glass windows were inserted, in 1883; and there was also a U.P. church.
During the industrial revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in the middle of the 19th century, the village started to adapt to spinning and weaving production. The use of water wheels of the corn and meal mills encouraged new industries to begin along the River Leven on land between Auchmuty (now part of Glenrothes
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...
) and Milton of Balgonie
Milton of Balgonie
Milton of Balgonie is a small village in central Fife, Scotland. It is situated 2 miles to the east of Glenrothes between the nearby villages of Markinch and Coaltown of Balgonie to the west and Windygates to the east. Nearby attractions include Balgonie Castle which is situated between Milton and...
in the form of paper mills, bleach mills and ironworks. Papermaking was an important local employer based on the town's close proximity to the River Leven, until one of the two paper mills in the town, Sappi Graphics, closed down a few years ago. The Tullis Russell paper mill, however, is still in operation with a 600 strong labour workforce. Markinch's former Haig’s Whisky bottling plant is now used as a business park and is split into small units. This is where Fife radio station Kingdom FM
Kingdom FM
Kingdom FM is the dedicated Adult Contemporary radio station for Fife, Scotland. Kingdom FM broadcasts from its studios in Markinch on five frequencies across Fife, 95.2fm in West Fife, 96.1 in Central Fife, 105.4fm in St Andrews, 106.3fm in the East Neuk and 96.6fm in Kirkcaldy and on the web from...
is based. Haig’s used to be a major employer in the town and many local residents still have connections with the firm, now absorbed into Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
.
Landmarks
The parish church, prominently situated on a mound at the highest point of the town, and dedicated to the Pictish St. Drostan, is recorded in documents from the 11th century on, though it may well be of earlier origin. Though the body of the church is a plain GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
'preaching box' of 1786, the adjoining tower is medieval, and may date to the late 11th-early 12th centuries. Of exceptionally fine masonry, it is very similar to the tower of St. Rule's Church in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, and may be a copy of it on a smaller scale. It is crowned by a rather incongruous small Classical spire added in 1807.
Sports and recreation
The town enjoys a range of local facilities including football, bowling, tennis, a curling clubMarkinch Curling Club
Markinch Curling Club, is a curling club in Markinch, Scotland that was instituted in 1842. Its members were formerly composed largely by employees of John Haig, the whisky blend whose bottling plant and offices used to be situated in the eponymous small Fife town, workers for Tullis Russell, a...
, and parks. Markinch's park is dedicated to Provost John Dixon who presented it to the burgh in 1919. The much larger Balbirnie Park, formerly the property of the Balfour family, lies nearby to the northeast. The park includes a golf course, Balbirnie House Hotel, formerly the Balfour family's home and subsequently the headquarters of Glenrothes
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...
Development Corporation, before its latest reincarnation, and craft centre. The popular Markinch Highland Games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
are held in John Dixon
John Dixon
John Dixon may refer to:*John Dixon , Nottinghamshire cricketer and international footballer*John Dixon , Member of Parliament for Carlisle, England, 1847–1848...
park. Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
has previously opened the games. The Constituency office of Tricia Marwick, Scottish National Party, Member of the Scottish Parliament, is in the village.
Transport
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
via rail. Markinch Interchange lies on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
The Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line is a railway line linking Edinburgh with Aberdeen via the Forth Bridge, the Tay Bridge and Dundee. Also it serves as an extension to the East Coast Main Line and the Cross Country Route...
connecting Perth, Scotland
Perth railway station
Perth Station including Perth Underground is the largest railway station in Perth, Western Australia, and functions as an interchange between the Transperth Trains Armadale / Thornlie, Fremantle, Joondalup, Mandurah and Midland railway lines, as well as the Transwa Australind.-History:The Victorian...
and Inverness
Inverness railway station
Inverness railway station is the railway station serving the Scottish city of Inverness.- History :Opened on 5 November 1855 as the western terminus of the Inverness and Nairn Railway, it is now the terminus of the Highland Main Line, the Aberdeen-Inverness Line , the Kyle of Lochalsh Line and the...
the latter via the Highland railway line. The station has recently been upgraded with a new station building, longer platforms, and park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facilities. Regular bus services link the station with Glenrothes and Leven Town Centres.
The station was once a terminus of a branch line, which ran through the land now occupied by Glenrothes between Leslie
Leslie, Fife
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 , 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...
and Markinch. The line was closed to passengers in 1935, but remained open to freight until 1967. The former branchline now forms part of the Fife Cycle Network and has been named Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
Way, after Glenrothes' German Twin Town. Another section of the branch line which linked to Tullis Russell paper mill was still in use until the early 1990s, but this has now also been removed and converted into a cycleway linking to Glenrothes.
Markinch has frequent bus services to Glenrothes and Levenmouth provided by a number of bus service providers.