Pittencrieff Park
Encyclopedia
Pittencrieff Park is a public park in Dunfermline
. It was purchased in 1902 by the town's most famous son, Andrew Carnegie
, and gifted to the people of Dunfermline in a ceremony the following year. Its lands include the historically significant and topologically rugged glen
which interrupts the centre of Dunfermline and, accordingly, part of the intention of the purchase was to carry out civic development of the area in a way which also respected its heritage. The project notably attracted the attention of the urban planner and educationalist, Patrick Geddes
.
The glen is an area of topographical and historical significance to Dunfermline as the original site of Malcolm's Tower
, the probable remains of which can be identified today on a strongly defendable outcrop of rock.
from its then owner, Colonel James Maitland Hunt, ultimately with the intention to gift these to the people of Dunfermline. The official ceremony for the gifting of the park occurred the following year, and a trust fund in honour of the benefactory, known as Dunfermline Carnegie Trust, was founded for the general maintenance of the glen.
As part of the gifting of the estate, the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust invited proposals for the development of the area as a civic space. Two entries were submitted in 1903-04, one of which was by the world-renowned urban planner, naturalist
and educationalist Patrick Geddes
(1854–1932). His thinking about the commission, as he saw it, to balance preservation of heritage with regeneration, was an important influence in the formation of his ideas in town planning and civic renaissance. The second entry was by the landscape designer, Thomas Mawson. Although neither scheme was adopted, both influenced subsequent work on the establishment of the park as it exists today.
which was built in 1914 and a dovecot, in the style of a round tower from around 1700. The main gates to the park known as the Louise Carnegie Gates which opened in 1928 are located to the north-east.
The park also holds a former petting zoo, a large greenhouse and three playgrounds.
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...
. It was purchased in 1902 by the town's most famous son, Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
, and gifted to the people of Dunfermline in a ceremony the following year. Its lands include the historically significant and topologically rugged glen
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
which interrupts the centre of Dunfermline and, accordingly, part of the intention of the purchase was to carry out civic development of the area in a way which also respected its heritage. The project notably attracted the attention of the urban planner and educationalist, Patrick Geddes
Patrick Geddes
Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education....
.
The glen is an area of topographical and historical significance to Dunfermline as the original site of Malcolm's Tower
Malcolm's Tower
Malcolm's Tower is traditionally accepted as a historic site in the Scottish city of Dunfermline. The tower stood on a highly defensible peninsular outcrop of rock above a deep ravine and is the site from which the city derives its name...
, the probable remains of which can be identified today on a strongly defendable outcrop of rock.
History
The lands of the modern park were previously known as Pittencrieff Estate. In 1902, Andrew Carnegie purchased both Pittencrieff House and EstateEstate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
from its then owner, Colonel James Maitland Hunt, ultimately with the intention to gift these to the people of Dunfermline. The official ceremony for the gifting of the park occurred the following year, and a trust fund in honour of the benefactory, known as Dunfermline Carnegie Trust, was founded for the general maintenance of the glen.
As part of the gifting of the estate, the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust invited proposals for the development of the area as a civic space. Two entries were submitted in 1903-04, one of which was by the world-renowned urban planner, naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
and educationalist Patrick Geddes
Patrick Geddes
Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education....
(1854–1932). His thinking about the commission, as he saw it, to balance preservation of heritage with regeneration, was an important influence in the formation of his ideas in town planning and civic renaissance. The second entry was by the landscape designer, Thomas Mawson. Although neither scheme was adopted, both influenced subsequent work on the establishment of the park as it exists today.
Pittencrieff House Museum
In the subsequent development of the modern park, Pittencrieff House was designed as a centre piece. The house was built by Sir Alexander Clerk of Pittencrieff as a simple laird's house with two stories and an attic around 1635. Two of the bedrooms were converted to create two long galleries for museum and art exhibition space in a restoration programme undertaken by Sir Robert Lorimar between 1911 and 1913. The house itself now serves as the Pittencrieff House Museum, with exhibits about the formation of the park and its natural history, including dinosaurs, fossils and wildlife.Park features
On the northern boundary of the park lies the prominent statue of Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
which was built in 1914 and a dovecot, in the style of a round tower from around 1700. The main gates to the park known as the Louise Carnegie Gates which opened in 1928 are located to the north-east.
The park also holds a former petting zoo, a large greenhouse and three playgrounds.
External links
- Pittencrieff House Museum - official site at Fife Council