Star, Fife
Encyclopedia
Star is a small village in Fife
, Scotland
.
The name star derives from the old Norse word - starr- for the type of grass (sedge
) that grows on boggy land. The area of land around the village has been and continues to be boggy with Star Moss, a raised bog to the north west of the village draining out to land to the north of the village. East of the village are two reservoirs, taking advantage of the already wet conditions. The boggy conditions attract thousands of overwintering greylag geese
. Skeins of them can be seen flying over around the village from October until early May.
Both the Star Moss, and the nearby Carriston Reservoir are sites of special scientific interest.
weavers' cottages, to support the large flax
growing and linen weaving industry of Fife in the 17-1800s. These original cottages were usually of two rooms, one for the family to live in and one for the loom. There are also some original farm workers' cottages. These older cottages have been developed and extended but remain interesting and attractive.
To the north of the village are the notable old farms of Carriston (originally Carretstoun) and Pyeston which were originally ferm touns i.e. small clusters of habitation engaged in agriculture. Carriston Farm has a notable large house - originally built around 1700 it has a large Victorian extension and tower added on.
Pyeston farm house also dates to about 1700 though not as grand in design. An old "doocot" or dovecot(circa 1700) is located nearby - this would have supplied fresh meat in the winter for the inhabitants of Pyeston.
Star has continued expanding since the 1970s, with a current population of around 500. Most of the housing is strung out along the main road for over a mile with a several newer cul-de-sacs on either side. Most homes are single-storey, or -storey houses.
Star is located between Markinch
and Kennoway
. It benefits from views of the Lomond Hills
to the west. It is fairly close to the A92
trunk road, and Markinch railway station
on the east coast mainline is about six minutes by car. Edinburgh is about an hour away by car and St Andrews approximately thirty minutes.
Star Primary School has benefited from the recent housing boost as it had been threatened with closure many times in the past. The primary school dates from 1816, with later additions to the building.
There are around 40 children enrolled in the school, which has a low absence rate, and is similar in attainment levels, compared to other Fife schools.
who are one of the most successful amateur football clubs to come out of Fife. Founded in 1962 by the now club president David Leitch who at the time worked on Carriston Farm.
They were the first Fife amateur club to win the Scottish Amateur cup in 1975 and are record 10-time winners of the Fife Amateur Cup. The club play at Treaton Park in Star.
Many groups such as The Youth Club, WRI, Bowls, Toddlers' Group and Machine Knitting Club make use of the community Hall.
Every year the village puts on a gala day which is attended by many residents. Gala day is followed by a week of other community events usually culminating in a Ceilidh in the village hall.
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...
.
The name star derives from the old Norse word - starr- for the type of grass (sedge
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
) that grows on boggy land. The area of land around the village has been and continues to be boggy with Star Moss, a raised bog to the north west of the village draining out to land to the north of the village. East of the village are two reservoirs, taking advantage of the already wet conditions. The boggy conditions attract thousands of overwintering greylag geese
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
. Skeins of them can be seen flying over around the village from October until early May.
Both the Star Moss, and the nearby Carriston Reservoir are sites of special scientific interest.
History
Originally the village consisted of linenLinen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
weavers' cottages, to support the large flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
growing and linen weaving industry of Fife in the 17-1800s. These original cottages were usually of two rooms, one for the family to live in and one for the loom. There are also some original farm workers' cottages. These older cottages have been developed and extended but remain interesting and attractive.
To the north of the village are the notable old farms of Carriston (originally Carretstoun) and Pyeston which were originally ferm touns i.e. small clusters of habitation engaged in agriculture. Carriston Farm has a notable large house - originally built around 1700 it has a large Victorian extension and tower added on.
Pyeston farm house also dates to about 1700 though not as grand in design. An old "doocot" or dovecot(circa 1700) is located nearby - this would have supplied fresh meat in the winter for the inhabitants of Pyeston.
Star has continued expanding since the 1970s, with a current population of around 500. Most of the housing is strung out along the main road for over a mile with a several newer cul-de-sacs on either side. Most homes are single-storey, or -storey houses.
Location
Regarded generally as a quiet and fairly affluent village. Most inhabitants work in neighbouring towns within Fife or further afield in cities like Edinburgh, Dundee or Perth.Star is located between Markinch
Markinch
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...
and Kennoway
Kennoway
Kennoway is a village in Fife, Scotland, near the larger population centres in the area of Leven and Methil. It is about three miles inland from the Firth of Forth, north of Leven. This position gave it importance in the old days while travelling by coach, for the stage road ran through Kennoway...
. It benefits from views of the Lomond Hills
Lomond Hills
The Lomond Hills , also known as the Paps of Fife lie in the centre of Fife, Scotland. At 522m West Lomond is the highest point in the county of Fife.-Natural geography:...
to the west. It is fairly close to the A92
A92 road
The A92 is a major road in Fife and Angus, Scotland. It runs from Dunfermline to Stonehaven.Starting at its junction with the M90 motorway near Dunfermline, it runs north east past Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Ladybank and Newport-on-Tay...
trunk road, and Markinch railway station
Markinch railway station
Markinch railway station is a railway station in Markinch, Fife, Scotland and currently serves the Glenrothes and Levenmouth areas of Fife.The station is managed by First ScotRail and is located on the main Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line, 54 km north of Edinburgh Waverley...
on the east coast mainline is about six minutes by car. Edinburgh is about an hour away by car and St Andrews approximately thirty minutes.
Amenities
There are few amenities, with the village shop closing around 1985, and the post-office not long after. The Plough Inn public house, Star Primary School and a community hall remain.Star Primary School has benefited from the recent housing boost as it had been threatened with closure many times in the past. The primary school dates from 1816, with later additions to the building.
There are around 40 children enrolled in the school, which has a low absence rate, and is similar in attainment levels, compared to other Fife schools.
Development
The draft Kirkcaldy and Mid Fife local plan, which is a regional plan to increase housing, proposed a number of sites around the village for substantial developments - .these have all been decided against.Activities
The village is home to Star Hearts AFCStar Hearts F.C.
Star Hearts Amateur Football Club are a football club from the village of Star near Glenrothes in Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1962, they joined the Kirkcaldy and District League in 1963 and won its second division at the first time of asking...
who are one of the most successful amateur football clubs to come out of Fife. Founded in 1962 by the now club president David Leitch who at the time worked on Carriston Farm.
They were the first Fife amateur club to win the Scottish Amateur cup in 1975 and are record 10-time winners of the Fife Amateur Cup. The club play at Treaton Park in Star.
Many groups such as The Youth Club, WRI, Bowls, Toddlers' Group and Machine Knitting Club make use of the community Hall.
Every year the village puts on a gala day which is attended by many residents. Gala day is followed by a week of other community events usually culminating in a Ceilidh in the village hall.